As mentioned in my previous post, my sisters and I had a reunion in Charleston, South Carolina in early March. The Charleston Historic District is a photographer’s dream and anyone interested in architecture and history would enjoy wandering there. During our stay, we walked every day and admired many beautiful and historic homes and buildings.
Since I live a car-free lifestyle, I love that the Charleston Historic District is walkable and the streets are kept clean. Even though the Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) operates three routes on the Charleston peninsula and the ride is free, we chose to walk and explore at our own pace.
Today’s galleries include photos of Charleston-style houses, doors and gates in The Battery and King Street neighbourhoods. I love the house architecture and unique black iron gate designs. Click on an image in the gallery for better view and use arrows to move through the gallery.
Charleston-Style Houses
I learned about five distinguishing features of a Charleston single house: 1) A long, narrow shape 2) A wider side 3) A faux front door 4) A porch, and 5) A consistent interior layout.
The Charleston single houses have tall, narrow fronts and are typically only one room wide on the home’s street-facing side. From the side, however, they can be the width of several rooms. Although single houses appear to have a centralized front entryway, this door actually leads to a small piazza or porch.
The piazzas always appear on the side of the house with the front door which, to take best advantage of local winds, will be the south or west side. The true entryway was typically placed along the porch, so the house residents could have more privacy entering and exiting their homes.
The Charleston double house faces the street at its full length—rather than just one room’s width. Charleston double houses are less common than single houses.
The Battery
This gallery includes photos of gates at different heights. Some gates are flanked by green plants or lion statues. The gate with the lamp atop is the entrance to the historic Edmonston-Alston House circa 1825. The pink house adds privacy with green plants on two of the three archways. The double wooden doors in the last photo are solidly handsome.
King Street
This gallery includes three narrow single iron gates and three wide double gates. Two of the single gates are slightly ajar. The hanging planters with pretty flowers and the red bricks are lovely to see.
Weekend Coffee Share
I spotted this mural near Charleston City Market and thought it was perfect for today’s Weekend Coffee Share and Photographing Public Art Challenge.
What do you think about Charleston-style houses? Did you see any door or gate you like? For more door photos, visit Dan’s #ThursdayDoors photo challenge.
Please note that there will be no linkup on March 31 as I’ll be taking a blogging break next week. I’ll return with a fresh post and resume hosting Weekend Coffee Share on April 7. Thank you.
I’d love for you to share what’s been happening, simple joys from your week and/ or favourite public art photos from around the world in the comments or Weekend Coffee Share linkup #112 InLinkz below.
Copyright © 2023 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
Wonderful doors, Natalie and I love your photos of these houses and the gates. Our PBS series This Old House had a project house in Charleston a few years ago. Those houses are so interesting. It is a walkable city, and we benefit from your walking.
Enjoy your break. I hope you have some nice spring weather.
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Thank you, Dan. I’m glad you liked my photos. I also took photos of some impressive buildings and churches in Charleston. They are not as charming as the houses so they are in my archive. “See” you in April.
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🙂
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I agree Charleston is a photographer’s paradise. I couldn’t get enough of the architecture, gates, and doors!
I think they built those single houses “sideways”, because of tax reasons. Apparently, tax was being paid based on the length that borders the road, therefore, most houses are much deeper than they are wide. But maybe that was somewhere else I visited on the east coast… 🙂
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Liesbet, I heard of that “tax reasons” explanation. They may apply to Charleston’s Rainbow Row houses which are attached and on narrow lots but not the pink houses that I shared in this post. Have you been to Charleston Historic District?
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Yes. So that’s probably the area I was thinking about….
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Those houses are beautiful Natalie – and the pink is just gorgeous – it reminds me of the colonial manors. The wrought iron gatework is lovely too – and well done on finding a coffee share mural in keeping with your great party.
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Thanks, Leanne, for your positive feedback. I’m glad you liked those houses and iron gates. The soft pink reminds me of some houses that I saw in Bermuda.
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Fab collection.
Love the pink building.
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Thanks, PTP. I’m glad you liked my photo collection.
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You are welcome.
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What an abundance of beauty!
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Agreed. Thank you for your comment.
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Its interesting how doors and gates can draw so much focus with how lovely they look.
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They are at the front of the house and give the first impression.
