Ashley Avenue Historic Renovation
The Ashley: A Historic Downtown Charleston Inn Renovation
The team at O'Connor Homes renovated this historic downtown Charleston inn on Ashley Avenue in a room-by-room project that began in October 2022 and was completed in spring 2023. The $673,872 renovation included the main house's guest rooms and a detached carriage house that accommodates six guests. The work refreshed the property while maintaining its existing historic footprint.
Renewing a Historic Inn,
Room by Room
Rather than a ground-up rebuild, this project worked through the existing historic structure — replacing major systems, updating finishes, and preserving the character that makes a property like this one worth staying in.
The scope included new HVAC (with mini-splits added throughout), all-new plumbing supply lines, partial rewiring, three new water heaters, new tile and glass showers, and a full interior and exterior repaint of both the main house and the detached carriage house. The carriage house itself was repainted and updated to match.
The Challenge:
Modern Systems,
Preserved Character
- New HVAC and Mini-Splits—Existing HVAC was replaced and craned in, with new mini-split systems added throughout the property.
- All-New Plumbing and Partial Rewiring—New plumbing supply lines and partial rewiring were installed throughout the inn.
- Three New Water Heaters—Three new water heaters were installed to serve the property.
- New Tile and Glass Showers—Guest bathrooms were finished with new tile and glass shower enclosures.
- Preserved Historic Floors and Millwork—Original heart-pine floors, millwork, and antique pocket doors were resurfaced and preserved rather than replaced.
The Discovery That
Became a Suite
Demolition during the renovation uncovered a historic cistern beneath the property, which O'Connor Homes converted into a lounge space beneath a king bed — now known as the Speakeasy King Suite.
Elsewhere in the inn, penthouse suites reveal exposed brick from the building's three-story chimneys, paired with double walk-in showers. Original heart-pine floors, millwork, and 170-year-old oversized pocket doors were preserved throughout the renovation rather than replaced.
Why O'Connor Homes for Your Historic Property Renovation
A successful historic inn renovation has to make the property work better without erasing what makes it worth preserving. O’Connor Homes combines historic restoration work with the infrastructure upgrades a working guest property needs, from new mechanical systems and plumbing to carefully preserved heart-pine floors, millwork, and antique pocket doors.
Plan Your Property Renovation in Charleston's Historic District
Considering a renovation of a historic inn, guesthouse, or commercial building in downtown Charleston, South Carolina?
Contact O’Connor Homes to discuss your project. We work with property owners throughout Downtown Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry.
Frequently Asked Questions
The renovation was billed at $673,872, completed from an October 2022 contract through spring 2023.
The project included new HVAC and mini-splits, all-new plumbing supply lines, partial rewiring, three new water heaters, new tile and glass showers, and a full interior and exterior repaint of the main house and carriage house.
Demolition uncovered a historic cistern, which was converted into a lounge space beneath a king bed, now known as the Speakeasy King Suite.
Yes. Original heart-pine floors, millwork, and 170-year-old oversized pocket doors were preserved and resurfaced rather than replaced.
Yes. The detached carriage house sleeps six and was repainted and updated as part of the renovation.