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Ocean Lodge pool elevation with symmetrical white façades and barn doors opening to views, demonstrating seamless integration of original scale with coastal design updates.

Newport, Rhode Island

Ocean Lodge

A thoughtful architectural and interior design collaboration transforms a historic Newport coastal property into a timeless homestead, balancing heritage preservation with modern living.

Project Partners

Architect: Patrick Ahearn Architect

Builder: Parker Construction

Landscape Architect: Dan Gordon

Landscaper: Landscape Creations

Elegant sitting room at Ocean Lodge featuring a natural stone fireplace, peaked wood ceiling, and interior design rooted in timeless coastal style

Reimagining a Newport Classic

Perched above the 12th hole at the Newport Country Club and framed by sweeping ocean views and protected marshland, this rare property came with an equally rare challenge: how to modernize a 1938 estate without erasing its legacy. The existing main house and detached pool cabana felt more rooted in the past than ready for the future. The clients envisioned a summer retreat that would honor the spirit of the site while supporting contemporary life.

Taste Design joined forces with architect Patrick Ahearn in a unified vision to protect and elevate the home’s history rather than replace it. While other architectural firms proposed complete demolition, Patrick and Patti recognized the opportunity to preserve the property’s architectural character while introducing new functionality, comfort, and resilience.

The result is Ocean Lodge, a thoroughly reimagined residence that maintains its historic soul while embracing a new chapter. From structure to interiors, every element was considered through the lens of heritage, place, and purpose.

Side garden entrance of Ocean Lodge featuring cedar shingles, blue doors, and flowering window boxes—a modern restoration of a historic Newport residence.

Interior Design that Honors Place

Taste Design played a central role in translating the architectural vision into interiors that are historically grounded, beautifully livable, and enduring. Working closely with Ahearn and the homeowners, Patti and Abby Langan, Project Manager and Interior Designer, ensured the design narrative carried through each interior space, from redefined room layouts to curated finishes, cabinetry, and furnishings. The team sought to express timelessness without pretense, subtly referencing the past while supporting the needs of today’s family life.

Intentional restraint was key: new architectural connections are designed to be secondary to the original house and carriage house, preserving the legibility and emotional resonance of the historic form. The result is a design that respects the house’s scale and sets a tone for the future in a homestead that feels as if it’s always belonged.

Locals frequently stop to thank the homeowners for protecting the “living history” of their neighborhood. The enduring character of the home stands as a testament to what can be achieved when thoughtful design and preservation come together.

Courtyard view of Ocean Lodge highlighting the carriage house, original architectural scale, and timeless coastal detailing, preserved and redesigned by Taste Design Inc.

The Challenge of Coastal Flooding

Preserving the home’s physical presence was not without its challenges. Located within the flood zone, the existing main house and garage were both at risk during severe storm events. Rather than rebuild, the team pursued an approach that elevated the structures in place. The solution involved filling the immediate area to raise both buildings and constructing a retaining wall to avoid altering the grade beyond the setback and buffer zone.

This strategy was not about increasing value, it was about preserving a legacy. Without it, the home would have remained vulnerable to storm surges and climate risks. With it, Ocean Lodge stands protected for generations.

Recent storms have tested this new infrastructure, and proven its success. The house endured, unscathed and ready to continue its story.

Living room at Ocean Lodge featuring twin sofas, navy textiles, and warm wood tones that echo Newport’s refined coastal aesthetic.

Timeless by Design

This project stands as a powerful example of what it means to reinterpret a historic property with care, collaboration, and design integrity. Enough of the original essence remained to shape a new narrative, one that feels as if it had always been there.

At Taste, we are honored to have been part of this transformation, carrying forward a vision that celebrates the past while building for the future.







