Charleston Carriage Ride

The Wall Street Journal wrote a great article about Charleston over the weekend - Take Monday Off: Charleston.  It described some of the best places to shop, dine, and visit while spending a long weekend in Charleston.  After reading the article, I asked a few of our REALTORS to share some of their favorite things about our beloved city.  So, if you’re planning a trip or just looking for something new to do in the city, take a moment to review what some of the locals enjoy…

The Battery

“My wife and I love to take our dogs for a long walk down Murray Blvd, through Battery Park, and then walk back up South Battery St and enjoy all the live oaks and beautiful homes.  We often find ourselves picturing what life used to be like back in the 1800′s when many of those houses were first built.”  – Will Dammeyer

“The Grocery is a great new restaurant off of upper King – fresh and interesting preparations, not heavy food and casual. ” – Helen Geer

King Street Shopping

“Charleston is a hub for great shopping and great dining.  Walking down upper King Street in the evening makes me feel like I am in NYC. The streets are bustling and the restaurants are spilling over with patrons.  A trip is never complete without a visit to Bob Ellis Shoes, a King Street institution and family owned business that has been serving the well heeled women of Charleston for close to seventy years. Barry Kalinsky, owner, hand picks the best of the best in shoes and handbags and sells them in his King Street shop.  Hall’s Chophouse, Macintosh, and the cocktail club are destination places for fun, people watching and delicious fare.”   – Mona Kalinsky

“My favorite clothing store in Charleston is Hampden Clothing. 314 King Street.  Stacey Smallwood, the owner, has fabulous taste and loves to help you find that perfect stylish look.”  – Paula Yorke

Croghan's Jewel Box on King

“Croghan’s Jewel Box is a Charleston treasure.   The quality selection in every price range is surpassed only by the excellent personal service you receive from the family oriented staff.  I always feel a great sense of satisfaction with every purchase whether it is a graduation gift or a special piece of jewelry.”

“A dining experience not to be missed on a visit to Charleston is La Fourchette on King St.  It is truly like stepping into a quaint little bistro in Paris with fabulous authentic dishes and an extensive wine list.  More times than not, you will have a table visit by the charming proprietor, Perig Goulet, and that alone will make your night.”  -Martha Freshley

“My favorite restaurant in downtown Charleston is Trattoria Lucca.  It is a small restaurant that is always bustling with people, and the food is delicious and innovative.  Try the Warm Cauliflower Sformatino…and the handmade pastas are amazing!” – Sarah Vineyard

“Fulton Five is a great restaurant that is just off the beaten path on Fulton Street; they have the best mussels.  While Husk restaurant gets all the acclaim, Husk bar has amazing drinks and great food without the reservation.  Barsa, a Spanish restaurant has the best paella in Charleston.

Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park has amazing views of the water, bridge, Yorktown and downtown Charleston.  Take it all in on some great swinging benches.”  – Drew Grossklaus

“A walk down the lower part of Church Street and peeking in the gardens in the rear is also a favorite and going in some of the museum homes owned by the Charleston Historic Foundation gives a great flavor of how Charlestonians lived in the past.”

“Il Cortile del Re is one of my most favorite restaurants…it’s Italian and has a wonderful outdoor dining area off of what was once a carriage house down a small alcove.”

“Middleton Gardens in the spring is a must see especially when the azaleas are blooming and reflecting in the ponds.” – Charlotte Riley

Magnolia's

“Cypress is one of my favorites!  I also recommend Blossoms and Magnolia’s for a more southern gourmet flavor.  The Charleston Grill is perfect for a more formal meal.  82 Queen (right behind Fulton Five) and Poogan’s Porch offer a bit of history and a variety of good old Southern food!”  – Kristin McCann

“Taking a rickshaw is a fun way to get around downtown – you can’t do that in every city.”  – Meghan Duggan

If you are considering purchasing a Charleston home, don’t forget to stop by William Means Real Estate at 41 Broad Street and check out the latest listings available all around the city.

Spoleto Festival USA was originally founded in 1977 by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Gian Carlo Menotti, Christopher Keene, and others who sought to create an American counterpart to their annual Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. Looking for a city that would provide the charm of Spoleto as well as its wealth of theaters, churches and other performances spaces, they selected Charleston as the ideal location. The historic city provided a perfect fit: intimate enough that the Festival would captivate the entire city, yet cosmopolitan enough to provide an enthusiastic audience and robust infrastructure.

Watch the video below to see this year’s highlights or visit spoletousa.org to view the schedule of performances and to purchase tickets.

