‘You want it to tell a story’: Guilford farmhouse from 1700’s gets a sustainable makeover – CT Insider

When driving up to the circa-1798 house, Charlotte and Kameron Kam Shahid saw the pretty stone wall, but couldnt see all that was behind it. After walking behind the house and out to its neighboring river, they knew within five minutes they had found their home.

We didnt need to look again and we didnt want to be anywhere else, says Charlotte, who has always liked old houses and had been looking for a location in Guilford, where they already owned a house. We wanted to be close to town, but we wanted to be near the woods. Plus, we knew we needed a certain amount of land for gardens, chickens for eggs, and birds for meat to provide food for our family.

The Colonial-style house checked all the boxes they wanted in a dream home the balance of proximity to town plus the privacy of 4 acres combined with the historical architecture of the main house and its two outbuildings along with uninterrupted, long views of the ever-changing salt marshes and river. The idyllic property also included a pool, cabana and river dock. But the 3,000-square-foot main house had been heavily renovated in a piecemeal fashion through the 1980s and early 90s. Fine materials were used throughout, but there was no overall master plan.

To help make the space more livable, they contacted Guilford-based Campaigne Kestner Architects (CK Architects). After talking to the family and meeting their three sons (now 10, 8 and 5), Russ Campaigne presented them with two options, both within the homes existing footprint. First, a renovation that would help, but not correct, the layouts flaws. And second, a more radical plan, which would completely flip the layout, moving the master suite to where the kitchen/mudroom and dining area used to be and moving the kitchen toward the rear of the property to take advantage of views, the yard, light and connection to the outdoor patio and pool.

We certainly did not think of flipping the layout, Charlotte says. After this idea was presented to us, I couldnt unsee it. It was clearly what we had to do because it made so much more sense.

Thanks to the previous owners letting CK Architects come inside prior to closing in March 2016, plans were ready and work could begin on the two outbuildings immediately. Michael Donofrio and his team at East Guilford Construction, referred by Campaigne for their experience with historical renovations, took the helm.

First, they converted the garage and second-floor loft space, which previously housed a shower stall and toilet, sub-flooring and storage, into an apartment. Complete with a master bedroom, huge bathroom, and a kids room with two custom built-in bunk beds, and full galley kitchen, the renovated space was reborn with a modern farmhouse aesthetic. Ready in about six months, the apartment, intended as guest quarters, would now be the Shahids home for about a year and a half until the main house was complete.

The second outbuilding, previously a shed with four walls, would transform into a family gym and home office for Kam, a radiologist and avid runner who has completed five Ironman triathlons and 50 marathons. Designed to resemble a cabin in the Adirondacks, it features natural brown timber frames and beautiful, custom twig work at the eaves of the entrance. A rustic retreat, it also boasts a porch off the back to allow for views of the river and bird watching. So many homes are torn down to start over, Campaigne says. There is something of value to be able to work with these existing buildings and repurpose them into something of use.

Construction on the main house began at the end of 2016. Taking the siding off the entire house allowed them to build in the degree of insulation needed to install an in-ground geothermal system, which uses the constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool not only the main house, but the other buildings too. A natural gas line feeds the backup generator for the geothermal system, but otherwise the Shahids dont use any gas or fuel oil.

Geothermal is passive, says Kam, who wanted to make the house energy efficient and also utilize solar panels to offset the two electric cars that both he and Charlotte drive. It heats slowly and cools slowly, so if youre leaking at all, youre not going to get to the temperature that you want. The scope of the project allowed us to do this. Otherwise, it would be crazy to try to attempt this with a 1798 farmhouse.

And what farm would be complete without animals? With a goal of meeting all of the familys poultry needs, Kam buys 40 to 50 birds a year, including chickens, ducks, guineas and turkeys, many of which they hatch themselves.

If you asked Charlotte or Kam when they first met in college if theyd one day be raising chickens and harvesting their own meat, they would have said no. But as Kam continued to run marathons, attend medical school, and see so much disease that could have been prevented by how patients live their lives and how they eat, it guided him toward sustainable living. The kids are getting to an age where I basically said, Guys, if you want to eat meat, and it is a choice and I respect everyones choice, we all need to know how this is done, Kam says. Theres a life that has to end in order for us to eat this. They each had their little moment where they said that theyre not eating chicken. My youngest said, I like salad.

As such, the kitchen for this modern homestead is an active one. Some must-haves included a big refrigerator, Wolf range with a griddle for making pancakes on the weekends, small freezer drawers and lots of storage.

I wanted to be sure that when we designed our kitchen that we concealed most items. I made certain that everyday items would be highly accessible through the use of pullout drawers and low pullout shelving, says Charlotte, who understands the value of a functional, well-designed space where everything has a home.

While Campaigne designed the layout of the kitchen, Charlotte chose colors, stone, faucets and finishes. Lighting is the jewelry that you put on after everything else, says Charlotte, who selected the glass globes over the kitchen island that tie in with the glass pulls on the timeless white Shaker cabinets. Adjacent and open to the kitchen is a casual eating space, featuring one of the homes six fireplaces. Opening up the ceiling and exposing the natural wood beams brings warmth to the space against the wood paneling.

Exposed wood beams in the master suite also bolsters a warm, cozy feeling. In the master bathroom, the copper bathtub is the centerpiece, with veining in the marble tile tying into its color. The wood floor with radiant heating as well as custom wood framed mirrors crafted by East Guilford Construction complete the sophisticated, organic look.

Raising the roof increased second-floor living space for each child to have his own bedroom with plenty of storage. There are even tiny rooms with little doors under the eaves. Plus, a playroom was added as well as an additional bathroom. Charlottes favorite color, blue, seen in various shades throughout the house and apartment, works its way upstairs onto the walls of the boys bathroom, double-trough sink, furniture, rugs, and window treatments.

When you walk into a home, you want it to tell a story, Charlotte says. Aptly naming their modern homestead River Run, the Shahids home does just that, telling the story of who they are and what they love, with more chapters waiting to be written.

This article originally appeared in Connecticut Magazine. You can subscribe here, or find the current issue on sale here. Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest and greatest content from Connecticut Magazine delivered right to your inbox. On Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag.

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'You want it to tell a story': Guilford farmhouse from 1700's gets a sustainable makeover - CT Insider