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Hi, Natalie – I greatly enjoyed your photos of the Charleston-style houses. The doors and gates were all super interesting making it impossible for me to choose a favourite. Enjoy your blogging break. I will be on a blogging break for the full month of April. See you in May!
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Hi Donna, I’m glad you enjoyed my photos in this post. Have a wonderful blogging break. See you in May!
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They all look fantastic! But the pink ones are the best 🙂
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The pink houses stand out, don’t they? Glad you liked them.
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How beautiful, Natalie. What a beautiful city. Do you have a favorite area of Charleston? The gates are all fabulous, and I love, love, love the mural. Did you take the horse carriage tour?
I didn’t know that you lived a car-free lifestyle! My first MIL lived like that. I have never tried it, but it sure would save a lot of money! I knew you biked a lot. Bravo, Bravo!
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Hi Marsha, I really liked The Battery and waterfront in Charleston. I didn’t take the horse carriage tour since I’d rather walk. I’ve been living a car-free lifestyle all my adult life and love it. Thank you for your comment.
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You grow more and more amazing, the longer I know you, Natalie. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
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Thank you Marsha for your kind words. Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead!
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You too, Natalie. 🙂
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I adore Charleston style architecture. It seems quaint yet practical. And they do photograph beautifully!
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Thank you Ally for your comment. There are a lot of beautiful homes and buildings in the Charleston Historic District. I really enjoyed my walks when I was there.
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I’m sitting here with my breakfast tea and have been taken to another world..what wonderful buildings and photos. Thanks so much for sharing.
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You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed my post and photos.
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So many fun gates and things. I really enjoyed the architecture and walking around… I definitely do not live a car-free lifestyle out here in the country but I do love when we visit cities like this where walking is easy and there’s so much to see.
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I love walkable cities and towns. Charleston Historic District is full of beautiful architecture and fun things to see.
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Love all the doors, gates, and houses. It’s hard to pick a favourite!
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I love all of them, too.
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This is my public art for the week – lets title it “bearly hanging in there waiting for spring”
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Thank you Bernie for your public art contribution. I love the title 🙂
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Just love that pink house, very Spanish looking. Have been absent from blogging. My dad just passed away and currently in the UK taking care of my mum who has dementia. Not sure if it’s appropriate to comment like this though 🙂
Just randomly looking at my blog now and again.
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Ali, I’m sorry for your loss. I was thinking about you and wondering how you’re doing in the UK. I hope you have the support you need for you and your mum. Please take care. Thank you for stopping by.
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Thanks for your thoughts Natalie 😊
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Such an elegant looking place, Natalie! My son-in-law specialises in wrought iron. He’d never be out of work there. Have a great week off!
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Jo, I agree your SIL would never be out of work in Charleston. Wrought iron is popular there. Have a great weekend and a safe trip to the UK in April!
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Thanks, darlin!
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The houses and gates are are lovely! You asked which gate we liked the best. Honestly, I like them all, but the gates with flower baskets really caught my attention. So fun and different. What a fun trip!
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The flower baskets are really nice touches. Thank you for your comment.
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Now I really want to go to Charleston. It looks like a great town to visit. And our goal has been to live where we don’t need a car. It’s a lot less stressful, and it’s healthier.
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In my previous post about Charleston, several commenters have also visited Charleston and all said they enjoyed the city. I’ve been living a car-free lifestyle all my adult life so your goal to live where you don’t need a car is quite achievable when you choose the right location.
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We were car-free in Buenos Aires and Mexico City, and now in NYC. I love it.
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Charleston is much smaller than those three cities. You can walk or bike all over the Charleston peninsula. The free shuttle is available, too.
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You did really good with those doors! I love and have always loved double doors. A walking tour is always fun since you do not miss anything.
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Thank you. We get to see many things when we walk.
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Here is mine for this week! http://specialmomsblog.mom/2023/03/25/simple-things/
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Thank you for your coffee share.
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Thanks for sharing, Natalie. I’ve always found Charleston to be a fascinating place to visit, mostly because of its history-rich environment. I would love to visit there some day.
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You’re welcome, Yinglan. There are many historic buildings and sites in Charleston with information plaques explaining the history. I hope you get to visit the city.
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All the angles and the different types of plants outside is most appealing to me. I would love to take a walk there. I think it is amazing that all those houses are still there. How was humidity this time of the year?
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Humidity was low and the weather was pleasant in early March. Charleston is walkable and has many beautiful and historic homes and buildings to see.
