Cove Cottage Project Reveal: A Whole House Remodel
May 9, 2023
Julie Sanfilippo
Share on:

Project Kickoff: Whole House Remodel
What’s the first rule of real estate? Location, Location, Location! Well, the homeowner of our Cove Project definitely followed that rule. It was love at first site for us with this sweet cottage on the cove in Barrington, Rhode Island.
This waterfront cottage is the perfect vacation home for our client, providing a much needed retreat from the city and a place to gather with friends and family. Though the location was ideal, the house itself needs some updates and our client wanted help planning and executing a whole house remodel, our specialty!
The Plan
There is not much of this house that wasn’t touched, the floors on the entire main floor were redone, the kitchen, the 1/2 bath, both bedrooms and the ensuite bathroom as well as the lower level bathroom and bedroom were remodeled. The only untouched space was the lower level family room.
Our clients feature priorities were a steam shower with a bench large enough to lay on, increased closet space, adding a bar area and improving the kitchen storage and function.
Here are some of our original mood boards and renderings.
Bedroom & Ensuite Design
The old ensuite was a long narrow space. It had a large tub but basically no closet space. We took the old tub area to create a great closet and relaid out the bathroom into a smaller but functional and beautiful space. The shower has a luxurious steam feature and large bench so you can relax and enjoy it. The custom floating vanity is a gorgeous natural walnut with great storage.
The bedroom is a small room but has high ceilings. We removed a non functioning fireplace (along with the chimney!) and added a feature wall to draw you into the space and have your eye travel up, making the room feel larger. Floating nightstands, modern fixtures, and wall-mounted sconces all provide an updated yet inviting atmosphere that complements the rest of the home perfectly.
Kitchen Updates Design
The original plan for the kitchen in this whole house remodel was to keep the existing base cabinets and add a couple of custom cabinets for the pantry space and to enlarge the island. New countertops, hardware, open shelving, and lighting were also in the plan. New kitchen cabinets would have been great, but they just weren’t in the budget. However, once the rest of the house was being transformed the homeowner decided to increase the budget some to paint the existing cabinets. We analyzed the color in the space and landed on this very deep blue (Baritone – C2 – 741).
The dark color of the cabinets draws your eye to the space, which is visible from the entryway. The ceiling slopes down to be pretty low so the open shelves in this case make the space feel more open and airy. The white countertop and backsplash offset the dark cabinets to keep the space bright.
Taking the chimney out from roof to basement was a big undertaking but it allowed us to create a fabulous walk-in wet bar for coffee, tea, wine and cocktails. Perfect for our entertainment loving client!
Other Details
While kitchens and bathrooms really are some of the most used spaces in any home, it’s all the small details that really make a space feel complete. The hardwood floors, new doors, moldings, and hardware elevate the style of this project and make it feel complete. The doors are solid 5-panel shaker doors, a modern choice that works with the homeowner’s style. The floors are white oak in a wide plank and the black hardware throughout adds a modern touch to this whole house remodel.
To stay updated with our latest projects, follow us on Instagram and take a look at the beautiful transformation of our Cove Cottage Project.
Photographer: Adeline & Grace Photography – Barrington, RI
Builder: B. Hughes Builders – Barrington, RI
Related Posts
Project Reveal: A Look Inside the Bowden House Ensuite Renovation
Julie Sanfilippo Share on: Pinterest Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email The Bowden House History All of our projects are


5 Tips for Luxury Family Living
Attaining livable luxury with your family can seem like an overwhelming task. However, if you are keen on creating a home your family will love, it is much simpler than you think. The key is to strike a balance between modern design and functional convenience. As Rhode Island Interior Designers we offer five tips for luxury family living. Whether you are buying or renovating a home, these tips will help you create a space that speaks of comfort and luxury.


Kitchen Remodel: Beautiful Cedar Point Project Reveal!
Our amazing clients (now friends) bought a beautiful home in Barrington, RI, that needed a kitchen remodel. We came up with a plan that included a moderate layout tweak, paint (top to bottom), stair railing refresh, hardwood refinishing, furnishings, window treatments and accessories. Oh, and there were only 8 weeks until they needed to move into their home. We love a challenge and helping good people. As a full service interior design firm we have amazing partners and knew we could help our new clients make decisions that would would benefit their budget and timeline, so we jumped in head first!


Modern Colonial Project Reveal Part 2
Revealing some small but mighty spaces today. Our clients wanted to increase the functionality of the garage entryway, which had a full bathroom and laundry closet. They only needed a 1/2 bathroom here, but wanted to add a mudroom space and keep the laundry in that area. We love problem solving and tackled the layout challenge!


Modern Colonial Kitchen & Dining Room Renovation Reveal
This kitchen went from dark and cramped to open and bright! It still has tons of storage, features and style. . The overall goal of this renovation project was to create better flow, maximize space and increase the natural light. Of course we also wanted to make sure they have plenty of storage and functional features.


Refresh Your Dining Room with Boho Farmhouse Design Inspiration!
My old dining room had a distinctive farmhouse style, but I have been transitioning my home from a to be more boho-farmhouse. My overall goals were to have a brighter, lighter space that still fits with the older stye of my home. The house is a 1874 farmhouse that has had a couple of thoughtfully added additions put on during its 140+ years. I also wanted some additional storage space, a wine fridge, and I wanted a larger table that could comfortably seat 8-10. Erika and I love mixing old and new pieces as well as different styles to give character and function to a room and we took the same approach here.