Distinctive
HOMES of the East Bay & South Coast
SPRING 2021
DISTINCTIVE HOMES
SPRING 2021
of the East Bay & South Coast A supplement to the East Bay newspapers
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY CRISAFULLI
ON THE COVER: In this stunning renovation of a 1750 Little Compton farmhouse, the glassed-in family room was built at ground level “so you walk right out onto the landscape,” says architect Gale Goff. Note the garden roof and solar panels above, and the main living space, with all original beams and floorboards restored and preserved.
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Big Plans, Intimate Spaces Landscape designers turn the natural world into breathtaking beauty
Team Chemistry By sharing the workload, real estate teams are balancing work and life — and finding success
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Old Meets New This 1700s farmhouse retains everything old in a stunning new setting
City Folks, ‘Country’ Homes Buyers are leaving the cities for a gentler (and more Covid-friendly) life in the East Bay
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It Starts with a Foundation This award-winning architect talks about creating art, with a sense of place
Unforgettable …! See some of the homes, sales, views and rooms they’ll never forget
RUPERT WHITELEY PHOTOGRAPHY The plantings around the pool provide both privacy and a very soft, elegant atmosphere. Designer Brooke Merriam said: “There were so many big trees and beautiful plantings on the site, and there was woods behind it. The whole space was surrounded by natural areas, and the homeowner really liked that look, liked the natural stone on the property, so we wanted everything we did to blend with that natural setting … In a space like this you want to clean it up, but make it feel like it’s always been there.”
Big plans for intimate spaces With plants, rocks, stones, fences, walls, art and more, landscape designers like Brooke Merriam turn the natural world into breathtaking beauty BY SCOTT PICKERING Brooke Merriam has learned a handful of truths in her 15 years as a landscape designer. One is to work with what you’ve got. Terrain, soil, weather, sunlight — they typically can’t be changed, so
make choices that fit within the elements you can’t change. Another is to know that everything you do, will eventually change. When you build a house, you affix cement to wood, wood to plaster, plaster to paint, and most of those things don’t move or change. When you plant living things in the ground, they change. “Everything is going to continue to grow and change,” Brooke says. “After seven years, it may be completely different than when you started.”
A tree may grow large enough to cast shade on a spot that was once sunny. Some plants flourish, while others stumble along. So know that your landscape design is not permanent; it’s an ever-changing space (like nature itself), and it will require maintenance and attention, again and again and again. “Landscapes are always evolving and changing, and I think that’s one thing people forget,” Brooke says. Continued on page 6
Brooke Merriam
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RUPERT WHITELEY PHOTOGRAPHY This small garden sits halfway up one of the flights of stairs, at a landing where a visitor sort of pauses on their way up. “I really felt it would be great to do something here,” Brooke said. She found these metal sculptures and nested them amid an array of sedges and allium, creating an alluring little space. As seen throughout the property, it has that natural, wispy, relaxed feel about it.
Lastly — and this is the area where Brooke seems to thrive — have a long-term vision. The owner of Sunflower Designs in Bristol says you have to look at a space now, and in the future. See what it’s going to look like now, and in five years. And in some cases, it may take those five years for reality to match that vision. Here, Brooke talks about a recent project she worked on, an enormous hillside landscape in Tiverton that she has been designing and revisiting for years. The project involved an older house off Main Road in Tiverton, looking out over the Sakonnet River. The owner had lived there for many years and decided to significantly invest in the landscape for the first time. Phase one was grading the property and installing the pool. Then Sunflower Designs was brought into the project. In the beginning, there was very little true landscape design, but endless natural elements like mature trees, large rocks and original granite steps. The first thing Brooke did was design a curving driveway entrance to the home. To do so, they needed to fashion terraced layers into the landscape, with a combination of natural and engineered stone. 6
Here, the more finished driveway takes shape, with ivy helping to both hide and add beauty to the walls, loose gravel adhering to the sticky asphalt beneath, and vibrant plantings along both sides of the entry to the home. Behind the iron fence is the pool area, with tall grasses creating privacy with a natural, carefree feel.
The next was bringing life, ambiance and vitality throughout the property — with plantings and stonework around the pool, around the cozy fire pit, and alongside the stairs and
various terraces of the property. The photos here tell the story. Design was by Sunflower Designs. The majority of the labor was by All American Masonry and Perreira Brothers.
