Anyone who’s explored the cobblestone streets of Charleston knows that the Holy City feels like an open-air museum with its display of historic architectural styles. Yet, a turn down Broad Street reveals a striking Neoclassical marvel that stands out with its marble-clad exterior and a unexpected backstory.

Sitting across from The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the 1803 Charleston single house served as an office space for the Catholic church for nearly six decades before it was put on the market. In 2018, an unlikely buyer came along to give the house a new beginning: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Darius Rucker.

Living Room, Dining Room, Stair Hall , Primary Suite, Primary Bathroom, Music Room

betsy berry darius rucker charleston living room

After purchasing the home, Rucker, a Charleston native, learned that the property was first owned by a wealthy landowner and much of the original architectural detailing was likely completed by enslaved people. Keen to preserve its historical features and craftsmanship, Rucker reached out to local designer Betsy Berry to help create a new chapter for the home, one filled with comfort, community, and understated elegance.

“This is a pretty famous piece of architecture in Charleston—this isn't like the back door-slamming kind of Southern home,” says Berry. “It’s an elegant space, so my intention was to balance that for Darius and make it have this really masculine feel, but also very comfortable for him and his family.”

The first step was to unearth the original framework and moldings from layers of decades-old drywall. “The first time I saw the house, the interior molding, doors, and things that make it beautiful were kind of covered up and gone,” says Berry. “We started by tearing down all the non-structural elements, like offices that were built within this house, so we could really take a look at the original architecture, framework, and bones of the home.”

betsy berry darius rucker charleston kitchen

Working with architect Neil Stevenson, the team preserved as much as possible, from the historic parquet flooring in the dining room and the banister's spindles to the ornate plaster ceiling in the rounded living room and the mantels throughout the home. Since the structure once operated as an office space, it missed key features that make a house livable for a family—including a much-needed kitchen.

Berry cleverly transformed the former porch into a chic butler’s pantry that connects the living room to the newly established cook space. The Calacatta Vagli marble counters and oversize custom range hood establish a utilitarian yet modern feel, whereas the custom wall cabinetry with its antique brass mesh paneling (necessary as the room had no storage for dishes and kitchen tools) grounds the space, making it feel as though it was always there.

The light, bright hues in the kitchen contrast wonderfully against the sexy aubergine dining room just down the hall. Berry wanted to lean into a more masculine feel for the home to speak to Rucker’s role as a father, while still balancing the traditional furnishings and slight feminine accents. The dining room was one of the first spots where Berry began playing with this delicious mix, pairing a sculptural Lindsey Adelman Studio chandelier with a moody Gracie wallcovering.

“As a Charlestonian, we walk by these houses so often in the evenings, and you can see what we call the street-side room,” says Berry. “The dining room sits on the street side, so I kept imagining what people would see and pictured this really masculine lighting fixture and the darkness and sexiness of that room.”

Of course, a musician’s home would not be complete without a dedicated space to work on new songs and entertain other performers. The former pantry at the very back of the house, which was turned into a vault by the church, surprisingly became the ideal location for a studio thanks to its sound-proof masonry walls. Berry “leaned into the age” of the room by having decorative painters skim-coat the walls and then apply plaster, resulting in a layered patina. The clean lines of the Bernhardt console table and the Arteriors wet bar, alongside Rucker’s own instruments, create a compelling balance between old and new, as well as between feminine and masculine—an artful tension that Berry achieved throughout the home.

“It's a house that lives easily, but it's also very beautifully considered. In every space, that was my full intention,” says Berry.

Living Room

betsy berry darius rucker charleston living room

The curvaceous living room stands out as the star of the home with its original plaster moldings framing a mix of classic and contemporary furnishings. Berry kept the palette neutral and light, opting for a clean-lined sofa covered in a Rose Uniacke fabric. Artwork, Yvonne Robert from The George Gallery. Chandelier and sconces, Daikon Studio. Flooring, François & Co.

Dining Room

betsy berry darius rucker charleston dining room

The concave mirror (1stDibs) over the original Federal-style mantel brings a modern touch to the dining room. Trim paint color, Wicked by C2. Dining chairs, Kravet. Art, Jennifer McGrath.

Kitchen

The Ann Morris pendant lights over the Calacatta Vagli marble-topped island by William Hunt lend an industrial nod to the sleek kitchen. Range, Wolf. Island stools, KGBL. Flooring, John Griffith. Cabinetry paint color, Shadow White by Farrow & Ball. Artwork (on right), Otto Neumann from The George Gallery.

Stair Hall

betsy berry darius rucker charleston stair

Much of the staircase remains untouched with its original flooring, spindles, and stairs preserved. Lighting, Urban Electric. Wall paint color, Strong White by Farrow & Ball. Trim paint color, Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball.

Primary Suite

Betsy Berry Darius Rucker Charleston Primary Sitting

Upstairs, Berry created a primary suite that flows seamlessly by connecting the smaller rooms. The main sitting room is wrapped in a navy Rogers & Goffigon silk velvet that mutes out any outside sound. “For someone that is always traveling or entertaining, I really imagine this as Darius' respite,” explains Berry. “It's so quiet once you walk in the room because of the upholstered wall paneling.”

betsy berry darius rucker charleston wet bar

Berry reimagined the long hall between the primary sitting room and bedroom as a chic wet bar. The built-in also is a practical addition, as many historical homes weren't built with closets in every space, Berry notes. The crisp cabinetry, painted Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball, adds plenty of storage for linens and other necessities.

The curved primary bedroom features the same herringbone-patterned oak flooring as the living room below. A gray silk wallcovering by deGournay and dark wood desk by MDM Design Studio add a layer of warmth to the room, while the de Le Cuona drapery fabric gently softens it.

Primary Bathroom

Betsy Berry Darius Rucker charleston Music Room

The bathroom, a new addition to the upstairs, beautifully contrasts the dark tones throughout the primary suite with its Venetian plaster walls (Jess Kollar). Flooring, Artistic Tile. Sconces, Visual Comfort. Mirror, Urban Archaeology.

Music Room

The only request Rucker had for Berry was to create a space where he can make music and collaborate with other musicians. The former vault shines as a musical retreat with all the necessary recording technology, as well as a wet bar for happy hour cocktails. Plasterwork, Emily Pope Harris. Artwork over bar, Otto Neumann from The George Gallery. Artwork over console table, George Read.

Architecture by Neil Stevenson. Photography by Ali Harper.