7483 Green Pond Highway - Walterboro, South Carolina

Luxury Homes

The Ace Basin is the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry. And in this pristine area is a Southern estate ready to welcome a new family. Just 11 years old, the house looks as though it was finished yesterday. Sunlight streams through staircase windows into the foyer, highlighting gleaming heart pine floors that are beautiful and have a history as well.

According to owner John Smith Jr., the floors in the house were originally wood shipped north to build factories. When the factories were torn down, the reclaimed wood found its way back South, where it was remanufactured into the fine wood flooring that runs through much of the house.

The house was built with a great deal of forethought and attention to detail. Beginning with a foundation of solid walls instead of piers, Smith explained that the builder used marine-grade plywood tongue-and-groove construction, followed by a moisture barrier and an additional layer of sub-floor.

"This house is solid," Smith said. "No squeaking; no movement. This house will be here a long time."

Beyond the high construction standards, the plantation-style solid brick home offers a layout that flows naturally from room to room. The sun-drenched foyer takes you into an elegant yet very comfortable great room which features stunning built-in cabinets and a wood-burning fireplace. A formal dining room is just off the kitchen, which includes top-of-the-line appliances, a built-in desk and a charming breakfast nook.

Oversized doorways help define rooms, while 10-foot ceilings enhance the open design.

The first-floor master bedroom suite is spacious and elegant and includes a large and luxurious bathroom, as well as an ample walk-in closet. Upstairs is a casual sitting area and two additional bedrooms, each with its own bath and custom built-in cabinets. A large, second-floor porch can be accessed from either bedroom.

Outside, the house is stunning, with its wide porches that run the length of the upstairs and downstairs in the front as well as in the back. Set just a short distance from the gate on 116 acres, it is very private and surrounded by lovely landscaping. Much of the acreage has been left wooded, guided by Smith, who has cleared some areas, created paths and added trees. It is also home to a variety of Lowcountry critters, including deer – "They come right up in the yard," Smith said – and wild turkeys, which flee into the woods at the slightest sound.

"It's a great place to hunt," Smith added. "Sometimes we just come out here and shoot skeet."

Smith believes the house is clearly the woman's domain, and he had the foresight to add a special place for those times when a man needs to be alone or with his friends. A short distance from the main house is a 40 x 60 metal shop extraordinaire. Four shop garage doors allow for storage of vehicles and work equipment, but a large portion of this building is allocated to comfort. A den, complete with a full kitchen and bar, makes this a perfect spot to hang out. It is also used for outdoor entertaining and special events.

Smith built the home in 1999 and, although he looks on this estate with pride and a reverence for nature, he's hankering to get started on building his next home on a property just down the road.

In the meantime, this house is looking for a new family, one that will enjoy the solid construction, beautiful layout and lovely tract of land on which it sits. Located at 7483 Green Pond Highway, just off Highway 17 South (Ace Basin Parkway) near Walterboro, it is only a 30-minute drive to Beaufort and 40 minutes to Charleston, yet far from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

For more information about 7483 Green Pond Highway, contact Niki Hunter, an agent with Oswald-Cole and Associates in Walterboro, at (843) 549-6611 or (843) 908-2999 or by e-mail at nikichunter@yahoo.com. You may also visit www.OswaldAssoc.com.

By Barbara Patrick