Randy and Lynne Sudderth have lived in five homes in six years. Such is life when your life’s work is in residential real estate — there’s always opportunities to buy, build and sell. There’s always the potential for someplace better.
A designer and builder for 30 years, Randy Sudderth of Sudderth Design said he learns something new with every project. Lynne Sudderth, a real estate broker and founder of Sudderth Collective, sees the latest home trends in her everyday work. Combining their professional experiences and living together in various residences, the two had compiled quite the list of must-haves. Their new residence in the Nichols Hills Suburban neighborhood checks all the boxes.
The Sudderths’ decision to build a home wasn’t quick or easy. Rather, the idea evolved over time. They initially purchased this property as a business investment.
“I told Randy I didn’t like the idea of a whole new house,” Lynne said.
“And I said, ‘Okay, that’s fine. I’ll just build a house [to sell],’ and I built a plan that I knew we would love,” said Randy.
After plans were drawn, Randy went to the lot and spray-painted the building’s footprint in the grass, revealing a large backyard, something the Sudderths’ previous home lacked. That evening, when the Sudderths went to check on their properties — to “check the cows,” as Randy calls their nightly rounds — Lynne couldn’t help but notice the copious space surrounding the painted outline. Randy continued to share his vision for the property with her, and a few weeks later, she agreed that the new build could, in fact, be their own.
From there, the two collaborated to create the home of their dreams. The design is more transitional than other Sudderth Design projects, with a creamy white exterior. Favorite rooms include the sweet bedroom for their 5-year-old daughter Milan, as well as the homeschool room with beautiful backyard views. That sprawling yard now holds a putting green, pool and spacious patio, where the Sudderth family enjoys gathering by the outdoor fireplace and playing with their dog. Lynne often reads the Bible and leads her daughter’s school lessons on the patio in the mornings.
Indoors, the Sudderths love the kitchen with its formidable cabinetry, the thoughtful layout of the adjoining living and dining rooms — ideal for entertaining — and the casual TV room tucked away on the backside. That room is painted in dark colors (a Sudderth Design signature) to increase the coziness quotient. A circular window, another signature element, was incorporated into the front hallway. With strategically placed windows, the interiors maintain a natural glow throughout the day.
In the final days of building their new home and selling the previous one, the Sudderths said they almost backed out, exhausted by the process and the idea of moving — again.
“We had a little hiccup with the buyers, so we had an out. We could have called it good,” said Randy. “We came back over here, it was finished, and we were a week or two from moving in, and we were just like, ‘Oh, let’s just do it. Let’s just move in over here.’ And I mean, literally, probably by the first few nights of being here, we loved it.”
“Thank God we did it,” Lynne said. “We’ve lived in a lot of houses; I’ve never loved a house more than I love this house.”
For the Sudderth family, there is no better place: A home that perfectly suits their family, a home with staying power.
Interested in reading more about new homes in the 405? Check out Renovations Elevate a Nichols Hills Home!