Whitney Sudler-Smith Reveals He Turned Michael Kelcourse's Cottage Into "An Understated Bar"

Whitney Sudler-Smith recently made Patricia Altschul's property even more incredible.

On Season 9, Episode 14 of Southern Charm, Whitney opened up to Shep Rose about transforming Michael Kelcourse's former cottage on the property. "I got the bottom floor of my cottage done," he told Shep, who responded, "I can't wait to see it."

Whitney Sudler-Smith's new bar on Patricia Altschul's property

In an interview, Whitney gave more details on the project. "The cottage was Michael's former house on the property," he said, referencing Patricia's beloved butler who retired from his duties after he suffered a spinal cord stroke in February 2021 and now lives in Florida.

Years after Michael moved out, the house "needed a kind of gut renovation," Whitney continued, explaining, "I turned the bottom floor into kind of like an understated bar/pub/hangout spot."

As the episode showed, during construction, Whitney wanted the bar to have a "brutalist aesthetic."

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As for why Whitney decided to build his own bar, he told Shep, "I never want to go out in this town again, so I'm not gonna leave this place."

Whitney's bar renovation in Southern Charm Season 9, Episode 14. Photo: Bravo

In January 2021, Patricia shared details about the cottage in an Instagram post. “People are curious about [Michael]," she wrote at the time. "He lives in this cottage on the property which was built in the late 1700s. It was remodeled and has a bedroom and bath… living room, dining area with a fireplace, and a chef’s kitchen."

Inside Patricia Altschul and Michael Kelcourse's reunion

Although Patricia and Michael have stayed in constant communication over the last couple of years, they finally reunited in person earlier this month when Patricia visited him in Florida. Patricia shared a sweet Instagram photo with Michael on December 14, writing in the caption, "First there was Covid.. then my back fracture so this is the first I’ve ever been able to spend time with Michael." In the comments, Michael wrote, "Mrs. A visiting was the greatest gift I ever got."

Patricia Altschul & Michael Kelcourse Just Reunited for the First Time in Years (PIC)

Earlier this season on Southern Charm, Michael made an appearance via FaceTime. "We talk all the time and keep in touch," Patricia explained on the October 19 episode. "I miss him every day."

During that particular call, Patricia and Whitney asked Michael to give step-by-step instructions for making his famous martini. "People say, 'Oh, it's easy to make a martini. It really isn't," Patricia explained in an interview during the episode. "To get the right ingredients, to get the proportions right, it's really an art form to do everything that Michael did to perfection."

Whitney posts a photo of himself on October 2, 2020 to Instagram; Patricia posts a photo of herself and Michael on December 15, 2023 to Instagram. Photo: Whitney Sudler-Smith/Instagram; Patricia Altschul/Instagram

Press play on the video above to take a tour of Patricia's amazing Charleston property.