Gustave White
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY
Local Knowledge, Global Network
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Old becomes new This 1700s Little Compton farmhouse retains everything old in a stunning new setting
The entryway from the driveway into the home begins the transition between modern and historic. Note that the primary level of the home actually becomes a convenient bench as it extends toward the door.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY CRISAFULLI To the left is the original farmhouse footprint, with the modern additions to the right, including patio, fire pit, green roof and hidden solar panels.
BY SCOTT PICKERING Nestled along a scenic main road in Little Compton, which is home to pastures and farms, horses and historic homes, sits a little, old farmhouse nearly 300 years old. At first glance, it is small, modest and “normal” in every way. Yet it is one of the more spectacular normals you’ll ever see. An extensive rebuild, rehabilitation and addition transformed the original farmhouse into a stunning blend of old and new. While the farmhouse retains much of its original appearance, especially when viewed from the front yard, the interior and rear of the property are understatedly modern, with simple, clean and uncluttered spaces. Architect Gale Goff led the renovation project, after a couple from Boston with a young child saw the property and fell in love with the possibilities. They wanted to persevere as much of the original, circa 1750 farmhouse as possible while creating a modern living space. “The original house did need to be almost reconstructed,” Goff said. “A lot of it was taken down and rebuilt, using all the materials from the original house.”
The second-level roof has solar panels that are hardly visible, while the lower roof is its own, maintenance-free garden. This “green roof” is visually appealing from any angle — for the owners looking out from their second-floor rooms and hallway, or from anyone outside the home looking back on the property.
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Shown here is the glassed-in family room, with patio to the left and original, main living space in the background. The room was built at ground level “so you walk right out onto the landscape,” says architect Gale Goff.
Original farmhouse beams appear throughout the house, in the kitchen and dining areas, bathrooms and bedrooms. The original, wide-plank flooring was removed, refinished and rebuilt into the home. “That was the wish of the owners. They really wanted to continue the life of the old cottage, but to bring it up to date,” Goff said. The cozy living space constructed within the shell of the original building connects to what Goff calls the “core” of the house, where a modern staircase ascends to the second-floor bedrooms, while two-story open glass creates a transition to the modern family room. This narrow space, framed in large, glass windows, opens to the backyard, with an enormous patio, pool and open fields beyond. The landscaping is deliberately in character with the design of the house — rough, reclaimed and reflecting the look and feel of an historic property. Enormous slabs of stone form the walkways, patio and pool deck, looking as if they were dragged by mule and positioned atop the lush lawn. The home today has three bedrooms, two-and-ahalf bathrooms, solar power, a green roof (see photos) and elegant open spaces. It was designed by Gale Goff Architect, and Barrett Borden the project manager. Arkins Construction was the lead contractor. The exterior work was done by Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design and Landscape Creations. 10
The kitchen is the perfect representation of the old-meets-new concept, with original beams and wide, plank floor boards framing a luxurious but simple, modern kitchen.
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It starts with a foundation PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON USHER This family compound on the island of Abaco, Bahamas, is made up of three buildings, all named after constellations: Aurora, the larger main home and the two smaller guest cottages, Polaris and Little Dipper. They are classically designed around an oval swimming pool framed by four royal palm trees. The home sits at 60 feet above sea level, the highest point on the island for miles, with endless ocean views in every direction.
