Following my last blog, where we explored Charleston's Historic Alleys, I decided to follow up with my favorite part of Charleston Architecture, the Gates! Every time I'm walking around South of Broad, I find myself snapping photos of these ornate gates, guarding the entrance to driveways and secret gardens!            Can you imagine Charleston's Historic homes without these wrought iron gates? The mid-1800's trend was actually to use the cheaper cast iron, but the Holy City spared no expense and talented blacksmiths were able to carry out the visions of wealthy residents. Wrought iron is a tough, yet malleable iron alloy that is welded and forged together using a small anvil; it is ideal for crafting the beautiful patterns seen in Charleston gates today. The wrought iron originally was not just for gates, but window grills, sharp spikes for tops of fences, and boot scrapers! In the mid to late 1800s, it became increasingly popular to embellish gates mostly in patterns of flowers, leaves, and branches that reflected the time's popular Victorian Style.       One name you should know is the highly-noted Artisan, Phillip Simmons. Also known as "The Keeper of the Gate", Simmons produced hundreds of decorative gates and other ornamental ironworks around the Peninsula. From St. John's Church to Hibernian Hall to Private Residences, chances are you've seen and admired Simmons' work all over the city. His work can also be seen at the South Carolina State Museum and Smithsonian Institution.       Next time you are strolling South of Broad, make sure to take a closer look at one of these ornate gates that adorn the Holy City.If you want to snag one of these wonderful homes, CLICK HERE to see what is available in the area RIGHT NOW! Call me today to see one of these Historic Homes. 843-410-7871 

Do "vibes" play a roll in home buying? Most of us are aware that Charleston is known as "The Holy City" but did you ever think about what implications that could have in terms of buying a home? Charleston got its nickname "The Holy City" due to its magnitude of religious diversity, but its no secret there may be a presence of the supernatural here in the low country. Have you ever walked into a home that had gorgeous street appeal, all the upgrades, and amenities you've been dreaming of and it's in the perfect neighborhood, yet when you walk in something just does not feel right? Maybe something you cannot put your finger on feels a little off. Perhaps this is your inner guidance alerting you to move on. A lot of people laugh at the idea of bad energy or bad vibes in a home but this concept can play an important role in decision making. The reason you have a preference for a certain home over another usually does not involve the supernatural, however, the "vibe" or energy a house holds is something of value that we should pay attention to. A lot of the home buying process is trusting our gut instinct and if something doesn't feel right it probably means this is not the home for us. Please do not discredit this inner voice inside of you, especially when searching for your perfect home. If you need assistance finding that home with the right vibes please contract Erin Eisele. Erin Eisele Real Estate/Leasing/Property ManagementErin.Eisele@AgentOwnedRealty.com(843) 329-2273

Historic Charleston Foundation House Museum The Aiken-Rhett house was built in 1820 by a sea merchant named John Robinson and is one of the best-preserved townhouse complexes in the country. While many historic properties in Charleston have been restored to their former glory, the Aiken-Rhett house has been preserved, left virtually untouched, since the 1850s! This palatial residence showcases city life in antebellum Charleston. The house was first built as a Charleston double house, meaning it had a center hall and 2 rooms on each side. John Robinson lost 5 ships at sea in 1825 which ruined him financially. He was forced to sell the house and property to William Aiken Sr. in 1827. Aiken was an Irish immigrant who gained his large fortune as one of Charleston’s leading merchants. He used the property as a rental property until he died suddenly in a carriage accident in 1831. The house and his assets were divided between his wife Henrietta and his only son, William Aiken, Jr. William Aiken Jr. was a successful rice planter who would later become a prominent statesman and governor of South Carolina. He and his new wife, Harriet Lowndes, decided to use the home as their permanent residence, and in 1833, began a massive renovation. They created one of the most impressive residences, an Urban Plantation, in Charleston.   They moved the main entrance to the side of the house and constructed a new curved double staircase to get to the main level of the house. A three-story addition was constructed that added a dining room to the first floor. The original staircase became the back stairwell once the new three-story staircase was built. Slaves used this back staircase to access the main house from the lower level of the home. The lowest level of the Aiken-Rhett opened to a walled-in work yard. The work yard is said to be one of the nation’s most complete examples of urban life for the enslaved. On either side of the work yard is a two-story outbuilding. One served as the kitchen and laundry, the other is the carriage house that stored carriages and also livestock. Both of these outbuildings have slave quarters above them. The slave quarters have been untouched since the mid 19th century. They have original paint, floors, and fixtures. You can see the very worn down stair treads in the stairwell. The back of the courtyard is flanked by 2 privies. In 1858 while traveling abroad, Governor Aiken commissioned his cousin to design and build an art gallery. It is the only one of its kind in the city of Charleston. You can still find some of the art and treasures the Aikens acquired in the art gallery today. William Aiken Jr died in 1887. He left the house to his wife and daughter. His wife Harriet lived in the home until her death in 1892. Her daughter Henrietta married Major A.B. Rhett, and they raised 5 children in the home. Their 2 sons, I’on and Andrew continued to live in the house until the mid-1900s.  The house spent 142 years in the Aiken family's hands before being sold to the Charleston Museum and opened as a museum house in 1975. Would you like to see the explore the Aiken-Rhett House and catch a glimpse of life in an urban plantation? The house is part of the Charleston Historic Foundation and is located at 48 Elizabeth Street. It is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with the last tour starting at 4:00. Call me and we can explore Charleston's history together! Aimee Martik Real Estate/Leasing/Property ManagementAimee.Martik@AgentOwnedRealty.com(724)344-9813