Welcome to Aiken’s most beloved estate. “The Balcony” is a timeless historic residence with seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and three half-baths. The 5.82-acre private equestrian retreat is surrounded by a 6-foot masonry wall with three gated entrances.
Designed by renowned architect Julian Peabody, the home displays large rooms, 10-foot ceilings, exquisite fluted woodwork, and deep dentil mouldings. French doors lead to several balconies and terraces.
The centerpiece of the first floor is the magnificent formal dining room. The room is spacious and filled with natural light. There is a fireplace, carved built-in cabinetry, and direct access to the Butler’s pantry.
A cypress-paneled library is a cozy retreat, with windows or French doors on three sides of the room and a welcoming fireplace in the center. The library has extensive bookshelves, wood floors, and a relaxed atmosphere.
The living room is large enough to accommodate the most ambitious entertaining. One fireplace and French-door access to two separate patios. Also on the main level is a large bedroom suite, privately tucked away in the northeast corner of the house. This charming suite has been used as an office and as a guest room.
The large modern kitchen has a fully appointed butler’s pantry with a safe. A casual family dining room is adjacent to the kitchen. The butler’s pantry offers dozens of glass-front cabinets, deep pantry cupboards, a marble counter top with sink, and a separate bar room near the foyer for the convenience of entertaining.
The second floor is a wondrous world of glamorous suites, offices, sitting rooms and the beautiful eponymous Balcony. Two magnificent bedroom suites with sitting rooms, dressing rooms and large bathrooms. In addition, there are two large en suite bedrooms and two smaller en suite bedrooms. Both floors offer a selection of rooms for offices, hobbies, play, staff, or a home gym. Even the laundry room is impressive: a large room with two washing machines, two dryers, an automated press, and multiple laundry sinks.
The large basement houses the furnaces, water heaters, electric panels, & a wine cellar. A spacious attic – accessed via stairs – has a cedar closet, wood floors, & some of the five HVAC units that heat & cool The Balcony.
The lovely eighteen-stall courtyard barn features a groom’s quarters, three tack rooms, hay loft, feed room & a 6-door garage for autos and carriages. The guest house provides opportunities to host friends, house a trainer, or even provide income as a rental unit. It is located on the far side of the barn and has three bedrooms & 1.5 baths, wood floors, a nice kitchen, & lots of storage.
The gardens are professionally landscaped with mature camellias, azaleas, and other beauties under a canopy of towering hardwood trees. There are three large fenced paddocks, broad lawns, and a gunite swimming pool with fountains and patio.
A few devoted owners have kept this historic residence impeccably maintained and remarkably original for almost 100 years.
The Balcony offers an exceptional value for mid-town luxury with easy access to Whitney Polo Field, Hitchcock Woods, Palmetto Golf Course, and the Green Boundary Club. Whether you enjoy polo, fox-hunting, eventing, dressage, or carriage driving, The Balcony is your ideal in-town equestrian center. And for that “other person” in your life who does not ride: golf, Pickle Ball, tennis, and croquet are just a few feet away!
