As families spend more time together there has been a surge in adding or renovating unique spaces – creating a “get away” while at home. Pool houses, party barns, guest quarters, offices, indoor gyms – even treehouses and sleeping porches are now “escapes” from our daily routines.

Southfen has been fortunate, over time, to design and build many interesting unique spaces. Much of our work has been focused on making the home and surroundings feel more livable – so we thought we’d share a few with you.

Thanks to our wonderful photographer, Tracy Brown at Papercamera for her beautiful photography.

If you would like to know more about these projects or the work that Southfen performs, please contact me.

Kind regards, David

— Annapolis Home Magazine featured “A Kitchen for Every Style – Luxe Kitchen Re-Do” showcasing our collaboration with Kenwood Kitchens of a kitchen redesign and build in Baltimore’s Homeland neighborhood.

The collaboration of Glenn Donohue, Senior Designer at Kenwood Kitchens, and David Sutphen, founder of SouthFen Restoration Home Builders, has produced a kitchen that elevates an older home in a well-established Baltimore neighborhood to a new (but undeniably tasteful) level.

A kitchen renovation is about so much more than choosing cabinets and a new backsplash. Construction was the first step to accommodate the new layout while working within the footprint of the home. A brick wall had to be removed to open up the kitchen into the dining room while keeping the load-bearing wall intact. The floor had to be leveled and uniformed a complicated process to suit the new layout which involved the kitchen and an office area that included a wall of wonderful new windows—perfect for working on a laptop on the Bolivian rosewood desk or zen moments taking in the view.

Donohue, of Kenwood, which also supplied the cabinets, tells us about the technical accoutrements used. A 48-inch Wolf dual fuel range, with its signature red knobs, is the cornerstone of the new appliances. The innovative gas cooktop and electric oven are a chef’s dream. Floating shelving above it guarantee easy access to the tools of the trade. A state-of-the-art ventilation system keeps odors down and surfaces clean. A microwave drawer is located below the island countertop to reduce visual clutter. The island is topped with double-thick marble. A “15 year Dry Treat Sealer” was used, per the fabricator’s recommendation, rather than the standard sealer, because it is “honed marble” and guarantees a uniformed refined look. Kitchen countertops are in a dark green soapstone for a dramatic contrast. Illumination includes the out-of-the-ordinary square recessed lights.

A kitchen with custom details right down to the microwave drawer is created only by professionals obsessed with perfection. “We love working with contractors with similar goals like David Sutphen. It’s a win for all including homeowners looking for the best possible results” says Scott Waldhauser, an owner of Kenwood Kitchens.

Even the antique-styled wall mount faucet on the farm sink boasts a special side spray with hose for easy rinsing. This well-appointed kitchen manages to strike just the right balance between traditional and contemporary styles.

Thanks to our wonderful photographer, Tracey Brown at Papercamera for the beautiful photography.

In scenic Shawan Valley, just west of Hunt Valley, stands an historic structure that has served the valley as various food venues and services since the 1930s. The original John Brown’s Store was a mercantile and the residence of the business owner. Today, John Brown General and Butchery serves a diverse selection of fresh meats, in-house prepared foods, baked and dried goods, and a seasonally curated selection of wine, beer and liquors. The Butchery is operated by master butchers Robert “Brooke” Voss and Ben Frey.

Owners’ request: Restore the Landmark structure to the Baltimore County landmark it has been known for – not a fit up, but an historic restoration in every way.

Plan of attack:

The owner hired ADW Architects of Towson to provide a plan for the interior of the new concept. Southfen Restoration Home Builder was hired to complete the interior renovations and restore the outside to the original condition. The plan called for the first floor bathroom to be moved to a small addition which required County Planning approval. Details of this addition and all interior cabinet work and built-in designs were provided by David Sutphen Design (architectural designer). Brumfield Woodworking designed and constructed the liquor cabinet.

