This $13.5 Million Residence in Downtown Charleston Offers a Fresh Take on Historic Architecture

As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., Charleston, South Carolina, is home to a wide range of architectural styles popular in the 19th and 20th centuries, from Colonial cottages and Federal row houses to stately Georgian mansions and opulent Greek Revival villas. There are upwards of 2,000 well-preserved buildings in Charleston, some of which date back to the 1700s and that draw travelers with historical and architectural interests from across the country.

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The city’s strong and longstanding commitment to architecture and preservation is precisely what makes this $13.5 million contemporary home situated in the heart of Charleston’s historic South of Broad neighborhood such a rare commodity. Listed with Leslie Turner, co-founder of Charleston-based Maison Real Estate, the home is located along Murray Boulevard, a waterfront street brimming with southern manors and centuries-old mansions.

The home was completely renovated and reimagined in 2021 and is one of the few contemporary homes in South of Broad, though it makes obvious nods to the city’s architectural roots. Featuring a trio of dormers in a gable roof and fronted by covered porches, the modern tropy home is reminiscent of what’s known as a Charleston single house, a long, slender home with the longest side of the home perpendicular to the street. A style unique to Charleston, these homes were built to sit on the city’s deep and narrow lots but also allowed for air to flow easily through the house.

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Sandwiched between older, brick-clad homes, this residence stands out for its stark-white facade, enormous windows, and clean lines. It’s loosely inspired by Miami’s modern waterfront mansions and includes a laundry list of up-to-date creature comforts that rival homes in Los Angeles. While the lot is on the small side—it measures in at only .18 acres—the interior of the 6,755-square-foot home feels exceptionally voluminous. Altogether, there are five bedrooms and six bathrooms, plus a powder room.

You enter the three-story home on the ground floor, where there are many sought-after wellness and entertaining amenities, including a glass-walled gym, infrared sauna, wet bar, massage room, movie theater, office, and billiards room. There’s also some flexible space and, at the end of a long gated drive, a garage. A glass and steel staircase leads up to the second floor, where the open-plan great room is lined with windows. The living room features a fireplace encased in glossy black marble; the gourmet kitchen has top-grade appliances; and an L-shaped bank of windows glides open to a covered patio overlooking the water.

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The backside of the great room spills out onto an elevated courtyard patio, which includes a plunge pool, outdoor kitchen, and shaded seating. On the far side of the pool, an attached one-bedroom apartment with a private entrance, bathroom, and kitchen is located directly over the garage.

The third floor is where you’ll find the primary suite, which includes a water-view bedroom, a covered porch, a spa-like bathroom, a fireplace, and a morning/midnight bar with a beverage refrigerator. Each guest bedroom features a bathroom with porcelain tiled walls and floors. Other highlights include an elevator, a putting green, and a small rooftop deck with 360-degree views of Charleston.

The home’s location is paramount, situated along picturesque Murray Boulevard, overlooking the Ashley River and Charleston Harbor, and a fantastic street for running or strolling. There are also numerous historic sites nearby, along with a plethora of restaurants, hotels, and entertainment options.

Click here for more photos of this contemporary Charleston home.

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