Full Project Gallery

Photographer:

Chris Rucinski (exteriors) and Taylor Ahearn Allegrini (interiors)

Ocean Lodge pool elevation with symmetrical white façades and barn doors opening to views, demonstrating seamless integration of original scale with coastal design updates.
Indoor bar and seating area at Ocean Lodge overlooking the pool, with custom millwork and florals by Taste Design Inc. blending indoor comfort with outdoor beauty.
Cozy reading corner at Ocean Lodge with built-in shelving, natural textures, and handcrafted ceramics styled by Taste Design Inc.
Detail of the Ocean Lodge bar with open shelves and a tray of fresh oysters, reflecting refined coastal hospitality and classic cabinetry design.
View from the front entry hall through to the ocean, framed by original wood paneling, custom millwork, and a Dutch door at Ocean Lodge.
Vignette view of Ocean Lodge’s fireplace and bar cart, styled for elegant entertaining with vintage glassware and collected objects.
Entry hall vignette with nautical painting, blue chinoiserie vases, and wood paneling showcasing Newport’s rich residential design history.
Living room at Ocean Lodge featuring twin sofas, navy textiles, and warm wood tones that echo Newport’s refined coastal aesthetic.
Custom blue built-in cabinetry with glass-front doors and curated ceramics, lit by late afternoon sun in the kitchen of Ocean Lodge.
A breakfast nook in a coastal kitchen with a circular banquette and blue cushions.
A coastal cottage kitchen with a blue tile backsplash and natural wood beams in the ceiling.
Curved bay window breakfast nook with built-in bench seating, a round wood table, and morning sunlight illuminating a casually set table at Ocean Lodge.
Ocean Lodge’s dramatic window seat with panoramic water views, custom cushions, and vintage-style furnishings surrounded by warm wood interiors.
Ocean-facing game room with original wood paneling, custom window seat, and playful textiles, capturing the essence of coastal relaxation.
Formal dining room at Ocean Lodge featuring antique-style dining chairs, carved wood table, and ocean-facing windows.
Rooftop terrace at Ocean Lodge with sweeping views, classic blue-and-white furnishings, and relaxed coastal styling designed by Taste Design Inc.
View from a second-story deck with navy lounge chairs overlooking a golf course and expansive sky with scattered clouds.
Front entry view of Ocean Lodge in Newport, showcasing restored architecture with blue shutters, vertical wood siding, and historic detailing by Taste Design Inc. and Patrick Ahearn.
Serene poolside patio with striped lounge chairs, blooming hydrangeas, and coastal architecture lit in the soft glow of dusk.
Ocean Lodge pool elevation with symmetrical white façades and barn doors opening to views, demonstrating seamless integration of original scale with coastal design updates. Indoor bar and seating area at Ocean Lodge overlooking the pool, with custom millwork and florals by Taste Design Inc. blending indoor comfort with outdoor beauty. Cozy reading corner at Ocean Lodge with built-in shelving, natural textures, and handcrafted ceramics styled by Taste Design Inc. Detail of the Ocean Lodge bar with open shelves and a tray of fresh oysters, reflecting refined coastal hospitality and classic cabinetry design. View from the front entry hall through to the ocean, framed by original wood paneling, custom millwork, and a Dutch door at Ocean Lodge. Vignette view of Ocean Lodge’s fireplace and bar cart, styled for elegant entertaining with vintage glassware and collected objects. Entry hall vignette with nautical painting, blue chinoiserie vases, and wood paneling showcasing Newport’s rich residential design history. Living room at Ocean Lodge featuring twin sofas, navy textiles, and warm wood tones that echo Newport’s refined coastal aesthetic. Custom blue built-in cabinetry with glass-front doors and curated ceramics, lit by late afternoon sun in the kitchen of Ocean Lodge. A breakfast nook in a coastal kitchen with a circular banquette and blue cushions. A coastal cottage kitchen with a blue tile backsplash and natural wood beams in the ceiling. Curved bay window breakfast nook with built-in bench seating, a round wood table, and morning sunlight illuminating a casually set table at Ocean Lodge. Ocean Lodge’s dramatic window seat with panoramic water views, custom cushions, and vintage-style furnishings surrounded by warm wood interiors. Ocean-facing game room with original wood paneling, custom window seat, and playful textiles, capturing the essence of coastal relaxation. Formal dining room at Ocean Lodge featuring antique-style dining chairs, carved wood table, and ocean-facing windows. Rooftop terrace at Ocean Lodge with sweeping views, classic blue-and-white furnishings, and relaxed coastal styling designed by Taste Design Inc. View from a second-story deck with navy lounge chairs overlooking a golf course and expansive sky with scattered clouds. Front entry view of Ocean Lodge in Newport, showcasing restored architecture with blue shutters, vertical wood siding, and historic detailing by Taste Design Inc. and Patrick Ahearn. Serene poolside patio with striped lounge chairs, blooming hydrangeas, and coastal architecture lit in the soft glow of dusk.

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