Why the design works:

Since the original structure was a business and a residence, there was an inherent charm; like shopping in someone’s “home”. The owner wanted to recapture that charm. ADW and David Sutphen Design and Southfen worked in concert to achieve this goal. The Butchery was placed in the front right of the main stone building. This allowed immediate access by the patrons to the display cabinets and meat processing. The area near the fireplaces were designed to display general store inventory and liquor. David designed all the interior details i.e. bulkhead, fireplace built-ins with wood boxes, outside stair cover and cabinets other then the liquor cabinet. The design works because residential charm was built throughout the business spaces.

Designer secret:

The original architect of the store (1938) James Edmunds partnered with Bryden Hyden to form the Baltimore firm Edmunds – Hyde. David Sutphen worked on two Hyde projects in the mid 1980’s and shared those experiences with Brooke and Ben when designing the “charm” related details.

“Ah-ha” moment:

David Sutphen Design designed copper wood storage boxes for both fireplaces. Brooke and Ben approved the concept immediately sharing with David that Ben’s currently resided in a home with the same detail. David asked where Ben lives and it turns out that David designed and built those copper boxes in that residence 15 years ago. More than a coincidence.

Splurges and savings:

The savings came from Brooke and Ben’s resourcefulness in finding interesting and charming interior furnishings. No interior designer was used. The splurges can be seen in every detail as well as the mechanical upgrades to the entire electrical, plumbing and heating systems. No stone was left unturned. A testament to the Owner, Charlie Noell and Brooke and Ben and their commitment to do it right

The nitty-gritty:

Working with the County proved to be a challenge. A business desiring to open to serve the community was delayed 5 months awaiting for approval of the bathroom addition.

Take-away:

Projects like this are one of a kind. The community, Baltimore County and the John Brown Store are the big winners. Charlie, Brooke and Ben are to be commended. Southfen and David Sutphen Design were fortunate to be retained to share our historic restoration experience and sensitivity. The combination of “commercial” and residential restoration “under of roof” proved to be a challenge we are proud to have accomplished.

 

Gustav Stickley, noted furniture manufacturer, design leader and chief promoter of the American Craftsman style, believed “there are elements of intrinsic beauty in the simplification of a house built on the log cabin idea.”

Stickley would be proud of a new home built in Sparks, MD that “envelops” a log cabin – preserved and restored to its original grandeur. As the photos show, the preservation of the salvageable sections of this historic two-story 680 square foot log cabin, dated 1820, are now encased in the 3,000 square foot vernacular farmhouse-style home. The painstaking process began with deconstruction of the exterior finishes and original chinking.

The logs were cleaned of the old plaster and the space between the logs occupied by the chinking was replaced with blocking. In these spaces, modern wiring and insulation were installed. Plaster lathe was installed over the blocking and the chinking plaster was replaced with a mixture coating of mortar and lime and then sealed. The “cabin” is used as a dining room with original fireplace on the first floor and a private office on the second.

In addition to the restoration of the log walls, original ceiling beams were used, flooring reclaimed from the deconstruction was installed and many original elements were included in the final preservation. Exterior windows are new but an original cabin window was left in place at the second-floor gallery hall and for an architectural detail within the cabin.

Master craftsman Elmer Suieck provided the nearly extinct art of mortar and lime plastering and the result speaks for itself – as the final product proudly showcases how the cabin may have looked in 1820.  The addition of period furniture, artwork and historic elements completed the project to a level that everyone associated with this hallmark restoration was extremely proud to tour.

Take-away – “Begin with the end in mind and resist the temptation to follow the crowd.”

If you would like to know more about this project or the work that Southfen performs, feel free to email me.

Thank you for sharing this exceptional body of work with us. Kind regards, David.

 

 

Over 40 years ago, I lived in a small stone house on a beautiful farm in Long Green Valley. It had two rooms on each level that was built by the owner as a tenant house. The stone came from the fields and it sat a half-mile off the road.

