This historic $3.34 million SC home has a room just to taste wine. Take a look inside
The 7,000-square-foot house sits on the highest spot in a neighborhood just outside downtown Greenville, a Colonial Revival more like something you’d see in Southern California than in South Carolina.
It’s one of a handful of Greenville homes considered both historic and architecturally unusual. And it’s for sale for $3.345 million.
The house was built in 1927 by Henry Simpson, who owned Belk Simpson department store in Greenville. At the time, it was one of just a few houses in what would come to be known as the North Main area.
It is now a tree-filled neighborhood with houses of various sizes and architectural styles.
None stand out quite as boldly as what was known for a long time as the Simpson house, now owned by Kimberly Kent, widow of Mark Kent, the fifth generation to own the textile company Kentwool. Mark Kent died in 2017 at 55 of a heart attack.
He bought the house in 2007 for $800,000. Mark Kent was already involved in historic restoration in Greenville. He is credited with bringing back to life the former Chamber of Commerce building, built in 1925, and American Cigar Factory, built in 1902, in downtown Greenville. The 10-story chamber building was one of the first high-rise buildings in Greenville.
The Simpson house took three years to restore, said Lil Glenn, the Realtor handling the sale.
She said the house has been updated, even as historic touches have been kept, such as button light switches and 12-foot ceilings. Arched doorways previously plastered over have been opened and the outside color has been restored to the original cream from pink paint that was at some point applied.
Glenn, who sold the house to Kent, said he had the original blueprints and worked from those.
The three-story house includes six bedrooms, five baths and a half bath. There is a wine-tasting room with a brick ceiling in a herringbone pattern and cherry wood. The room was once the garage for Simpson’s driver to park the store-owner’s Rolls Royce.
The property also features a salt water pool with an entertainment area and hearth fireplace, a three-car detached garage, covered arched terraces and four courtyards, covering 3,000 square feet.
The Spanish tile on the roof is original as is the iron front door that goes into a music room with limestone fireplaces.
A sun room was added and the kitchen fully renovated with a 10-foot island, Wolf 6 burner range, two dishwashers, refrigerator drawers, Sub Zero side-by-side refrigerator and wine chiller.
The second floor master suite includes vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, a small office and views of Paris Mountain.
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It’s been on the market for about a month.
This story was originally published May 19, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "This historic $3.34 million SC home has a room just to taste wine. Take a look inside."