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55 King Street, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


Today's home in Charleston, South Carolina didn't start out as a single family home. The home on King Street actually began life around 1762 as a double tenement on a very large lot. It was converted to a single family residence in the mid twentieth century. It has had only four owners and underwent major renovations under its present ownership beginning in the 1980s that included the addition of a swimming pool.

The home's ld kitchen house was redesigned into a guest house with high ceilings, a sleeping loft, two fireplaces, and an outdoor kitchen. The first floor of the main house has double parlors. The formal dining room as well as the family room open onto a spacious screened porch that overlooks the rear patio and pool. There are five fireplaces on the first floor, one of which is a focal point for the kitchen. The main house has five bedrooms, four full baths, and a laundry room on the upper floors. Other classic details include heart of pine floors, period woodwork, mantels and built-in shelving. The home is an intriguing mix of elegant, turned out rooms with brightly painted walls and antique furniture as well as more casual spaces that feature the home's untouched, exposed brick. This home is listed at $4.749 million.

Gallery: 55 King Road

Historic Patrick O'Donnell House Gets Big Price Cut

Filed under: Estates


Back in 2008, I wrote about the Patrick O'Donnell house in Charleston, South Carolina as part of a series on the country's most expensive zip codes. I was surprised recently to see that the home is still on the market, although at a lower rate.

This home on King Street in the historic district was built by O'Donnell over the period of 1852-1870. He was building the house for his bride but he took so long finishing the job that his fiancé married another. The home was once lived in by the women who inspired the character of Melanie in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. The home has an 18th century Venetian palazzo exterior with a cross-ventilated New York brownstone interior and wide Charleston-style porches. The home has been beautifully restored. Details to swoon for include random width heart pine floors, heavy moldings and ceiling medallions, 11 fireplaces with faux marble mantles, French doors and an antique elevator.

The kitchen has modern appliances such as Gaggenau ovens, Gaggenau commercial gas range, SubZero refrigerator and a walk-in wine cooler in a setting of exposed brick with a pressed tin ceiling. There is a billiards room, a cherry library with a track ladders, a bar room, guest bedroom with a cedar closet, large master suite, a bedroom with built-in children's beds and another guest room. The fifth floor is home to a rooftop deck, wet bar and outdoor shower. The property also includes a pool and a three-car garage and there is a guest house with a galley kitchen, bedroom and living room. This home was listed at $7.895 million but is now at $6.85 million.

32 Battery, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


The Battery area of Charleston, South Carolina is home to some of the grandest older homes in the country. Today's home, the Colonel John Ashe House, was built around 1782. It has been restored head to toe, from the brick flooring in the basement to the gold sphere on top of the cupola.

The four story Charleston double house is located across from White Point Gardens and its balconies and cupola offer view of Charleston Harbor, the Sullivans Island Lighthouse and Ft. Sumter in the distance. The home's elegant rooms have large windows many with double rows of shutters and elaborate moldings including the pediment structures over the dining room entrances. The master suite has two baths, a sitting room and walk-in closet. The library/den is lined with custom cabinetry for books and collectibles. The home's guest wings and nursery wing complete with back stairs down to kitchen offer privacy for the home's residents. There are a total of six working fireplaces, one with an overmantel painting, an18th century Italian landscape believed to be attributed to Giovanni Panini (1691-1765). The carriage house is a separate two-story, two-bedroom brick house. The backyard has a bricked courtyard. This home is listed at $9.875 million.

Gallery: 32 Battery

Of Restoration And Renovation: The Gaillard-Bennett Home, ca.1800, Charleston, SC, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates



One of the most historic homes in Charleston, South Carolina is the Gaillard-Bennett House on 60 Montagu Street. It was built in 1800 by Theodore Gaillard, a successful trades person. It is in the heart of downtown Charleston's historic district, and is the end product of a massive four year, multi-million dollar restoration. It is for sale for $13M, the second high estate real estate listing ever recorded for Charleston Peninsula.

