HGTV Crowns Best Historic Home of 2018

HGTV’s wildly popular online contest, the Ultimate House Hunt 2018, has come to a close, with the 86 finalists from 13 countries receiving more than 880,000 votes. Houses were divided into several categories, included waterfront homes, amazing kitchens and modern masterpieces.

The winner of the contest overall is an incredible oceanfront villa in Sardinia, but there were several standouts from the other categories. Take the winner of the historic category, for example. The 1834 Robert Smalls House, located in the historic district of Beaufort, South Carolina, has all the quaint charm of the past, with its two-story wide front porches and lush gardens.

The Smalls House is the epitome of a southern plantation home, nestled in a half-acre of land with a long history. Smalls was born a slave in 1839, but in the Civil War, Smalls actually gained his freedom: by impersonating the captain of a Confederate transport ship and sailing straight into the arms of the Union Navy. Though a hero in the North, Smalls was nothing but a traitor in the South, and so Smalls returned to Beaufort post-war. His former home was deemed a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

The Smalls House, surrounded by the Beaufort River, is located next to the city’s business district. The 4,264-square-foot, three-level house includes four bedrooms and three baths. Formal living and dining rooms mirror the traditional feel of the house, with family rooms and chef’s kitchen at the rear of the home. The second level has two bedrooms, as does the first level, which also has an office/music room. A family room with beamed ceilings and French doors opens to the rear garden, with lush plants reflecting detailed design.

The 1834 Robert Smalls House was listed for sale at $1.49 million, and is now under contract.

Photos courtesy of TopTenRealEstateDeals.com