❤️ Would you like to save this?
We'll email this article to you, so you can read it later!
By saving, we'll email this post to you for later. Unsubscribe anytime.
A young, growing family collaborated with Brewster Thornton Group Architects and SR Fine Home Builders to renovate their old, peculiar farmhouse near Newport, Rhode Island. Together with the talented owner/interior designer, the team transformed an unresolved exterior and challenging layout into a stylish, beachy shingle-style home with a fun, funky interior.
Before this work, the house had grown prosaically over the years. Although anchored by an octagonal tower, the house’s street view struggled. The front door was hidden, and a large, moldering pool addition obscured the remaining façade. Inside, family areas were strung between corridors. There were spaces cut off from each other, unusably small bedrooms, and the usual lack of storage.
DESIGN DETAILS
ARCHITECT Brewster Thornton Group Architects
BUILDER SR Fine Home Builders
In the first phase, the pool addition was removed, a mudroom entry near the garage was created, and the kitchen was moved more centrally in the house. Upstairs, a master suite was created. A detached garage and small guest house were renovated. The project was landscaped to complement these changes.
However, the transformation really picked up speed with the second phase of the renovation. Outside, the tower became the focal point of the whole house, nestled by a second sweeping gable and a large wrap-around porch. The addition helped create a symmetrical façade that added dignity to the house without overwhelming its original vernacular elements. The new porch created a more visible entry to the whole house, and its horizontal form balanced the height of the tower.
The reconfigured mudroom serves as a “friend’s entry” for the house and offers ample storage.
In the existing family room, a textured ceiling was added, and the TV was installed in millwork to be hidden when not in use.
The kitchen and dining room flow together to recall the old farmhouse. Keeping the dining room close means that it is used every night.
What We Love About This Home
This reimagined farmhouse in Rhode Island beautifully blends coastal charm with playful personality, transforming a once-quirky layout into a bright and welcoming family abode. Expansive windows and thoughtfully designed living spaces invite natural light and scenic views throughout the home. A favorite design feature is the cleverly reconfigured staircase, which conceals a hidden playroom for children, adding a fun and functional element to the home.
Now all the parts of the house are working and have created a delightful result for the entire family!
Tell Us: What details do you find most inspiring in this family home remodel project? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Rhode Island: A timeworn Rhode Island farmhouse gets a beautiful modern update and An impressive beach house in Rhode Island built to withstand storms.
Inside, the design for the new addition included a large new foyer connected to the front porch.
A new living room enhanced with a coffered ceiling, an arched opening, and views out to the large lawn was created for entertaining.
A new staircase was built to meet code, and its location was moved to improve circulation in the house. The original starting newel was reinstalled to recall the old stair. The new placement also helped make a better connection to an unused playroom (more play space was added under the stair landing) and created a great seat on the landing; lots of opportunities for imaginative play!
Above: The flooring is solid 3/4″ White Oak, finished with an acrylic based finish. It is water-resistant to spills, but not waterproof.
Upstairs, the larger bedroom was designed for the two oldest boys to grow up in together. Built-in beds added storage and a play area. A loft adds an exciting place for sleepovers. The smaller bedroom is reserved for the youngest and positioned next to Mom and Dad as a nursery.
A large trough sink and ample storage created a fun atmosphere in the kids’ central bath. The back bedroom leaves room for a guest or for future additions to the family.
The owner’s bedroom was further refined, reconfigured to fit a king-sized bed, and expanded to add a new walk-in closet. A new built-in becomes the focal point.
The tower interior becomes a small sitting and television area for the owner’s suite, and the dramatic wood ceiling extends all the way up.
Above: The ceiling drama continues in the owner’s bath with a figured wallpaper selected by the homeowner. The horizontal planks are 5.5″ wide V-groove tongue & groove. This can also be done with a “nickel gap” appearance rather than v-groove.
BEFORE THE RENOVATION
PHOTOGRAPHER Robert Brewster Photography
0 comments