Sutphin Architecture is a custom residential architecture firm based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Adams Sutphin and his team of architects specialize in both restoration projects and new construction. Their strong reputation has made them a sought after firm well beyond Charlottesville, as evidenced by the role that they played in the restoration of The Brick House, a 343-acre portion of the 2,000-acre property, called Oak Spring Farm, that belonged to the late Paul and Rachel “Bunny” Mellon in Upperville, Virginia. Mrs. Mellon’s interiors and gardens are considered the holy grail of good taste, and when Alex and Jill Vogel purchased the property they knew that sustaining that legacy required a very special architect.  

The Brick House, a four-level neo-Georgian–style house was designed in 1939 by the renowned Beaux Arts architects Delano & Aldrich and repurposed by the Mellons in 1960 as a library, gallery, and storage space for their considerable art collection. When the Vogels purchased the property in 2015 they brought in Adams Sutphin of Sutphin Architecture to lead the transformation of the gallery space back into a home suitable for their large family. “This is a family house with children and animals and lots of activity,”  Jill Holtzman Vogel, an attorney and Virginia state senator, was quoted in Veranda magazine. 

“It was an honor to get to play a role in converting this house back into a home,” said Adams of his work to remove drop ceilings & hundreds of incandescent spotlights, and redefining large open spaces back into bedrooms, bathrooms (most of which had been gutted) and other practical spaces for a modern-day family.

“I have always loved working on old structures,” Sutphin added. “I love the challenge of finding the sweet spot between what is there and what is needed. That dance between preserving the historic integrity and bringing in modern desires for comfortable living.” When working on The Brick House for the Vogels that meant preserving existing beautiful spaces like the living room with its stunning moldings, but then opening up the  kitchen and butler pantry and adding in a master suite for modern-day living. After Sutphin completed the renovations, interior designers Miles Redd and David Kaihoi set to work sourcing furniture and objects that reflect the Vogels spirit and would  join antique and heirloom art, lighting, and rugs the clients brought with them. The end result was stunning, as evidenced by these photos featured in Veranda magazine.

If you are Charlottesville based and are looking for an architect, do yourself a favor and contact Sutphin Architecture. While their talent brings them many places outside of Charlottesville, Adams and the partners in his firm live in Charlottesville and love working with local clients. They are your neighbors and would love to help you bring your dreams to life, whether it is a restoration project, an addition or a new build. Sutphin Architecture doesn’t just come up with the plans, they play an integral role in the design process and in coordination during construction until your vision is a reality. 

Images of The Brick House prior to the renovation shared by Adams Sutphin:

Photos featured in the Veranda January/February 2024 issue. Interior Design by Miles Redd and David Kaihoi; Architecture by Adams Sutphin; Landscape Design by Charles Stick; Garden Design by Bridget Wilson; Photography by Noe Dewitt; Styling by Howard Christian; Written by William Norwich.

Sutphin Architecture, PLLC | 609 E. Market Street Suite 103 Charlottesville, VA | 434.825.7743 | @sutphin_architecture