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That sounds wonderful!
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The houses are magnificent and I especially love the metal gates.
Here is mine for this week.
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Glad you liked the houses and wrought iron gates.
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https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2023/03/25/stairs-and-chairs/
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Thank you for your PPAC contribution. Great collection of visually interesting stairs and chairs.
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Here is my entry from my travel blog: https://boomercoupletraveljournal.wordpress.com/2023/03/27/santorini-of-the-north/
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Thank you Teresa for your PPAC contribution. I’m delighted to see Santorini through your lens.
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Charleston just looks amazing, Natalie. I love the houses, so beautiful. I loved the way you organised your galleries too and to that last mural, I can always say Yes, please.
Here is mine:
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2023/03/25/ppac-lisbon-17/
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Thank you Sofia for your PPAC contribution. Lisbon is one of my favourite European cities.
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Hi Natalie, I love the Charleston style houses and also the artistic gates. Was great to see more of your adventures in Charleston.
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Hi Jennifer, I’m glad you liked my post and photos. Thank you for linking up.
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If I had to choose a door, it would be the red one. Red is my favorite color & I like that gate door combination. #Weekendcoffeeshare
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That house with the red door and the low gate is charming. Excellent choice!
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Great photos! I hope you have a good weekend and a wonderful week (or two) ahead! Enjoy your blogging break.
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Thanks, Trent. Enjoy the weekend.
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What a great tour! Thank you Natalie.
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Thank you Diane for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed my post.
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Charleston has SO many great and simple sight sight to see and enjoy. So glad you had a wonderful visit.
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Charleston is a wonderful city to visit. I have more photos to share but don’t want to overdo it in one post.
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So glad you had a good trip! I really, really want to visit Charleston. I’ve been to Savannah, but I’ve heard Charleston is much nicer.
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Perhaps you can move Charleston up your travel list. If you don’t like humidity, visit Charleston in spring or late fall.
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You have to love the obvious glamor of some of these photos from US history, Also that it is copied so much in other cities, it just adds to the value of such designs. Great stuff again Natalie.
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Thanks, Gary. I’m glad you like the designs.
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It’s a really beautiful city. I had no idea. Is this in the Randy Newman song (Sail away?)
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Yes, that’s Charleston. I walked by a historic building with a plaque that states it used to be a site for slave trades.
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So much to see in Charleston! I love the architecture and all those wonderful gates.
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Charleston is a wonderful city to visit. I’m glad you liked the architecture and gates.
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Their homes and the area are beautiful! In 1989, a hurricane came onto land and destroyed many homes there. I’m sure it’s all rebuilt now. I don’t think I have been back to visit since I was there months before that hurricane.
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I read about that hurricane. The Waterfront Park and its trees provide some protection to the new homes. Charleston Historic District is in beautiful condition now.
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I love that mural!! It would make a great header.
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Isn’t it a great mural? I’m glad you love it.
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I am so glad you enjoyed walking around downtown Charleston. I am also happy to learn the shuttle is free for those who can’t or don’t want to walk longer distances.
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The free shuttle is a great option for visitors to Charleston.
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Those doors are so very wonderful. Very nice. Thanks for sharing them.
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You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked those doors.
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Hi Natalie,
Thanks for the tour of Charleston and the mention of “grits” which took me over to Google. Might have to have a go making that. I made corn bread years ago along with polenta. Sounds like a wonderful getaway catching up with family too.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Hi Rowena, We had wonderful reunion. Enjoy making grits and let us at Weekend Coffee Share how it turns out. Have a great week!
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I think I remember you saying something about being car free…living where we live, I can’t imagine not having a car. I suppose if I lived in very large city where everything was so close or an easy bus ride away I could do it. Hmmm..I wonder. I do remember when we visited Boston, I told my husband I COULD not drive if I lived here. It was too stressful watching him navigate things.
THat is interesting about those houses. I might have to go browse the site “For the love of old homes” to see if I can find examples of these and peer inside them.
I love the gates and that mural too.
See you next week.
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Thank you Kirstin for your comment. Sorry for the late reply as I was traveling. Some cities are designed better for a car-free lifestyle than others. I’ve been fortunate to live car-free all my adult life so far. Some of the historic homes in Charleston are open for tours and their websites have images of the interiors. See you this weekend.
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Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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