Award-winning architect David Andreozzi on creating art, with a sense of place BY CHRISTY NADALIN With his innate sense of style and understanding of how light, form and function intersect, Barrington-based architect David Andreozzi has become a master of his craft. While some of his success certainly comes from his top-notch training, first at the Rhode Island School of Design and then his post-graduate work at Shope Reno Wharton, one of the foremost shingle-style architecture firms in the country, his most valuable lessons were learned on local construction sites. “Growing up as the son of a contractor, I’ve been in this business my whole life,” he said. “When I was 12 and my friends were playing on the bay in Sunfish, I was on a job site dragging things to the dumpster.” It was that experience that would shape his approach, not only to his craft and his work ethic, but to every job, and every interaction with the people he works with, from clients to subcontractors. “When someone with no connection to the experience of working on a construction site 14
like what they’ve seen in earlier projects, and there are positives and negatives to that. If people buy into that brand, then they know what they’re getting. But I’m the opposite of that — it’s about creating a space for you. I want to know where you like to read a book, n DAVID ANDREOZZI and how you celebrate the holidays. I need to know how decides to become an architect, they imagine you will function in that space, because it’s not that role as a leader, or a conductor of the proabout me at all, and I think that comes from cess,” said Mr. Andreozzi. “But you need to my start in the service industry.” understand the dynamics of a house, its layers From his first commission (on Adams Point and materials. You get that by spending years Road in Barrington) in 1988 to today, Mr. with a hammer; learning from tradespeople Andreozzi has amassed an impressive body of and craftspeople with such deep reserves of work that represents a wide variety in both knowledge.” style and scope. So it’s not surprising that ask“That appreciation of craft was instilled in ing him of which project he is most proud me by experiences like being taught to frame a leaves him at a loss for words. door by an experienced craftsman. It’s the “That’s impossible,” he said. foundation of my perspective as an architect.” “I’ve been very lucky. My clients have come to me and chosen me because they see the Creative collaboration level of art in my architecture. I’ve been hired Collaboration is also the hallmark of how Mr. by the most amazing patrons — and I call Andreozzi interacts with clients. “There are difthem that, they are patrons. Most of my projferent architects for different clients,” he said. ects are like children, and with every single one “Some come looking for a brand because they
“Most of my projects are like children, and with every single one of them I’ve had these moments of wonder when I said, ‘Oh, we did this, look at this’.”
of them I’ve had these moments of wonder when I said, ‘Oh, we did this, look at this’.” The art in his architecture is evident — a glance at some recent projects in his portfolio reveal the kind of details that are hard to find in most residential construction these days. Of late, he’s developed a fondness for incorporating stained glass into his designs, and a recent project that will soon be showcased in a national magazine features a stained glass ceiling that lights the space in an altogether unique way. Reflecting his fondness for collaboration, Mr. Andreozzi talks not of his design, but his team: “One metal artist did the brackets, another created the stained glass panels, and a talented lighting designer created the museum-quality lighting,” he said. “These little moments in the house, they’re all children to me, I’ve been lucky that way.”
Accolades and honors The fact that Mr. Andreozzi’s designs are as livable as they are artistic and timeless is reflected in the national and international attention he has received of late. Not long ago he was named one of the top 50 coastal architects in the country; more recently “a small group in Europe” (his words) named him one of the top 50 traditional architects in the world. He’s proud of the honors accorded “my little 6-person firm in Barrington” but seems
This modern shingle style residence is located in Westerly, overlooking Quonochontaug Pond, with views of Block Island, Fisher’s Island and the Atlantic Ocean. The exterior draws its influence from historical New England structures, yet the traditional elements are purposely contrasted with a much more contemporary approach to the house’s form.
more at ease talking about his leadership roles as the current president of the New England Institute of Classical Architecture and Art and the former national chairman of the AIA’s Custom Residential Architects Network — roles which have given him the opportunity to promote his passion of educating people on importance of good design. “I’ve always want-
ed people to look at architecture and ask if it relates contextually and culturally, whatever the style.” For David Andreozzi, it comes back to sense of place. “I grew up here, my dad was a carpenter and my mom was a decorator, and they had a successful practice,” he said. “I’m a carpenter’s son, and I’m still here.”
47 Appian Way
46 Buddington Road
16 Oyster Point
37/39 Jeremiah Road
$1,395,000 - Under Contract
$1,299,000 - Sold
$1,060,000 - Sold
$3,500,000 - Sold
NEW ENGLAND LUXURY Chart House Realtors is a boutique real estate firm serving clients throughout southern New England from our office in Barrington, Rhode Island. We offer our clients the best of both worlds: the support and resources of Keller Williams, the #1 selling real estate brand in Rhode Island, along with the personalized experience and specialized marketing of a boutique firm. If you are in the market to buy or sell real estate, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your objectives. Our team will prioritize your needs and values, paying unmatched attention to detail to craft a customized plan that accomplishes your goals.
