Dream Design on the Coast of Rhode Island

Clients of architect David Andreozzi had been living in London for years. When school let out, the family of four traveled stateside to summer in bustling Newport; then they tried Jamestown. With a n inviting center and natural beauty galore, the town charmed them immediately. The couple decided to make their relationship with Jamestown permanent and started looking at real estate. They took their time, searching for just the right opportunity, with Andreozzi guiding them along the way.

Their patience paid off when, after a year and a half, they discovered three acres on a secluded road with panoramic ocean views. For this blank slate, Andreozzi, principal of Rhode Island –based Andreozzi Architecture, dreamed up a residence inspired by the great Shingle Style manor homes of the turn of the (last) century. Parker Construction, Mather & Page Landscape Architects, and interior designer Meryl Santopietro rounded out the design team.

Says the client of their initial vision: “We wanted it to fit the feel of the area, to look like it would stand the test of time—inside and out.” The resulting compound, complete with a garage wing topped by a guest suite, sings with historic precedent. The details—cedar shingles, gracious gables, dormers, mullioned windows, stone chimneys, and a custom-crafted copper weathervane—communicate a New England vernacular that is familiar and comforting. Inside, however, the mood shifts. The vibe skews transitional with a bright, white atmosphere that allows the blues and greens out – side to pop like expressionist art, with windows and doors serving as functional frames.

Andreozzi delivered traditional millwork throughout; however, painted white, it blends with the plaster walls for a clean, unified look. Contemporary furnishings and fixtures plus white 24- by 24-inch porcelain tile flooring (it alternates with ebony-stained white oak) all contribute to the interior’s polished minimalism. “We prefer a more contemporary aesthetic,” explains the client, who notes that their London flat is more modern. “We like white and dark wood together and oriented the interior around that theme.”

“They are a very modern couple,” adds Andreozzi of the exterior-interior contrast. “This is the epitome of a traditional, classical Shingle-Style house presented through a lens of light and modernity.” With so much natural beauty to show – case, Andreozzi drew up a dramatic, trans – parent entry sequence that begins with a lofty two-story foyer. Here, the eye travels through a columned opening into a formal living room, with two mirror-image seating areas oriented on fireplaces, and then out to the view beyond.

To the right, a grand white-and-black staircase winds sinuously, connecting four levels of living space. “It’s a celebration of craftsmanship; it’s like a vertical piece of sculpture,” says the architect. Functional family living is centered to the left of the entry, where a kitchen with pantry, breakfast nook, and octagonal family room are open to each other. Andreozzi custom designed both the nook’s curving table and the compass rose light fixture punctuating the family room’s view-embracing geometry. The library study, also on the first floor, bucks the white trend with paneling of luxurious quarter-sawn sapele, stained a dark ebony, and sumptuous leather furniture. “It gives off a Ralph Lauren vibe, with Union Jack pillows for that old-school British feel,” describes the owner.

Upstairs, the couple’s primary suite stretches horizontally, paralleling the views. This suite is nothing less than an oasis, complete with his and hers showers, soaking tub, dry sauna, and private dressing room. When guests arrive, or the kids have friends over, the home offers plenty of hangout spots. One of the client’s favorites is the walkout lower level, aka entertaining central, which contains a workout gym, golf simulator, wet bar, games area, and cinema room. To her, it represents everything the house was built for: spending time together and making memories. Another gathering area for kids is the third-floor bunk room with a TV sitting area and built-in window seat. From here, a ladder leads to a sunken roof deck, the ultimate sightseeing spot.

Outside, the landscape architecture is elegant but entertaining focused. Come summer, the backyard buzzes with parties and barbecues. It boasts a linear pool, spa, pool house with grilling station and bathroom, and outdoor shower. Pennsylvania Colonial blue fieldstone dominates the extensive hardscaping. Built as a generational home—a base for the family’s future—this compound impresses at every turn, just like its oceanfront site. The owner admits she didn’t want anything lacking; she wanted everyone to have whatever they need or desire at the ready. Simply put: goal achieved.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT andreozzi.com

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