It is a 10,000 square foot home, with five bedrooms, 5 baths and 2 half- baths. It also has a 3000 square foot kitchen house, a 2000 square foot carriage house, as well as a pool house, pool, tack house, and and multiple garages. Set on one and one quarter acres, surrounded by a stuccoed privacy wall, it is one of Charleston's most elaborately embellished Federal mansions. The main house is a two and one half stories, with a front porch and two side decorative porches, each with a pagoda roof. The pool and gazebo overlook the home's garden: one of the largest in the city. The main house has approximately 10,000 square feet. The Historic Charleston Foundation holds the Preservation Easement.

Gallery: 60 Montagu

Anson House Condo Project Heads To Foreclosure

Filed under: Real Estate Developments


In 2007, far rosier times for the condo market, I mentioned Anson House, a new luxury condo complex in Charleston, South Carolina. Now, three years later the $40 million project is built but is headed to foreclosure. The Post-Courier reports that the four-story 32-unit complex has struggled to find buyers and 18 out of the 32 units remain unsold. The developer, Wharfside Associates, has missed payments on a construction loan and Bank of America has begun the foreclosure process. The developer owes $9.9 million. Whafside Associates had taken out a $32.8 million loan in February 2007 to pay for the project.

The pictures on the Anson House website show beautiful units with river, city and park views. The condos have gourmet kitchens, high ceilings, master suites with dressing rooms, fireplaces and outdoor piazzas. The building also has a doorman. Back in 2007 prices for the units started at $1.29 million for a one-bedroom and a penthouse cost $4.95 million. Now remaining units are priced between $695,000 and $3.25 million.

Daniel Island, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


Today's home is a new build on the water in the Daniel Island area of Charleston, South Carolina. The home is on a bend in Ralston Creek and has an infinity pool that looks out onto the marsh. The home's mansard roof is meant to recall more historic homes in the area but up close it's all modern. You enter the home through a reflection pool courtyard facing a pair of bronze and resin sunburst doors.

The home has an open layout with a large windows facing the marsh and light wood. The kitchen has a double layout that features two work areas separated by a six-burner stove that can be used from both sides. An island separates the entertaining area of the kitchen from the home's open living rooms. The bathrooms are angular and modern. A particularly whimsical note is the floral print dining room with clear ghost chairs and a beaded chandelier.

The home has its functional side too. There are surveillance cameras, remote-controlled hurricane shutters, two laundry rooms and a garage that can store up to seven cars. Outside there is a pool-side kitchen and deck and easy access to a deep-water dock with a boat lift. This home is listed at $6.499 million.

Gallery: Daniel Island

Sword Gate House, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates

sword gate house
Today's estate might just be in need of a price cut. It's been on the market since last year when it made news as being the most expensive private home in South Carolina. The Sword Gate House on Legare Street in Charleston has seven bedrooms and a carriage house for a total of around 14,000 square feet of space on a lot of less than an acre.

The home was built back in 1808 and has been carefully renovated with the latest in technology including a generator for power outages. The four-story main house has a grand staircase, ball room, drawing room, library and both a main dining room ad a breakfast dining room. The master suite has two separate dressing rooms. The home includes a commercial kitchen with a wine cellar and there are both maids and butlers quarters. This home is listed at $23 million.

Culture Traveler's Dream: Spoleto in Charleston

Filed under: Events, Art

The good life is well lived in Charleston, South Carolina during the Spoleto Festival USA, which brings the world's highest caliber opera, theater, music, and dance to one of America's most elegant, historic and beautiful downtowns, bursting with culinary and shopping gems. Become a high level supporter, and you'll also get treated to some Southern hospitality at private soirees to meet the artists. And for the culture vulture who likes to break a sweat kitesurfing, it's all just a 10-minute ride from the beach.

Highlights of this year's festival, which runs from May 28 to June 13:
* The Dock Street Theater, one of America's first (pictured at right), reopens after a three-year renovation with a work selected to re-create and celebrate history: the English ballad opera "Flora," which, in 1835, in Charleston, was the first opera performed in the American colonies. Neely Bruce conducts.

