Rรถhe&Wright
Li ving i s in the deta il s
W
hat is a craft, without a craftsman to pursue and perfect it? It is mere trade – the stuff of assembly lines. It isn’t what we call “home”. At Röhe & Wright Builders our business is founded on the idea of elevating custom home building
back to the level of craftsmanship. To adamantly demand excellence and architectural integrity. To encourage and facilitate expressive individualism. To execute with care and precision. Simply, to build more into your home. ON THE COVER: Reminiscent of the revival mansions of Santa Barbara and Palm Beach, this elegant award-winning yet casual private courtyard is highlighted by a hand-carved limestone facade, authentic clay two-piece
Mission Style roof, copper gutters, and Cantera iron doors. ABOVE: Notice the use of varying roof heights, mixture of natural stone and brick as well as multiple stucco finishes and colors that combine to capture the authentic feel of a true Tuscan village in this award winning custom-designed home.
Ther e are t wo sides to e very design
Our name reflects our admiration of the master architects, Mies van der Röhe and Frank Lloyd Wright. Röhe & Wright also happen to be the middle names of our two founders, Peter Röhe Barthelme and Andrew Wright Suman.
The two masters took opposite paths. Mies was measured, deceptively simple and elegantly unadorned. Wright loved the organic nature of architecture and its ability to create a sense of place in the richness of materials. Both sought the ultimate expressions of their craft, but never saw eye-to-eye.
At Röhe & Wright Builders we embrace these two seemingly opposing sensibilities. Simplicity in beautifully framed carpentry never overshadows the desire to express visual impact. Likewise, an ornate design will never come at the expense of expert building techniques and attention ABOVE: This art deco inspired master bath shows us that clean, crisp
to structural or mechanical detail.
details can co-exist with the ultimate in comfort. OPPOSITE: Welcome to your spa-like oasis at home … Eighteen foot barrel vaulted ceilings adorned with hand painted canvases from the master artists at Imago Dei, a private outdoor garden complete with fountain, hand painted murals and fireplace … you may never leave.
If only the masters had collaborated on this common ground…
we measure our success in the
O
ur managing partners, Pete Barthelme, Andy Suman and Chad Muir share more than 40 years experience in custom home building in Houston’s finest neighborhoods. As life-long Houstonians themselves, their pride in shaping the architecture of their hometown is evident in every new home
they build. Our clients are our neighbors. The neighborhoods where we build are our own.
B u i l d i n g
E x p e r t i s e We measure our success in our clients’ experiences, from that first friendly conversation where we discuss dreams and styles, to the partnership that grows between us in charting common goals in building, to the lasting bond that forms between craftspeople and their patrons. We take pride in the fact that many of our former clients have returned for a second or even third time to partner in the creation of their next vision.
clients’ experience
At RÜhe & Wright Builders, we don’t simply tout a list of design amenities or home features to try to set ourselves apart. Instead, we offer the principles and conviction of crafts people in every aspect of
building more into your home.
what we do. We build more into your home, not just in the ingenious features you will come to love over the years, but in the passion for great design and unyielding attention to details we demonstrate throughout our partnership with you in building your home.
difference
The R öhe & W r igh t dif f er enc e
F
rom the very first shapes drawn in the design phase to the moment you cross the threshold of your new home, the Röhe & Wright difference is in assuring that each responsible party on the team is involved in every critical juncture on a project. From structural engineers who inspect and re-inspect the foundation, to architects on hand for adjustments
to plans, to the project manager you will know on a first-name basis before a shovel even breaks ground. You will become part of this team, too, with as much direct involvement as you would like, but with the peace of mind that also comes from knowing your team can handle the details, even when you’re away.
ABOVE: Pure European country kitchen … The warmth is created with the use of all natural materials like imported chiseled edge travertine, antique brick, cut stone, a hand carved Peruvian stone sink, stained alder and cedar
beams, mantles and cabinetry. Notice that the stone wall behind the 48” commercial style Wolf range is accented with halogen lighting and antique glass see-through cabinets.
The right people for t he job
We’re famous for “drilling down” to the heart of the design aspirations of our clients.