I was fascinated that one man, with a helper, could build such a great house. At age 21, I decided I wanted to learn how to build. Today, you could just go to YouTube to watch a “how-to video” – but the 70s were a bit different.

Fortunate for me, my brother in-law was a builder and always looking for help. I hired on in hopes of learning a trade that would one day allow me to build my own house.

My first month was not what I expected. I thought building meant hammers and nails – not shovels, mud, dirt and brooms. I didn’t know you had to work your way up to a “wall”.  After a long day of digging footings I asked “when can I build?”

He replied, “So you want to be a carpenter?”

The next morning, when I grabbed a shovel, he handed me a list and said, “If you what to be on a wall, you’ll need this stuff”

It was a list of basic hand tools but included things I had never heard of or knew how to use – scribes, stair gauges, low-angle plane, tri-square, and brace and bit.

When I got home I knew I needed a place to keep my new “toys” and decided to build a tool box. With pad and pencil and with my new tape measure I began to design my own toolbox. From the job site I found an old ½” plywood real estate sign (some of you may remember Moore-Matthews) and with other scraps and a piece of pipe ended up with my first toolbox.

I showed up Monday to jeers and heckles from the old-timers but felt they actually appreciated my effort.

It was obvious I was green and my tools were shiny – but I was finally on a “wall”. What a day that was – little did I know that day was to be the humble origin of Southfen Restoration Home Builder.

I wish I could say there was a master plan that I wrote that led me to create my own company. But as the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer once said – “The road to success is always under construction.”

My road began with the desire to learn, a willingness to start at the “footer” and a box of tools that has stood the test of time. And for this carpenter, a list of levels, pliers, squares, planes, bars, chisels, tapes, nail sets, hammers, snips….

 

Southfen Restoration Home Builder has been awarded “Best Of Design” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The architectural design, historic restoration and home construction firm was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

Southfen founder David Sutphen stated “our entire team of craftsman are honored for the recognition and respect that Houzz users have given our work. We remain true to our mission to provide thoughtful design and skilled hands to homeowners who understand and appreciate the historic restoration process. We know how fortunate we are to have these strong relationships.”

Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz said  “we’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to Southfen Restoration Home Builder, an incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals,” – Southfen was singled out by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for their ability to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

As a builder, having a homeowner with vision and passion always yields the finest results. We have been fortunate to provide restoration and construction for a magnificent home in Harford County. After extensive interior renovations, the owner asked if we could build a garden room on the south side of the house. We set out to deliver a “unique space” that you can view in our gallery.

During this process, we collaborated with Taffy Litz, a landscape artist, whose company Picea Artistic Garden Design – http://piceagardendesign.com – created this wonder hidden garden. Southfen provided he stone work to maintain the flow of the property design and with Taffy’s expertise, the result is as beautiful as you see.

Now that warm weather is returning and we turn our attention outdoors, how beautiful would it be to have a garden to relax in while reading or writing? Nothing inspires like a garden. Creating an exterior landscape not only adds beauty to your home, but provides a special added “unique space” for those warm outdoor days and sunsets.

Surfers and rock climbers define the cleanest line as “the perfect route on the face of a rock or wave”.  I’ve been designing and building for 25 years and often pondered; is there a “cleanest line” through a construction project?

Typically a project involves the owner, architect and builder – so the solitude I envy in the climber or surfer is lost. A perfect line means everyone must take the same route with the same attitude and professionalism.

The Pulitzer Prize winning author Tracey Kidder wrote the wonderful book “House” which beautifully describes the personal and professional relationships between the home owner, architect and builder as the three embarked on the design and construction of a home in Massachusetts. Three professionals on the same wave will eventually get to the beach, but how their individual responsibilities affected their route was at times harmonious and at others a struggle.

My time to create the “cleanest line” finally came with the opportunity to build a cottage on Maryland’s eastern shore. So, I was Owner, with my wife, the designer and the builder.  There were no concerns about availability. The conduit between these three principals was the space between my ears or a phone call to my wife. I had every chance to avoid the challenges of residential construction. 