* The Milan-based Colla Marionette Company works its small-scale, big-impact magic with "Philemon and Baucis", a marionette opera composed by Franz Joseph Haydn for Prince Esterházy on the occasion of a 1773 royal visit by Empress Maria Theresa.

* The young New York-based Gallim Dance, with Juilliard-trained dancers, performs "I Can See Myself in Your Pupil." This dance troupe won raves last summer at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.

* Under the stars and a canopy of oak trees, Lizz Wright and Fabiana Cozza will be among the sultry performers in an outdoor jazz series.

* Sample a range of string ensembles, from the post-classical quartet Brooklyn Rider, associated with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, to the banjo- and fiddle- players the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

With 45 productions total, the festival will have you either in the audience or discussing a performance morning, afternoon, and evening. Don't forget to make time for a stroll down the cobblestone streets, and taking in historic sites. Fort Sumter, where the first engagement of the Civil War took place, still guards the harbor. Tickets available at http://www.spoletousa.org/

36 Chapel Street, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


I loves these old homes in Charleston, South Carolina. 36 Chapel was built in 1809 by Anthony Vanderhorst Toomer and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The home is located in the historic district of Wraggborough and is surrounding by fencing and mature plantings including a formal parterre garden with rare Drake elms in front, with a private bricked patio and fountain in the rear. The restored home has an entry hall that opens to spacious formal living and dining rooms, leading to an open kitchen with marble counters and island, breakfast area with wet bar, and Wolf and SubZero appliances tucked into brick arches. There is a covered porch off the kitchen which provides easy access to the rear courtyard and features sun and privacy shutters. The family room has a gas-log fireplace and plasma screen television. The second floor master suite includes a private office or nursery room, large walk-in closet and a spacious bath with garden tub and separate shower. There is also awood-paneled library with fireplace on this level; as well as a sunroom which opens onto the upstairs rear piazza. The two guest bedrooms and a full bath are found on the third floor. The entire ground floor is a separate one-bedroom apartment or guest suite with a full kitchen and bath. This home is listed at $2.1 million.

UPDATE: This home is now listed at $1.695 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: 36 Chapel

19 Battery, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


A desirable piece of land often has a long history and such is the case with 19 East Battery in Charleston, South Carolina. The property's enviable waterfront location meant that it was pressed into service as a fort. It was the site of Fort Darrell during the Revolution and later named Fort Mechanic, for the mechanics of the city who gave their labor to build it in 1794 when a French naval invasion was expected. It was then home to the Holmes House before the present yellow brick mansion was built around 1919 for Julius M. Visanka and was designed by architect Albert Simons. When it was built it was one of the grandest homes in the area and it has been in the same family for 66 years. It has panoramic views of Charleston Harbor. The home has a Renaissance style and the interior includes four bedrooms, a formal living room, study, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, walk in pantry, second floor office and an elevator. The home has plenty of outdoor space including a rear garden with a large in-ground pool. The property includes a detached two car garage with space above for a guest house. This home is listed at $7.3 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: 19 Battery

Orange Street, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


I have to applaud the real estate lister for honesty on this one, the listing states that the rooms are "comfortable, but not large." This is the price one pays sometimes for an older home and today's home, a Jonathan Badger tenement, c. 1770 (brick portion possibly dating to circa 1693) in downtown Charleston is definitely old by American standards. This four-bedroom home has maintained many of its original features right down to the 1770 lock on the front door. The first floo has a formal living room, music room and formal dining room with fireplaces, beautiful moldings and high ceilings. The kitchen has wall ovens, an electric cooktop with ventilated grill, a built-in microwave, refrigerator, trash compactor, instant hot water dispenser, garbage disposal, and ice maker and a walk-in pantry offers storage. Adjoining the kitchen is a small den with a large brick fireplace. The second level includes the master bedroom with a large walk-in closet/dressing room as well as a lady's dressing room with a fireplace, multiple closets, and a vanity. The full bath contains two sinks, a bidet, toilet, jacuzzi tub, and separate shower. A drawing room/library offers a fireplace flanked by built-ins. Two additional rooms, which could serve as a bedroom, study/office, or sitting room, share a full bath. On the third level, there are two more bedrooms which share a full bath. The private and gated bricked driveway can accommodate parking for 4 cars and there is a formal garden with azaleas, camellias, loquats, mini magnolias, yew, juniper, and 120 rose bushes. If your furniture is small and your heart is traditional, this is one great place. It is listed at $2,625,000.