It requires the full teamwork and expert organization of your Röhe & Wright team to yield Röhe & Wright results. In “building more into your home,” we embrace healthy lines of communication to ensure the right crafts people are on the job at every turn, so you can rest assured these details are handled the right way.
Look close. Was this house built in 1859 or 2006? Both photos show the painstaking efforts from our staff and artisans to recreate the details of an antebellum home for our clients. ABOVE: Hand-carved newel posts, intricate plaster crown moldings
and details, and Corinthian columns complement the owners’ period correct antique fixtures and furniture. OPPOSITE: The fully paneled stained mahogany library is complete with rolling ladder, brass railing, and hidden office space behind a moveable bookshelf.
the result is a home that ‌
idea of building more
T
his framework of designers collaborating with carpenters and engineers finds its way into the walls, floors, ceilings and roof of your home, too. It’s evident in the choices made. The result is a home that resonates quality, not only in its layout and exquisite finishes, but also in the components you can’t see,
like structural, foundation and mechanical designs. Our ultimate goal is to provide our clients with a home that impresses on day one and continues to prove its value, luxury and craftsmanship for years to come.
resonates quality
There’s always some “material of the moment” in home building. From wood paneling of the 60s to shag carpets of the 70s to laminate counter tops and faux-wood flooring of more recent construction, no fad can ever replace a craftsman’s careful selection from the finest classic finish materials available. At Röhe & Wright Builders, we work with architects, designers, and our clients to investigate the latest innovations and incorporate these seamlessly into the finest materials to create lasting impressions of style, function and good taste in the homes we build.
Material wealth.
Our attention to finish details, the things you’ll see and touch every day, is no less important to your home’s design.
be yond c a r pen try at ten tion to f ini sh deta il s
That’s why we employ expert sub contractors on every job.
Successfully integrating elements like hand-forged wrought iron, Italian granite, fine-grain maple or mahogany, stainless steel, Texas limestone, or any of the myriad of materials available doesn’t just happen by itself. But, in the hands of Röhe & Wright crafts people, it does happen.
OPPOSITE: Another Röhe & Wright signature design. This two story library is
entirely paneled in stained walnut and features a hand-carved limestone mantle and faux finished plaster ceilings. Above sits a “floating” card room accessible from a wrought iron spiral staircase visible in the corner. ABOVE: Our recent local recreation of the majestic antebellum Nottoway Plantation originally designed by famous New Orleans architect Henry Howard and completed in 1859. Let’s just say, if you can dream it, we can build it …
we’re always pushing
B
uilders are fond of setting standards – it gives them tidy boundaries in which to get their jobs done. At Röhe & Wright Builders, however, we take exception to the notion that there’s ever a “standard”. We replace “standard” with what is best for the home at hand. That could be something we use all the time or it could be something totally new that we have to
find or create. Time and again, we’ve proven this philosophy to discriminating home buyers who understand what we mean by “building more into your home”.
We believe it takes more than ornamentation to define a certain style. The pace, proportions, materials, even the native trees on the lot could change the character of a project. At Röhe & Wright Builders, our principles define our company’s culture. It’s proven a strong foundation to build upon for years.
… for every detail
H O M E
D E S I G N
Hou se pl a n s t hat be com e hom e s .
I
homes
t’s rare that a home builder – even a custom home builder – would be so concerned with maintaining architectural integrity in their work. It’s equally rare to turn the key to a new house for the first time and instantly feel at home. It’s why we design many of our homes in-house.
Our goal is that our close attention to detail, meticulous planning and unyielding precision will inspire clients to expect the very best for their homes. We then work with all our training, expertise and determination to surpass those expectations. Simply stated, we build more into your home. ABOVE: Welcome Home! This elegant yet inviting elevation honors the legacy of premier Louisiana architect A. Hays Town. Here we have combined a series of elements including the raised brick porch, a series of stained
mahogany French doors and Creole influenced full-length operable shutters to create a perfect blend of elements marrying yesterday to today.
Finally … We adhere to a simple philosophy in maintaining a sense of integrity in every project: do what’s right — for the client, the project and the community.