A historical Newport home brimming with character, gets a fresh and functional renovation with the help of some of New England’s top architecture and construction partners.
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Newport, Rhode Island
Elms View
Project Partners
Architect: Patrick Ahearn Architect LLC
Builder: Parker Construction
Landscape Architect: Flora Design
Historic Design that's Forward-Thinking
When a Chicago couple with Rhode Island roots decided to make a home in Newport, they had a few goals in mind.
First, they wanted a place where they could spend summers now, and retire later. Second, they wanted the space to suit their love of entertaining, often for 50 guests or more. And lastly, they wanted their new home to honor Newport’s rich history.
Preserving When Possible
Inside, the property lacked modern amenities – air conditioning, for example. Systemic updates meant the house had to be taken to the studs. Still, interior preservation efforts were every bit as meticulous.
Our team worked to keep much of the original material intact despite the expansive renovation effort. The original newel post, complete with a Celtic cross motif from the home’s early purpose as a rectory, was carefully restored. The balustrade was recreated to match the original. All interior doors and trim were reproduced using the existing pieces as a model. And, when the front door was judged beyond repair, the team replicated the original, to a tee.
Key Takeaways
- Working with a high-caliber, highly cooperative team leads to a low-stress, highly successful, and on-schedule project.
- Open communication results in personal touches. Our clients wanted a dual purpose billiards/dining room table, but didn’t think this was possible. Because they shared this with us early, we were able to create their custom billiards/dining table with a local artisan. Our clients still tell us how much they love how the billiards table brings their family together at the end of the day.
- When preservation can’t happen, replicate for authenticity. We preserved as much of the 1877 home as possible, including the floors, original newel posts, and street facing windows. When the original front door was beyond repair, we worked with craftspeople to replicate it to a tee, just as we did the doors and window casings throughout the house. Now its original details, reproduced with respect and care, will stand strong for the next one hundred years.
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Full Project Gallery
Photographer:
Kyle J. Caldwell
