Southern Belle

A longtime client and owner of this 4,500 sq. ft. historic Charleston, SC home asked John MacDonald to restore its 1778 architectural details and charm. He was also tasked with an addition of 1000 square feet to meet their families’ program. The restoration required a complete gut renovation, with the design process taking approximately seven months to complete. This was followed by a two-year construction period to ensure that every detail was painstakingly restored.

Working with the Historic Charleston Foundation, John and project manager James Christopherson, were required to restore or replicate the existing exterior structure and interior details. Using old black and white photos obtained from the Library of Congress, MMA was able to replicate long lost details such as the property entry gate, mantels, cornices, hardware, and other historical details. The new addition(s)  utilized sympathetic materials such as old Savannah Grey brick, hand-hewn timbers, and a unique back bar made up of local oyster shells to compliment the period details. The end result is a seamless blending of old and new, bringing this beautiful antique back to original glory.

principal-in-charge

John S. MacDonald, AIA

project lead

James Christopherson

interior designer

Amelia Handegan, Inc.

landscape architect

Sheila Wertimer Associates

general contractor

Bennett Hofford Construction, Inc.

photgrapher

Meredith Brower

publications & awards
  • PRISM Award, Best Restoration (2018)
  • PRISM Award, Best Living Area (2017)
Explore More Projects