Staying at 20 South Battery Street is a chance to have a taste of what it would be like to live in one of the grand historical mansions in the historic district of Charleston. This elegant dame has been carefully restored since it was hit by Hurricane Hugo by the current owner who purchased it in 2018. Each night we would sit out on this beautiful porch overlooking the White Point Gardens where we were served wine and charcuterie, passing tourists would sneak shots of our expansive porch with it’s haint blue ceiling.
Tours of this delightful domicile are offered each day for guests, it was a fascinating insight into what this house has weathered since it was built after 1843 when Samuel N. Stevens purchased the land. Evidence of his wealth is reflected in the fine materials and details still found in the home, click on HISTORY to read the full story. Are you ready for the tour? Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up.
The damage was severe after Hurricane Hugo struck in 1989. Though many were broken they were able to restore the Italinate tile floors. Loose, broken tiles were found and all of the other tiles were removed and cleaned. The floor beneath was repaired and prepared and then the tiles were carefully put back in place. It was quite a laborious job as you can imagine.
Do you like our new Birkenstocks my daughter and I bought? My Arizonas in metallic silver have been my go to shoe this summer, we bought them at Rack Room shoes on King Street.
The parquet wood floors have also taken a beating over the years, they repaired what they could and replaced what they needed to.
Look how intricate the patterns are, just beautiful.
Here you can see the more simple planked floors in the back of the house, which has a bit of a droop to it. In the far right corner you can see the rough repair they had to make after extreme water damage.
My dress is from Gretchen Scott Designs, a great dress shop on King Street in Charleston.
The years have been cruel to these fresco walls, it was severely battered during the 1863 Siege of Charleston, but over the years different owners have tried to restore as much as possible.
The home is filled with fine antiques which belong to a local antique dealer. It’s a symbiotic relationship, the dealer gets to show his treasures in beautiful Battery Street mansion and the owner and guests get to exist surrounded by fine antiques.
This stunning set of Biedermeier chairs and couches are covered in a royal red velvet that really brings the salon on the main floor together.
The back of this cabinet is covered in embossed leather, a definite indication of the original owners prosperity.
Here are a few more glimpses of the main floor:
Amongst the antique books on the shelf I spotted Splendid in Ashes by Josephine Pinckney {1895-1957}, it’s a story based in Charleston about a man who lived in a grand home on the Battery, I wonder if he lived at 20? She was a prominent writer from a distinguished South Carolina family who founded the Poetry Society of South Carolina. She would write about “the foibles of the South’s declining upper class”, often set in Charleston. The other book on the shelf, Sea Drinking Cities is her book of poems. Also spotted is A Talent for Living by, Josephine Pinckney and the Charleston Literary Tradition by Barbara L. Bellows, this is a book about Josephine Pinckney and her life in Charleston, I just ordered it from Amazon.
Alright, should we climb this magnificent curved stairwell to see the rest of the house??
Each of the suites in the Mansion feature an antique king size bed, they are well appointed with chandeliers, fine antique furnishings and unique sitting areas. They all have hardwood floors, high ceilings and crown moldings. The bathrooms are modern and bright.
The third floor has a stunning sitting room that can be reserved for parties and events. The architectural details and antique furnishings create an intimate and refined place to gather.
The huge arched windows lead to a terrace with incredible views over White Point Gardens and on to the Charleston Harbor.
As I recall these illustrations are of different families in the area. The drawings depict their lifestyle and land and their family crest is at the base of the piece.
Even the connecting hallways have wonderful pieces.
And back down we go, to visit the gardens.
The ballroom is under renovation, it was an important conference room over the years where US Senators, the governor of New York and other elites would meet with locals.
The grand chandelier patiently awaits it’s chance to hang in it rightful location again.
Behind the mansion are the gardens and a carriage house which also has lovely rooms with antique beds, they are a little less grand that the suites in the main mansion but well appointed and charming. Each morning they deliver breakfast to your room if you choose not to go to the dining room.
The neighboring house helps to create the intimacy of the garden with their coral walls covered with creeping vines.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into the charm and beauty of Charleston, we had a great stay and hope to go back often. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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