A garden gate on Legare Street, downtown Charleston.

The gate is open just enough to see through, and what is behind it is the reason to stop — a black and white checkerboard marble walk running back to an arched door painted deep red. The gate itself is wrought iron, scrollwork above and a diamond lattice below. The two stucco piers either side have been left alone long enough to stain and grow moss, which is exactly what makes the polished floor behind them land.

Worn stone, black iron, one strong red. Vertical and quite formal.