Read The Master Builder's House, featured in Bucks County Magazine written by By Beth S. Buxbaum:
Sean Steuber is a master builder, who in 1995 completed one of his most gratifying restorations—an 1830s plaster-over-stone house that Sean and his wife, Kristen, purchased. Since 1988, Sean has proudly owned and operated Steuber Building Group, designing and building homes and additions, custom millwork and cabinets and restoring historic properties. Sean and Kristen were living in an old house in Frenchtown. “We were shopping for a property that had an early history that we could restore,” explains Sean. While looking in Bucks County they came across this property. “This house was really in bad shape,” he adds. But with his background, talent and passion for restorations, Sean had a vision. Kristen, not so much, but she went along with this purchase knowing what Sean could create. They bought the property in 1993.
As a skilled and talented artisan Sean’s trained eye knew what needed to be done. It was Sean’s reinvention project. He had the talent, skills and background to meet the challenge. Sean had the good fortune of learning his trade at a young age, from an accomplished Bucks County builder and adoptive father, Randy McGill. Sean grew up surrounded by projects that were mostly historic restoration. “Randy taught me how to use tools, hand planes, chisels and the like,” Sean describes, “before I ever used a power tool.” Not only did Sean have the early training, but he also worked as an apprentice with several well-known local builders, including Jericho Valley Builders, as well as cabinet and furniture makers like Robert Johnson. His skills aside, he knew this house was a disaster and the restoration would truly be a challenge. “I just knew I had a jewel,” Sean adds, “and it deserved to be restored.”
While renovating the house they continued living in their Frenchtown home. Sean and Kristen took on this major restoration with limited funds and time. “We did the work in stages,” Sean explained, “because I had to raise the money as we went along. Also, I worked with my own guys for the restoration, and we worked on the house when we were not working in the business,” he adds. Truly a labor of love, this restoration was a financial and time commitment for Sean that took almost two years to complete. Sean knew it would be a major project to bring this home back to its original glory.
Built in 1830, the house sits on two acres just off a country road in Doylestown. With a modest footprint, this house’s living space is two rooms wide and one room deep. Downstairs is the kitchen and living room. Up a winding staircase to the second floor, that originally was two bedrooms, Sean noticed that sometime during its history the second floor was chopped up into five or six tiny rooms. Though he had not done any extensive research on the homestead yet, one fact he could share is that it was not well maintained over the years. “This house was in total disrepair,” Sean explains, “and was barely in livable condition.” In addition to its poor state, Sean notes the updating over the years covering up all its history. “The house’s architectural elements were totally unrecognizable from its original 1830 status,” he adds. Sean and his team transformed this house, uncovering much of the original design and architectural elements.
“The first project was to remove all the things that were not original to the house,” Sean explains. From floor to ceiling, they uncovered the house’s earliest features that defined its beginnings. “What we uncovered exceeded my expectations,” Sean remarks, “and so much was hidden and damaged.” Sean indicates that the original hearth had collapsed into the basement, there were nail holes in whatever wood was covered up in the ceiling, the chimneys were destroyed and the fireplace mantels were gone. Room by room and piece by piece Sean and his crew removed whatever was hiding the original elements of this old house. Throughout the house all the windows were removed and replaced with architecturally correct windows from the Victorian period using recycled glass from the period, creating windows more consistent with the period. Next on the list of removal were the doors, molding and trim. “We replaced all the interior millwork and doors with handmade ones,” Sean explains.
“We removed the ceilings in every room to expose the original ceiling beams,” he adds. “I was so pleased to see that the beams were chamfered open beams,” They repaired all the damage from the nails, plumbing and electric wires and repainted all the beams.
In the kitchen, one major transformation was exposing the original walk-in fireplace. Sean and his team uncovered the fireplace and discovered the original beehive oven. During the uncovering they also found an original stone sink next to the fireplace. The walk-in fireplace was also missing a mantel. Sean designed and built a new mantel, adding a decorative punch by carving design around the mantel border. “We tore up the linoleum floor to reveal the original pumpkin pine floors that were salvageable,” Sean adds, “and just needed a light sanding and refinishing.” Sean added all new cabinets, including one large enclosure for the refrigerator, in addition to handmade millwork and baseboards. CLICK FOR MORE: https://buckscountymag.com/home--garden/the-master-builder-s-house/
Steuber Building Group has over 25 years of architectural design and construction experience. Our team creates historical, traditional and contemporary designs customized to your individual preferences. To reach the Steuber Building Group, call 215-828-3949 or visit www.steuberbuildinggroup.com.