Stephen Covey’s book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”talks about “beginning with the end in mind”. I practice this daily and because this project was going to be completed during my spare time and weekends it was especially important to know exactly what we wanted and how we intended to get there. We had plenty of time to work out all the pre-construction details and after three revisions I completed a plan I was sure met our needs and satisfied the “Designer”.  We, as “Owners” understood the design and set a budget. I, as the “Builder” was excited because it was a builder-friendly design.

What transpired between these three shared responsibilities was truly a surprise.

A project I designed and could clearly visualize developed the exact same struggles between designer, owner (budget) and builder. Walls got moved, a flat ceiling was left open, fixture locations changed due to local codes, windows changed because the “Builder” got a deal. The availability of familiar  trades affected a decision on wall finishes. The Builder and Designer had to account for every change with the Owner. The list was endless, right up to the end when the final coats of paint were drying.

I got a good laugh one day when I called my wife about another change and said “there is no way I thought we’d make this many changes”

In retrospect – this project showed me:

• The challenges of residential construction are inevitable
• It is foolish to think a plan is ever 100%
• The best projects are allowed the freedom to breathe and evolve
• Change can be good and rewarding
• When working with clients and architects, walk in their shoes.   

In the end, by embracing the process and understanding that flexibility and trust are two corner stones of the working relationship resulted in the perfect weekend getaway for our family.

One would think that as a builder, the last thing I would want to do for relaxation is to paint. Having tools and projects always in focus, it would make sense to seek activities like – sports, fishing, hiking. Well, that’s how all of these passions collide and for good reason.

My travels as a builder and designer take me to some of the most beautiful locals from Northern Baltimore County to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. With the help of my iPhone, I often capture “images” that inspire me as a builder – and as a painter.

I was introduced to art at an early age. Our family home contained paintings by my great grandfather, Charles Fawcett, and my aunt and uncle who were also artists. At the age of seven, I began to paint by numbers and experiment with water colors and oils – teaching myself along the way.
In my twenties, I painted occasionally but chose a career in wood working, home restoration and design. That career choice has served me well – and after 30 years away from the canvas I revisited my love of painting.
Today, my inspiration comes from Maryland’s country side and the Chesapeake Bay region. While walking our dogs, hiking or fly fishing my eyes are opened to the images, light and seasons – in a new and different way. I realized this must be the way an artist sees life.
My work and palette are very simple. As I continue to learn, each painting is a new experience. I’m always nervous when I begin a painting but the advice from an important 19th century American artist settles me – “When you paint, try to put down exactly what you see, whatever else you have to offer will come out anyway”.
My work represents a man learning to paint.

The After.

Concept to reality – when a project takes on its own synergy you know it was meant to be. These are my favorite. I did not need to have my finger print on this house. It gave me everything it needed to be great.

Design

The distance between the spring house foundation and the main house was roughly 22 feet ; perfect for the kitchen and master bedroom addition. The six foot offset to the front of the main house allowed me to connect it to the addition with a porch. The width of the main house was enough for a “telescoping” addition with porches on the west side under the shared roof line. Plus a kitchen porch and sleeping porch off the bedroom. The roof pitch of the main house was perfect for a half story, so dormers were added to the plan.

Materials

The house gave me great material to work with too. All the stone from the spring house was used in its reconstruction. The source of the spring was located in the back field and re-routed to the side lawn and used as a water feature in the landscape plan. Chestnut floor joists on the ground level were salvaged and milled to make the kitchen cabinets. The stone under the stucco surface of the main house was of a high quality; enough to leave exposed. The foundation, floor and roof framing was strong and solid.

Adding to what the house gave us; I chose complimentary materials including standing seam roofing, hand-made brick, heart pine flooring, board and plastered walls. In the end, a restoration for the Southfen history books. And to quote William James: “The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it”.