47 Maple Avenue | Barrington, RI
charthouserealtors.com
(401) 246-4198
matt@charthouserealtors.com 15
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Barrington, RI | $1,350,000 16
See the Video & 3D Tour at 9ElmLane.com Kirk | Schryver | 401.529.5724
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help to get a house sold or get a buyer off the fence. Because we are all working together, we are able to put our minds together to come up with the best solutions for our clients,” Mr. Friedman said. Although they are all part of team, in many cases, they work independently with the team there as a safety net. Lauren Schaller has been with the Friedman team for some time and says joining them was a smart business decision. “The mentorship, exchange of ideas, best practices and experiences keeps the agents (or me) focused, held accountable, and overall allows us to grow and become better agents. It’s a win for our team and clients,” Ms. Schaller said. The Friedman Group is humming along like a well-oiled machine. At $23.6 million, they were third in sales volume in Bristol County last year, behind the Kirk Schryver Team and Charthouse Realtors.
Two moms get the job done
Dina Karousos and Nicki Lucenti
Team chemistry By sharing the workload, real estate teams are creating flexible schedules, collaborating on clients and finding success BY JOAN D. WARREN Two heads are better than one. Or three. Or four. Or five. That seems to be the feeling for those working in teams in the real estate market. Increasingly, teams are taking
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hold and learning how to expand business, share the workload and collaborate in ways that agents working alone cannot. Ted Friedman of The Friedman Group at Residential Properties is the lead on a team of five realtors - himself, his wife Betsy Friedman, Claudia Maiorana, Lauren Schaller and Cat Horn. Mr. Friedman found that he was having difficulty keeping up with demand as his client base grew. “I started the team because we
were getting busier and wanted to have a plan in place to service our clients. Creating the team enabled us to give our clients the topnotch service they deserved. As the years have gone by, we have added Lauren Schaller and Cat Horn, who have both been great additions,” he said. “We always have each other to bounce ideas off of. Real estate isn’t always cut and dry. We are always working with unique situations, and sometimes you need
Dina Karousos and Nicki Lucenti are a real estate team from Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty. Pairing up has been a rewarding business model for them both. Working together, they can help their clients, while juggling the demands of motherhood and family obligations. Coming together has been a blessing for the pair. “I wanted to ensure my clients always had the service they deserved, and I could only be at one place at a time. I was on a search for someone with genuine qualities who would offer excellent service and have strengths that were my weaknesses … that’s when Nicki and I met through a mutual dear friend,” Ms. Karousos said. Working together has enhanced their business to a point where they have a solid reputation in the East Bay and on Aquineck Island. “We feed off each other and bounce ideas off each other continuously, striving to always be better. We feel, and our motto has been from day one, that ‘two can do the work of three.’ We respect each other as full-time moms, too,
and it is so helpful to us both that coverage is always there for our clients while balancing motherhood,” Ms. Lucenti said. Communication and honesty is the key to their partnership. “We ‘divide and conquer’ and try our best to set the work week schedule each Monday, and know and understand there will be twists and turns in that schedule. We both do everything. We collaborate on our marketing each week, and communicate with our clients weekly,” Ms. Lucenti said. When not working, the ladies have a friendship that respects boundaries and keeps things balanced. “We are friendly outside of work, but do try to keep separate lives socially. Everyone likes to ‘talk real estate,’ so we try to have balance in other areas of our lives. Family is very important to us both, and we are grateful for very similar upbringings. That keeps us grounded,” Ms. Karousos said.
The Friedman Group
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ABOVE and BEYOND
KIRK|SCHRYVER TEAM
#1 IN BARRINGTON AND THE EAST BAY $50 MILLION IN SALES • 67 PROPERTIES SOLD In a year filled with challenges and uncertainty, we all are reminded of how important it is to love where we live, because home is where our heart is. Strong work ethic, attention to every detail, and enthusiasm enables this team to make this often emotional process of buying or selling a home seamless – all while delivering the best outcomes possible.
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*Ranking based in whole or in part on data supplied by Statewide Multiple Listing Service. The MLS does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Based on information from Statewide MLS for 2020 as of September 2020.
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Though they had been friends and colleagues for a long time, Elizabeth Kirk and Lisa Schryver didn’t decide to form their own team until New Year’s Eve. What followed was the most historic year anyone could imagine.
