A Custom Way of Doing It
A couple in Brigantine find building original homes is the best design to follow
WHEN THEY BOUGHT the beachfront property in Brigantine, Cheryl and Michael Guterman almost immediately knew what they wanted to do with it. They had already built their own home up in Staten Island, New York, but this time they thought they might be a little more ambitious and subdivide the land to construct two houses.
At the time, a cottage was already there, which they razed to clear the lot. "We came here," says Cheryl, "we split it in half and made the subdivision -- went through the process of getting it approved -- and built one home and then the other. And it's become like a showcase property now because we put in every amenity that's out there now."
While the first house, which is right on the beach, was being built, Cheryl and Michael lived in another Brigantine beachfront home. They acted as general contractors on both projects, so living on the island enabled them to closely supervise the construction.
They went to architect Robert Kiejdan in Northfield to work up the original plans for the homes, which they really used as jumping-off points for the designs. Cheryl and Michael wanted to remain open to any new ideas that might develop as the buildings took shape. Since there wasn't any deadline for them to move in (and acting as their own GCs), they had the luxury of time to experiment with things.
Cheryl and Michael knew they were going to live in one house and eventually sell the other, but they put together each as if they were going to stay in them. They put in design touches and materials that they liked themselves, not what they imagined someone else would desire.
"That was a two-year process," Michael says, of the first house. "There were certain items that were ordered that took a lengthy period of time. The roof -- which is a terra cotta type roof -- it's a roof that was built many years ago. Those were the terra cotta roofs. It's not a cement roof. That took about two months to get.
"There were certain customized items that were brought into the house to make that house what it is today."
A custom-built home was the Gutermans' mantra when it came to creating both places. They wanted houses that they were satisfied with that didn't exist in any blueprint.
Actually, it didn't really matter which home would sell and which they would live in, because they were happy with both. High-end kitchen cabinets, granite floors and 24-caret gold fixtures are just a few of the items the homes are outfitted with, which added to the construction timetable because they had to often track down suppliers.
Cheryl considers them "tailored" homes, whereas nothing in them is "off the rack." "As we were constructing this home, if we wanted glass above the cabinetry, we stopped construction and got the metal in, the steel in, and we did it. If there were views that we didn't anticipate beforehand, then we stopped construction and put in a window."
One dramatic change in the second house was on the third level. When they realized that their first house wasn't as much of an obstruction to views of the ocean as they anticipated, they redesigned the third floor by changing the pitch of the roof to accommodate a deck. Had they not been their own GCs, or had a flexible architect, that wouldn't have been possible.
The three-floor, 5,000-foot residence they're selling is often called an "upside down" house, in that the bedrooms are on the ground level with the living quarters above.
The three bedrooms on the first floor each have full baths -- one with a hand-blown glass sink. They all have intricate porcelain tile work that sets them apart from each other and most other bathrooms. The bedrooms share a common area that could be used as a living room.
The second floor has a huge kitchen with a center island and cleverly hidden half-bath, along with a dining room that shares a two-sided gas fireplace with the family room. Those areas also share views of the nearby ocean via huge windows filling the outside walls. There's access to a large deck with curved railing if you want to experience warm breezes and salt air.
Completing the level is the master suite, with a spacious walk-in closet and master bath that has all the upscale amenities you could ask for. Decorative granite is found throughout the whole floor.
The third floor is just one big space that's left to the owner's imagination as to how it would be used. Large windows illuminate the area, and there are two separate decks up there to enjoy nature from different perspectives.
Decorative brick adorns some of the outside walls, while pavers complete the driveway and parking areas.
Although more than 100 tradesmen worked on their homes, and they endured some of the headaches inherent in being your own GC, Cheryl and Michael now have custom homes to be proud of and the satisfaction that comes from taking the time to get them that way.
Want to see your dream home featured in No Place Like Home? Contact Pete Yard at pyard@acweekly.com or 646-7338 (fax).
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