HOME TOUR: Narragansett

A Great Island cottage imbues coastal design, without stripes or anchors

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Michael Mosca and husband David Melançon live between Manhattan and Narragansett with their six-year-old Parsons Russell Terrier, Lorenzo. Mosca is a realtor with Sotheby’s Mott & Chace International Realty, specializing in luxury coastal properties, and Melançon is the founder and managing partner of a brand strategy consultancy and serves on the board of Providence-based Social Enterprise Greenhouse. Through the years the industrious pair have designed and decorated a Manhattan loft, a Colorado timber home, a California marina bungalow, and an 1890 sea cottage in Ogunquit, which they “restored and loved for more than 10 years until the commute from Manhattan for weekend visits became too much to handle,” Mosca explains. They sold the Maine property and began looking for a home on the North Fork of Long Island until a summer trip to Narragansett, where Mosca “discovered” Great Island.

Even though Mosca spent his childhood summers at Narragansett beaches – “I even learned to swim at Sand Hill Cove!” – he wasn’t aware of the small island accessed by Galilee Escape Road in Narragansett. He recalls the freezing cold February day he visited a handful of properties with his sister, including the one that would become home. “It fell squarely into the category of ‘worst house in the best neighborhood,’ and my husband was on board sight unseen. Having undertaken several renovation projects over the past 20+ years, we knew we could turn it into something we’d love,” says Mosca with a knowing smile.

The pair purchased the property thinking they’d modify/expand the existing 600-square-foot home. “That became impossible due to zoning and building restrictions,” says Mosca, who explains that they decided to raze it and start from scratch, embarking on a three-year project between design, permits, and construction. Although they had experience renovating older homes, they’d never built one, and enlisted architect Laura Krekorian, who helped them realize their vision of a charming Great Island escape of their own.

Inside decor is based on a pleasing neutral palette of creams, linens, and soft grays that connect with the natural colors outside. “These are comfortable hues for us, and they complement any style of furnishings and art. They also allow the architectural details like the stone wall around the fireplace, soaring ceiling, and wonderful water views to shine,” says Mosca. “We decidedly did not want a coastal home that was traditional blue and white or shouted ‘nautical’ in any way.”

“South County is an amazing place – the best of the land and the sea,” muses Mosca. “We walk or bike down the street to our local fish market (Ferry Wharf) nearly every day, and we eat local produce pretty much exclusively. We paddleboard, kayak, and quahog (yes, it’s a verb!) from our backyard. We love the beach in all seasons, even winter when we can go with our dog, Lorenzo.”

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