Teammates and friends
The Kirk Schryver Team formed in the early days of 2020 and found remarkable success amidst market chaos BY SCOTT PICKERING It’s difficult to believe that a little more than a year ago, the Kirk Schryver Team did not exist. It feels like they’ve been together forever. They haven’t. Their professional relationship began on New Year’s Eve 2019 (Dec. 31, 2019). A potential client planning to list his property met separately with Lisa Schryver — she was finishing the year as the No. 1 agent in Barrington sales — and Elizabeth Kirk — she was finishing the year as the No. 2 agent in Barrington sales by a very slim margin — and he could not make a decision. He liked both women. So he called them and asked if they would list his property together. They said yes, and the rest, as they say, is history. Formally organized in the early days of the most unpredictable, wild year anyone alive had ever experienced, the Kirk Schryver real estate team hit 2020 at a frenetic pace and never really stopped. Their team in the Residential Properties Barrington office finished 2020 as
the top agents, or team, for total transactions in Barrington (51), total transactions in the East Bay (54.5), and sales over $1 million in the East Bay (12). They recorded more than $50 million in sales last year. Both women say there are a few keys to their success. First, they all work really hard. Lisa likes to joke that while many people were spending the early days of the pandemic stuck at home and practicing new recipes, she and Elizabeth and the others on their team were working at full throttle. “Other people stopped, but we really never did,” she said. They also have innate chemistry. Though they only formally joined forces a year ago, Lisa and Elizabeth began working in the Residential office within weeks of each other 11 years ago. They bonded immediately, often turning to each other for advice or help. They shared ideas, strategies and leads for years. By the time they professionally aligned in 2020, they were so familiar, they could finish each other’s sentences. “We do figure out who’s going to take the lead on a particular client, but having said that, we can be pretty much interchangeable,” Elizabeth said. That chemistry has been crucial for the past 12 months, as the pace of the market turned
frenetic. Fueled by an historic shortage of inventory, seven-figure houses were hitting the market and selling within days. “It can be like a fire drill any time a house comes on the market,” Elizabeth said. “The market right now is insane, so having someone who thinks just like you, to collaborate with, is so important.” The chemistry extends beyond just Lisa and Elizabeth. Another agent on the team, Becky Bishop, recently listed a Barrington house. The team organized 38 showings in three days, received 10 offers and the property sold for more-than-asking. Everyone on the team contributed. “When needed, we all pitch in,” Lisa said. “You know you always have backup, and help. It just enables a better level of service for the client.” Now seven people strong, with Lisa, Elizabeth, Becky, Jan Malcolm, Morgan Lowis, Lindsay Mitchell and Hadley Enright, the Kirk Schryver Team also likes to have fun. “Our team has naturally evolved in a very positive way. It’s a lot of fun. We really have fun,” Elizabeth said. “Maybe we shouldn’t say that, but it’s true. This is really hard work, but we’re happy to do it. We really enjoy what we do.” 21
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICHARD W. DIONNE JR. Chris Iseleib and his wife, Ann Marie, moved from the Washington, D.C. area to Barrington, buying a million-dollar house that they saw only on Zoom. Located off Nayatt Road and close to the water, it is more than 100 years old and comes with a unique stone gazebo.
Moving out to the‘country’ Buyers have been leaving the city behind for a gentler (and more Covid-friendly) way of life in the East Bay BY JOAN D. WARREN It’s been just over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, shaking up lives around the globe. One phenomenon now becoming a trend is the mass exodus from cities to more rural locations. The real estate market in our area is no exception. The East Bay of Rhode Island has seen an uptick in out-of-state buyers – many buying high-end homes sight unseen. With inventory at an all-time low, it’s close to impossible to secure a home before another buyer swoops in and outbids at well above listing price. Throughout the region, there were a handful of home sales that closed at over-ask, and many bought without the new owners’ ever
stepping foot in the house. Chris and Ann Marie Iseleib bought a house in Barrington, sight unseen. Moving from the D.C. area, they had strong connections to the Ocean State. The pair met when Chris was a naval officer, stationed in Newport. “Rhody, in general, has been special to both of us. Ann Marie was born and raised in Cumberland. We have a bunch of family here. Annie and I met in Newport, when I was stationed there. We dated here, and we even got married at Ocean Cliff,” Mr. Iseleib said. The family had thoughts of relocating to this area before COVID-19 hit, so the decision to move was made easier. “Even before the COVID hit, Ann Marie and I were planning a new chapter. Ann Marie was ready to wrap up her long career as an executive in the high tech world. I was eligible to retire from Federal service, and had already retired from the Navy Reserves. “Our teenage child, River, had been accepted to a pro-
gressive high school outside Boston, and wanted to attend. So, we started looking around,” he said.
