It’s almost a Rhode Island tradition at this time of year – the snowbirds begin to fly away to points south. A recently retired Aquidneck Island couple made sure they have something wonderful to come back to in the spring: their just-renovated three-level condominium in the Moorland Farm complex, not far from Fort Adams, in Newport.
The pair had a large house in Portsmouth and wanted to downsize to a smaller home that would be easier to manage. Newport offers the perfect respite from south Florida; they can return each summer to reconnect with friends, their boating community, and the clubs they belong to. When they found this property for sale, they knew they would want to renovate it before moving in.
Ally Maloney Winzer, an interior designer with offices nearby on Thames Street, was enlisted. “Fortunately they understood that renovating and furnishing a new home is a large undertaking, one they shouldn’t try to do alone. By hiring us to oversee the design, the renovation ran smoothly, on time and on budget. The finished product is a cohesive home with an intentional design; each space feels tailored and complete,” say Maloney Winzer.
To accommodate the clients’ adjustment to reduced space, Maloney Winzer was sure to add storage wherever she could. “The floorplan didn’t change much, but we did fully renovate the home. There’s a new kitchen, new bathrooms, installed new hardwood flooring, new fireplace, new closet systems, new built-ins, new lighting, and all new furnishings,” she explains and adds that while most everything in the home is new, they did bring a painting with them and asked that it be incorporated into the living room. “It’s a sentimental piece purchased while on a trip abroad.”
For their new home, Maloney Winzer shares that her clients knew they wanted the design to be more transitional and casually elegant. They also wanted the decor to have a subtle coastal feel and favored a cream-and-blue color scheme, and they enjoy entertaining. To fulfill these wishes and increase visual space, a palette of pale neutrals was used on walls, with stylish treatments adorning expansive windows without sacrificing light. At less than 2,000 square feet, legged contemporary furniture helps with the flow.
Nods to the shoreline are evident in the blue patterned textiles, accent pieces, and occasional furniture used throughout. “There are so many ways to interpret what coastal style is,” says Maloney Winzer.
Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.
To give living spaces a coastal vibe, Maloney Winzer suggests a bold fabric or wallpaper print from Quadrille (did you know it is printed in Westerly?); display coastal photography from a local artist such as Cate Brown, Wick Sweeny, and Francesca Dolnier; and add a set of colorful Adirondack chairs from Seaside Casual and enjoy entertaining outdoors (made in Coventry).
“Coastal design doesn’t have to be preppy, blue and white, or like anything you’ve ever seen before,” says Maloney Winzer. Learn more about her services and style at MaloneyInteriors.com
Businesses used in this project include Supply New England for plumbing fixtures, Riverside Building Supply for kitchen and bathroom cabinets and countertops, Marion Drapery Workroom in Lincoln, and Best Tile and The Tile Shop in Warwick.
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