Realtor: Chew on This: 1790 Charleston Home Has Been Fully Restored for the Modern Era

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Chew on This: 1790 Charleston Home Has Been Fully Restored for the Modern Era

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If you have a hankering to live the genteel Southern life and have $4.1 million to spend, the John McKee house in Charleston, SC, is currently available—and cooler than an ice-cold glass of sweet tea.

Built in 1790, the prominent residence has been fully restored, with all of its priceless historical features—and charm—left intact.

The home was built in the style known as the classic “Charleston Single,” but the term had no bearing on the relationship status of the original owner—who had no heirs.

But it had everything to do with the layout, which features a small stair hall in the middle of each floor, separating two main rooms, one toward the street and one toward the rear of the property.

John McKee house in Charleston, SC

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Living room

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The home was meticulously restored in 2014 by a team of historical renovation experts, and it now measures 3,500 square feet, with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.

Master bedroom

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Dormer bedroom

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A large part of the renovations involved infrastructure updates, including substantial mechanical and structural upgrades to the insulation, a new HVAC system, and new windows—all aiming for energy efficiency.

The work wasn’t easy.

According to Olga Page, who’s listing the property with Mary Lou Wertz of Hudson Phillips Properties: “In a historic property, you have to keep the original single-paned windows. But, as most homeowners who live in downtown Charleston can attest, they’re difficult to open. Or worse, they’re often painted shut.”

“All of the original windows in the 44 King St. property were removed, restored, and the builder added copper runners to all of them for ease of use,” Page adds. “All of the windows in the home are operable. The process was arduous … and expensive.”

Some of the original elements that were restored include the newel posts, the heart of pine floors on the second and third floors, and the brick exterior on the home and garage.

Dining area and family room with original brick wall

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Seamlessly integrated into the historic home were a brand-new kitchen and dining area with custom built-ins and a butler’s pantry; black-framed floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that open to private patios and terraces; and bathrooms with double vanities and stylish tile.