On the Market: Torquilstone

One of the houses that made a big impression on me as a child has hit the market.  "Torquilstone", in Charleston, West Virginia, was originally built as the home of William Goshorn MacCorkle, the son of a former governor. The 10,000 square foot house was built in 1926 and designed by William Martens, who also designed the West Virginia Governor's Mansion.

It remained a private home until 1961, when it was acquired by the Sunrise Foundation and used as an art museum. (The Foundation also operated the Sunrise Children's Museum across the street in a mansion that had been home to Governor MacCorkle). The museum was in operation until 2003, when Torquilstone was sold and converted back into a single family home. I always wondered what the imposing stone building I knew as a museum looked like as a house, and thanks to the listing, I know!

The rear of the house is a study in symmetry.  

The beautifully detailed front porch greets guests.

View of the house coming up the drive.

Side view of the house, showing off the formal gardens and the beautifully detailed conservatory.

The foyer is highlighted by a wide, sunlit staircase that curves gently at the end.

Another view of the foyer.

The family room is large enough for two seating areas and a casual dining table.

More formal meals might be taken in the green striped dining room.

A third option for taking meals is this breakfast room with a fantastic corner fireplace and a fun mix of patterns.

The kitchen is stunning with a coffered ceiling, furniture quality cabinetry, and marble counters.

A stone fireplace, paneled ceiling, and walls of windows mark the conservatory.

One of the porches offers space for al fresco dining and a seating area.

The master bedroom features another corner fireplace and a sitting nook with fanlight window.

It's a safe bet that the original plans didn't call for a master bathroom this huge and well appointed.

This guest room features a wall of built-ins. I wonder if those provide the closet space for this room?

A cheerful secondary bathroom.

One of the secondary bedrooms is clearly being enjoyed by a lucky little boy currently.

Pretty in pink, this little girl's bedroom is located at the top of the stairs.

A third kid's bedroom features two twin beds with beautiful scalloped canopies.

It looks like the house was restored beautifully and turned into a very comfortable  home. And it could be yours for $2 million dollars!

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