Mark Rothko’s Orange, Red, Yellow Soars to $86.9 Million

Christie’s highly anticipated Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale on May 8 totaled $388.5 million (£240.9 million/ €299.1 million), marking the highest total ever in auction history for the category. Record after record fell throughout the night, as bidders from around the world convened in the saleroom to compete for the sale’s exceptional roster of works by the top artists of the category, including Mark Rothko, Gerhard Richter, Jackson Pollock, Alexander Calder, Yves Klein, Richard Diebenkorn, Barnett Newman, and Willem de Kooning, among others. Fourteen new auction records were established, as well as a new record for the most expensive Post-War and Contemporary work sold at auction. The sale was 99% sold by value and 95% sold by lot.

“This was an historic event in the auction world, with three major records set in the space of a few short hours: a record for any Post-War and Contemporary art sale at $388.5 million, a record for any private collection of Post-War and Contemporary Art at $174.9 million for the Pincus Collection, and a new record for the most expensive work of the period, with Rothko’s Orange, Red, Yellow sold for $86.9 million,” said Brett Gorvy, Chairman and International Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art. “This was truly a season of icons, with the best works by Rothko, Newman, Richter, Pollock, Calder and Klein to come to market in many years. To see so many major records established in one evening was a tribute to the exceptional works on offer this season.”

Here at William Means, we are truly honored to be an extension of the Christie’s brand as well has a part of such a historic event.  The Christie’s Auction House has done an exceptional job creating brand synergy between Christie’s and Christie’s International Real Estate.

Tri-County over $500,000
Coming off the month of March that saw the Tri-County up 88%, a small dip of 16 in sales was to be expected.  However, those sales numbers were up 23% against the previous year.

Downtown – Inside of Crosstown
Downtown saw consistency month over month.

Downtown – South of Broad

I’On Village
I’On continued strong sales in the month April.  Sales of I’On homes were up 20% from the previous month and year.

Sullivan’s Island

Mt. Pleasant – South of IOP Connector
Mt. Pleasant had strong gains in April coming off a very strong March.  Sales for Mt. Pleasant were up 13% over March and 27% over the previous year.

*all numbers courtesy of CTAR MLS as of 5/11/12

27 Lamboll Street

This elegant four story home was first recorded as a sale to R Reynolds in 1851, but is thought to have been built prior to this date.  Located on the corner of Legare and Lamboll Street in the historic South of Broad Section of downtown Charleston 27 Lamboll Street is where the first ball after the Civil War was held. Truly an amazing property some standout features include a state of the art kitchen, beautifully hardscaped parking lot area, 12 foot ceilings in the main rooms, original heart of pine flooring, exposed brick walls, 6 fireplaces with gas logs, elevator, wine room and fourth story view of the Charleston Harbor.

To see additional images click here.

This is the only private residence in Charleston with a free standing circular stairway.

Magnificent natural light in the main rooms make an elegant setting for entertaining.  Meticulously renovated and maintained, the entire property is in mint condition.

For more information please contact Sally Rhett at 224.5999 or srhett@comcast.net.  Visit our website to browse additional historic Charleston homes for sale. 

The McDaniels Audi Polo Invitational is this Sunday, May 6th.  It takes place at the Hyde Park Polo Club benefits Rein and Shine Therapeutic Riding Program – a  unique equine therapy facility where children and adults with special needs in the Charleston area can learn, grow, and heal.  This event will be fun for the whole family and money raised goes to a great cause!

Gates open at 11 and the game starts at 1.  Tickets start at $15 and you can tailgate and bring your coolers and food (or food can be purchased).  For more information check out the event page.

18 Broad Street #701A – This residence offers the most spectacular views of any condominium in Charleston!  Breath-taking panoramic views of the harbor, the French Quarter, South of Broad, the Ravenel Bridge, and both the Cooper and Ashley Rivers.  The interior can only be described as stunning and offers every conceivable luxury.

Master Bedroom Overlooking the Harbor

Medway Plantation – Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Medway Plantation is rich in history and offers a unique and elegant lifestyle.  Dating back to 1686, the main house is the oldest masonry structure in South Carolina.  The property encompasses 6,728 lush acres  protected by easements for traditional land uses.

Medway's Main House

If you are looking for someone to represent your unique property, give us a call.  Let us show you what William Means, Charleston’s exclusive Christie’s affiliate, can do for you.  Or if you are looking for a special property, let us connect you to our global network of luxurious listings.  We can help you find your perfect home – 843-577-6651 or realestate@williammeans.com.

The sale is anchored by several important American collections, including jewelry from the Estate of Huguette M. Clark, one of the last great heiresses of America’s Gilded Age.  Ms. Clark’s stunning personal jewelry collection, which is believed to have been stored in a bank vault since the 1940s, includes signed Art Deco jewels by Cartier, Dreicer & Co., and Tiffany & Co., including The Clark Pink, an extremely rare 9-carat pink diamond ring, and The Clark Diamond, a superb 20-carat D-color diamond ring.  The complete collection of 17 jewels is expected to fetch up to $12 million.