The search begins Looking for the perfect home was not easy for the Iseleibs. “Our search was crazy, especially as the COVID situation developed. At one point, we were inches from signing a long-term apartment lease in downtown Boston. But COVID lockdowns started, and suddenly the fun Copley Place high-rise condo life looked unsafe and unwise. We had to change our whole plan. “We went down a lot of unsuccessful routes. We started out looking to rent a home in Weston and found nothing available. Then, we looked to rent a home middle-distance from school, all around greater Boston, again nothing suitable. Then we started looking long-term, to buying a home, either near or middle-distance, from school. Continued on page 24
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River expressed interest in boarding at the school, which worked out well. We started looking a little farther out and realized that Barrington is less than an hour away from River’s school. We were immediately sold. We zeroed-in our search here,” he said.
Buying sight-unseen
The Iseleibs are doing a major renovation of their new home, with the help of architect Cory Kallfelz (right).
Betsy Friedman of Residential Properties helped the Iseleibs find the perfect house. Friedman hosted extensive Zoom-walkthroughs of the house with the couple and relatives and worked closely with them to answer in-depth questions. When they decided to make an offer, the Iseleibs did not realize they were competing against another buyer — a family that had already visited the property three times from New Jersey. “They were so confident in their purchase that they had already booked a meeting with a contractor to remodel the house. We spotted the house-listing one day, realized the great value it was, and quickly make a good offer. Our offer was accepted. Afterward, we heard about the whole bit — the competitor, the trips from New Jersey, the contractor meeting. We were shocked,” Mr. Iseleib said. Deciding to do some remodeling, they hired contractor Brian Hughes, and architect Cory Kallfelz, who have been transforming the Water Way house into their dream retirement home. Once a carriage house built in 1913, it is an old stone structure with several additions over the years. The new remodel will bring everything up to modern day, in the family’s personal styles and tastes. “We are doing a top-to-bottom remodel. Updated roof, floors, walls, windows, systems. It is a long process, but worth it. This is a labor of love. This is our dream house, Mr. Iseleib said.
Southern California to Rhode Island Another family relocated from California to Barrington recently and were represented by Dina Karousos and Nicki Lucenti of Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty. The Zuehkles also bought their Barrington home sight-unseen. “We purchased the house without ever stepping foot inside. We were lucky to have my husband’s parents tour the house with us on Face Time,“ Mrs. Zuehkle said. Having worked with Ms. Karousos in the past, they didn’t hesitate calling her when interested in buying in Barrington. “She did a fabulous job, really above and beyond in terms of managing things for us when we were 3,000 miles away,” Ms. Zuehkle said. “When we decided to leave L.A., we looked at Rhode Island because it’s where both my husband and I came from, and our parents are still here, but we also considered several trendy places, like Austin, Nashville, etc. When our current house came on the market we knew it 24
Mark Levy and Celine Keating are closing on a house in Bristol in the very near future, leaving New York City and Long Island after many years.
could be our forever home, and when we closed, we knew we were coming home. It certainly helps that it is a beautiful, historic New England town full of family, old friends, great schools, and amazing water access,” she said.
New York to Bristol Celine Keating and her husband Mark Levy are closing on a house in Bristol in the very near future, leaving New York City and Long Island after many years. Eddie Rayden of Residential Properties is their Realtor, and helped them find the perfect home. City life was not how the couple wanted to spend their retirement, with too much construction and many tall new buildings changing the character of the Upper West Side. Looking for a slower pace, they were attracted to a new kind of life in Rhode Island, which is more affordable with a similar coastal life as in Long Island. “We focused on Bristol, but Warren and Bar-
rington were possibilities. We love the proximity to water, bike trail, and the availability of restaurants, stores, cultural institutions, good health care, and Bristol’s lovely architecture”, Mr. Levy said. The couple had visited the area many times and have friends and family who are Bristol residents. Attracted to the combination of coastal, farmland, and small town centers, bike and hiking paths, they are pleased with their decision to retire in the East Bay. Mr. Levy had two careers before retiring — as a teacher and as a union organizer and official. He taught on the secondary and college levels, and his work in unions was in the manufacturing and the healthcare sectors. Ms. Keating’s career was in publishing. She is an award-winning writer of fiction. She has published two novels, “Layla” and “Play for Me,” and co-edited an anthology, “On Montauk: A Literary Celebration.” She serves on the board of the Concerned Citizens of Montauk, an environmental organization.
