By E.B. Solomont

The specs

   -- List price: $3.29 million 
 
   -- Size: 8,400 sq. ft. 
 
   -- Land: 1.2 acres 
 
   -- 9 bedrooms, 8 full baths and 4 1/2 half baths 

Red door allure

Built in the 1890s, the Victorian-style residence was owned by cosmetics icon Elizabeth Arden from the 1930s to 1950s, according to the 2011 book "Summerville." The current owners, Allison and Ron Wehtje, stumbled upon it while looking for a rental in the Charleston area.

"I didn't have filters on the pricing, so up pops this gorgeous house," said Allison, who was searching for properties online. "I fell in love with it."

Can't miss features

Allison and Ron said they tried to keep the historic nature of the estate. They preserved leaded-glass windows, and the living room has original hand-carved, stone fireplace mantles.

As a tribute to Arden and her "Red Door" spas, the couple also repainted the front door, which had faded to a pinky red. The furnishings are a mix of art deco, antique and modern pieces.

Reason for selling?

The couple want to be closer to family, including Allison's 86-year-old mother, who lives in Cincinnati. Her daughters from a prior relationship are also starting their own families, and she doesn't want to be an absent grandmother. Ron also wants to be closer to his grandchildren in Nashville. "It was a very, very hard decision. A lot of tears, conversations about why," Allison said. "As you look at your life, family is what's important. Not the job. Not the house.

Market Snapshot

Located about 25 miles from Charleston, Summerville was a summertime retreat for wealthy South Carolinians during the 19th century. Its historic downtown draws comparisons to downtown Charleston and Mount Pleasant's Old Village, but prices are far lower, said listing agent Taylor Charpia of the Boulevard Company. "Homes there trade for $1,500 to $2,000 per foot. We're at $500 per foot," he said. "There's a great value here without giving up anything." In November, the median home sale price in Summerville was $370,000, up 15.3% year-over-year, according to real-estate brokerage Redfin.

Write to E.B. Solomont at eb.solomont@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 24, 2025 15:25 ET (20:25 GMT)

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