Before & After: A new chapter begins in the centuries-long history of Beaufort’s Cuthbert House
History in the (re)making
Story by Barry Kaufman
In 1790 John Alexander Cuthbert II put his stamp on Beaufort’s footprint, building a house for his family at the corner of Church and Bay, where the Beaufort River flows by in its eternal current. A grand home in a town that had come to be defined by its homes, the Cuthbert House sat at the center of Beaufort’s social scene, hosting everything from community soirées to visits from powerful politicians and leaders.
The home’s history would see it occupied by Union soldiers, expanded upon in 1880 and narrowly saved from demolition by placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Thirty years ago it was transformed into an inn, allowing travelers to spend a few nights reliving the home’s glory days. For a home of such enduring beauty, it has seen quite a lot.
Widely considered the finest accommodations in Beaufort, the Eastlake Suite at the Cuthbert House offers guests a luxurious experience in an antebellum mansion, complete with water views and historic details.
Restoring the glory
When new owners Chris and Suzanne Ramm took over the historic property in 2023, the Cuthbert House entered another new chapter.
“We love to build new homes and renovate older homes, and we knew the minute we laid eyes on this grand old home that it deserved a ‘refresh,’” said Chris.
Added Suzanne, “We wanted to respect the history of the home while giving our guests a five-star experience.”
To achieve this vision of enhancing the home’s beauty while preserving its timeless charm, the couple reached out to Laura Bischofberger with J. Banks Design.
“I knew I had an idea of what it could be and what it needed to be,” said Bischofberger. “We live and breathe historic Lowcountry every day, so right away we knew it obviously needed a face lift and some brightness. It almost just needed to be decluttered because you couldn’t see the historic features.”
The two-bedroom Mariner suite features exposed brickwork, a private patio with water views and the option to link to the adjoining Courtyard room.
A race to refine
Working against the clock to have the Cuthbert House ready for the next busy tourist season, the team came together quickly with fabrics and furnishings that added a slightly more modern touch to each room. In guest suites, overbearing primary colored walls were toned down to more neutral pastels, and cumbersome window dressings were replaced with light curtains.
A toast to tradition
Another surprise only enhanced the spot that nearly everyone involved in the renovation points to as their favorite improvement: the bar. Already planned to fill an empty space at the heart of the property, the semi-circular, reclaimed- cypress bar faced what had been a set of bookshelves. When the contractor removed them, they discovered that they had been installed over a gorgeous old fireplace.
“The bar was always Chris’s vision as a gathering space for our guests, but the discovery of a fireplace across the room got me more excited about the bar, as the fireplace gives it a warm and charming ‘tavern-like’ feel,” said Suzanne.
Layers of history
Of course, one of the joys of working with historic homes comes in peeling away at centuries of updates, discovering what lies beneath plaster and wallpaper.
“In the dining room, when we were going through the renovation process, that room was originally this pea green grass cloth that was not as desirable,” said Bischofberger. “When the contractor got in to start taking it apart, we found that the entire room had wood paneling that someone had decided to plaster over. That was a fun surprise.”
The Oaks is a perfect name for this room, offering views of trees draped in Spanish moss and the serene beauty of the courtyard fountain.
Hidden bricks, lasting charm
They also found brickwork hiding behind plaster walls in some of the rooms, and in revealing them, Bischofberger was able to heighten the sense of history and grandeur of the house.
“Anytime you have old brick like that, it’s so rare,” she said. “This was such a fun experience because there were a lot of unknowns.”
But one thing is certain – the Ramms were determined to breathe new life into Cuthbert House: not for themselves but for the people who would come to visit and share in its charms.
“We both love the bar we added, but the most stunning addition is the hand-painted mural in the entrance hall done by Beaufort artist Lynne Fensterer,” said Chris. “To watch people walk in the front door and see their eyes turn to look in awe at her work is so much fun. We basically told Lynne to look across the street at the live oaks with Spanish moss standing at the edge of the marsh grass and bring that into our hall. It just sets the tone for the inn and the porch views that our guests get to enjoy throughout their stay.”
From the original fireplaces to the grandfather clock in the corner, every detail in the Cuthbert House parlor tells a story of its storied past.
From past to present
Before-and-after photos highlight more beautifully revitalized rooms at Cuthbert House.
Once a lively gathering space for the socialites of its era, the Ballroom offers breathtaking views of the Beaufort River. This 400-square-foot haven on the second floor is mere steps from the balcony, where guests can enjoy the gentle breeze and spectacular sunsets in perfect tranquility.