The sale also features a magnificent selection of signed jewels from the Estate of Lucille E. Davison, a prominent collector, philanthropist and long-time trustee of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. Her jewelry collection includes over 40 exquisite signed jewels that represent the best in modern design, including an array of “mystery set” jewels by Van Cleef & Arpels, and a selection of bracelets and brooches conceived by the legendary designer Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. The total collection is estimated to realize up to $1 million.

The April sale also marks the start to another exciting season for the diamond market, with no less than 10 top-quality D-color diamonds included in the sale, and 15 more stones graded higher than top commercial white. The assortment is led by The Perfect Diamond, a stunning 44.09 carat D-color internally flawless diamond with a highly-desirable emerald cut. Exhibiting excellent polish and symmetry with no fluorescence, The Perfect Diamond is certified by the GIA as a type IIa diamond, the most chemically pure classification prized for its exceptional optical clarity.

The success of the Christie’s auction house directly translates to the Christie’s International Real Estate brand, the real estate division continues to grow and thrive through the excellent brand synergy and access to an international audience.  Let us know if you’d like to discuss how the Christie’s name could help market your home or let us assist you in finding a home (anywhere in the world).

The circa-1804 property consists of three houses and two carriage houses, with eighteen bedrooms, public rooms, and landscaped gardens. The properties sold for $3.2 million. On the market since 2008, the property’s listing agent was Jane Smith Smith of Carriage Properties, LLC, while the Andrews were represented by Mona Kalinsky of William Means Real Estate.

Dean Andrews has indicated their intention to operate the property as a boutique hotel, post renovation and repositioning. The re-launch plans will be finalized in the next several weeks. Andrews notes that he and his wife, Lynn Easton Andrews, “are very much looking forward to being back in Charleston with our friends, in a city and culture that we know well and very much appreciate.”

Andrews was Managing Director of the Ownership of Charleston Place Hotel from its opening in 1988 until 2008, and was responsible for the hotel’s business operation as well as the hotel’s sale to Orient-Express Hotels, Ltd., in 1996. Andrews joined Orient-Express as President of the North American holdings, and actively expanded the company from 12 properties to 50 properties internationally. He moved to New York in 2000 to be part of the team that took Orient-Express public on the NYSE. He is now a principal in an expanding boutique hotel operating and investment company, Hay Creek Hotels.

Lynn Easton Andrews is the owner of Easton Events LLC, an event design and management company producing high-end weddings, social events, and corporate board of directors retreats, founded in 2000.

“This is great news for Charleston and our growing tourism industry,” notes William Means Real Estate’s Mona Kalinsky, who is “thrilled that 317 East Bay Street will soon be operating again as an Inn. Dean Andrews is a terrific person to spearhead this hospitality project. His experience in the hotel industry, combined with his Charleston roots, provides him with the recipe for success.”

Carriage Properties, LLC’s Jane Smith Smith adds that the property’s former owners, the Mulholland family, “are excited to have the lights back on and life in the inn.” Lucille and Robert Mulholland and their son, Mark, opened the inn in 1987, at the corner of George Street and East Bay Street in the Ansonborough Historic District, steps from Gaillard Municipal Auditorium. Before it closed in 2007, the inn was featured in publications such as the New York Times, Country Inns, Great Inns of America, and France’s Maison & Jardin. In 2009 Lucille and Robert’s daughter, Teri Mulholland Bergin, was instrumental in arranging for the property to be showcased as the Symphony Designer Showhouse to benefit the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, of which Lucille was an avid supporter.

If you’re searching for your own piece of history, contact us at William Means or start your search for historic Charleston real estate for sale now.

March was an extremely strong month for real estate sales and a banner month for William Means Real Estate.  In nearly every luxury category and location the month of March exceeded the previous month and year.  The real estate market continues to be strong as corrected pricing and low interest rates are meeting a large contingent of buyers.  William Means had one of the best sales months in the history of the company and we continue to have strong demand from buyers and sellers.

Tri-County over $500,000

The luxury market in general had a great increase with the average sale price up nearly 38%.  The total number of sales were up a whopping 126% from the previous month.

Downtown – Inside of Crosstown

Downtown had increase of total sales of 88% above the previous month.

Downtown – South of Broad

South of Broad also saw an increase of 75% in total sales.

I’On Village

I’On had a strong surge in nearly every category.  Sales of I’On homes were up 150% from the previous month and year.

Sullivan’s Island

Mt. Pleasant – South of IOP Connector