Charleston SC: Building & Zoning – An Introduction
The City of Charleston controls development by a number of means, one of which is by allowing only certain types of development in certain neighborhoods or street frontages. How a particular plot is zoned will affect not only the purpose for which the property can be used but additionally, the type of development that can […]
Building in Energy Efficiency
The “El Dorado ” of house design, aside from livability and shelter from Mother Nature’s occasional wrath, is a house that uses no energy in its construction or daily operation. That is a laudable aim but in today’s world it’s really not going to happen without a lot of change in the process. However, there […]
A Renovation Begins: Gadsden House
What’s ahead for the Gadsden House? This begins a series detailing the progress of our latest historic renovation project on the downtown Charleston peninsula. It’s a big project for us, indeed a very big one. Also one where we need to bring in partners with skills we simply do not have.
Making Home Renovations Count
Putting a personal touch on your home is an exciting undertaking for any homeowner. Whether you’ve got a passion for interior design, or you seek professional advice, renovating your home can be a rewarding part of home ownership. At Luxury Simplified Construction, we work with clients on everything from new construction to complete “whole house […]
Gadsden House – The Gardens
By Jennifer DeCiantis, Landscape Designer & Certified Arborist The opportunity to restore The Gadsden House, a historic residence in Charleston, SC famed Ansonborough neighborhood, is a remarkable process to be involved in. The property has long been neglected. Nothing in the existing landscape existed when the house was built, except for the brick walls that […]
Common Pitfalls of Historic Renovation
Here is a truism in most all historic renovation work. It is not difficult to make something look good on the day that work is completed. However, the real test of workmanship is that it looks good the year after and the next 50 after that. If a building has survived 200 years without a fundamental […]
Gadsden House – NEW” Ceiling Medallions for a Historic Renovation”
When this grand home was built, Christopher Gadsden would have engaged the services of a master plasterer to add luxury to otherwise plain lime plaster ceilings and walls of the Gadsden House. For a Federal Period home, this means crown molding, swags, medals and especially ceiling medallions. Time has been brutal on this old […]
Gadsden House Historic Renovation: Crown Molding
In any historic renovation project, once you have removed the years of add-ons and poorly executed updates, you find that the ravages of time have left very little of the historic interior. We find that to be the case in our current historic restoration project, the Gadsden House. Certainly the plasterwork has suffered greatly to […]
Gadsden House Renovation – Keeping To The Timeline
We have a hard and fast end date to the restoration of the Gadsden House and the reason is that we have a wedding booked in early June. We have, as it seems, made a commitment to this bride and as such, in our eyes it is fixed and immutable.And so as it goes, that we […]
Gadsden House Historic Renovation: The Piazza Mystery
An enduring feature of Charleston houses is the Piazza. A beautiful extension to the home giving elevated living space and all important shade from the summer sun. Less used in these days of air conditioning, they were once the gathering place for family and friends to the point that they almost always had their own […]