Gallery: Orange St.

Most Expensive Zip Codes: 29401, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


For the next couple of weeks we will be checking out some homes in the most expensive zip codes in the United States, up today, 29401. This zip code refers to the beautifully historic town of Charleston, South Carolina. This zip code in the fast-growing Southern city has a median price of $1,590,000 with an appreciation of 228% since 1990.

To explore this town we've got one beauty of an old home. This home on King Street in the historic district is the Patrick O'Donnell house it was built by O'Donnell over the period of 1852-1870 who was building the house for his bride but took so long finishing the job that his fiancé married another. The home was once lived in by the women who inspired the character of Melanie in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind.

The home has an 18th century Venetian palazzo exterior with a cross-ventilated New York brownstone interior and wide Charleston-style porches. The home has been beautifully restored. Details to swoon for include random width heart pine floors, heavy moldings and ceiling medallions, 11 fireplaces with faux marble mantles, French doors and an antique elevator. The kitchen has modern appliances such as Gaggenau ovens, Gaggenau commercial gas range, SubZero refrigerator and a walk-in wine cooler in a setting of exposed brick with a pressed tin ceiling. There is a billiards room, a cherry library with a track ladders, a bar room, guest bedroom with a cedar closet, large master suite, a bedroom with built-in children's beds and another guest room. The fifth floor is home to a rooftop deck, wet bar and outdoor shower. The property also includes a pool and a three-car garage and there is a guest house with a galley kitchen, bedroom and living room. This home is listed at $7.895 million.

Middleton Plantation, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


This home in the Middleton Plantation area of Charleston, South Carolina has a calm and secluded plot with plenty of gardens and greenery, two ponds and three decks. The home was built in 1982 and could appear dated but the the owners have really gone all out to modernize the interior with a rather stark contemporary palette. The home has four bedrooms and is approximately 6,000 square feet. It is listed at just $1.35 million.

Tradd Street Traditional, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


Charleston, South Carolina has some of the most beautifully preserved homes I have ever seen. This one dates back to 1805. The home has triple-tiered columned piazzas, nine-over-nine windows and beautifully proportioned rooms. The home has been updated with spa tubs and modern appliances in the kitchen with its simple wood cabinets. The former carriage house serves as his and hers offices and also includes a wine cellar, powder room, laundry room and storage. There are six wood-burning fireplaces in the home. The exterior includes a koi pond and the former pool house does duty as an exercise room or a place for entertaining. This home is listed at $4.75 million. Pictures are after the jump or a bit larger in the gallery.

Gallery: Tradd St.

C. Bissell Jenkins, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


Today's elegant home looks antebellum but was actually built in 1912. The home was built by C. Bissell Jenkins, the originator of the reclamation project in Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1900s. The home is a six-bedroom Colonial Greek Revival that is the star of Murray Blvd. It was renovated in 1992. The expansive Tuscan portico has views of the Ashley River. The home has marble columns, eight working fireplaces, a paneled library and a kitchen with custom cabinetry and a pillow-edged limestone floor. The master bedroom has an exercise room, office area and a front balcony with river views. The master bath has a separate shower and bathtub and a large dressing area finished in marble.The third floor includes three bedrooms and a room sized cedar closet. There is a large roof top deck. The landscaped gardens include tow private garden rooms and a large, private pool area with loggia. it is listed at $6.995 million. After the jump, no kitchen or bath shots but the main rooms are certainly pretty.

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