Topsail Realty REALTOR.COM PREDICTS!
SOLD
SOLD
8 Mulberry Road Bristol, RI 02809
33 Paddock Lane Middletown, RI 02842
MLS # 1278450
MLS # 1262322
The bright spot for Buyers is that more homes are likely to become available in the last six months of 2021. That should give folks more options to choose from and take away some of their urgency. With a larger selection, buyers may not be forced to make a decision in mere hours and will have more time to make up their minds. The inventory bump is expected to be due to a combination of more sellers listing their properties as well as builders completing more single-family homes, which should rise 9%. And it’s sorely needed as there was an estimated shortfall of almost 4 million new homes heading into this year. However, if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that everything can change in an instant.
729 HOPE STREET, BRISTOL 401-254-1900
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EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
A tenacious agent who navigates the market with passion, Ryan is friendly, professional, high-energy and most importantly, honest — work with an agent you can trust
Your goals, my passion, let’s talk! Ryan M. Fonseca Associate Broker
401.489.0065 sellingwithryan.com 25
Unforgettable …!
“One House I’ll Never Forget” … “32 Lorraine Street in Barrington. Built in 1890, this 10,000-square-foot Tudor home featured 24 rooms, 15 bedrooms, gorgeous water views of Narragansett Bay and exquisite architecture, ornate mouldings and graceful detail. From the elaborate entrance to the stunning piano room, it was one of the most breathtaking homes I’ve ever stepped foot in.” — Sarah Principe, William Raveis Chapman Enstone
“One Property I’ll Never Forget” … “82 Warrens Point Road in Little Compton. My favorite spot is the outdoor living room with its fireplace and sweeping views of the ocean, starlit nights and stunning rising full moons.” — Cherry Arnold, Mott & Chace Sotheby’s
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Thanks to all our clients and friends for an historic 2020 …
More than $28 million in sales! Looking forward to more success in 2021 …
Little Compton 4 beds, 4.5 baths $1,625,00
Little Compton 3 beds, 2.5 baths $7,849,999
Tiverton 9.4 acres $675,000
Little Compton 4 beds, 3.5 baths $1,499,500
Little Compton 6 beds, 6.5 baths $3,895,000
Little Compton 4 acres $700,000
Renee Welchman
Owner, Associate Broker, Listing and Buying Specialist
401.649.1915
WelchmanRealEstate.com 401.635.0252 47 Valley Road Middletown | 18 Commons Little Compton Each office is Independently owned and operated 27
“One Sale I’ll Never Forget” … “9 Ferrier Avenue in Barrington. December 11, 2015. I received a call from Skowhegan, Maine. The gentleman asked if I could take a look at his mother’s home and help her sell her property. The former Barrington animal shelter, it was now the home, of Theodora Wilson, 93, a long-time volunteer at the then privately-owned shelter and owner of the property. Mrs. Wilson had recently given up her driver’s license and could no longer live in her ‘little cabin in the woods,’ as she lovingly referred to it. “It was my first sale in Barrington, and it turned out to be my first three sales in Barrington. The first sale fell apart three days before closing when the buyers’ financing fell through. The second sale was to local resident, Mohamed Freij, who bought the property and drew up engineering plans for a custom-home lot. With the help of local attorney, Jay Fitta, who did all the legal work, and Meridian Custom Homes, who took down the little cabin and had plans drawn to build a beautiful custom-home on the wooded lot, six weeks later, we once again sold the property to a family from Smithfield, and an amazing customer home now sits at 9 Ferrier Ave. “That fated phone call received on my 45th birthday led to three sales and the beginning of many professional relationships in Barrington.” — Tracy Leroux, The Link Agency
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“One View I’ll Never Forget” … The prospective building site at 37 & 39 Jeremiah Road in Edgartown has one of the more remarkable views I’ve witnessed. The journey to reach it is spectacular. The 30-second ride across Edgartown Harbor aboard the “On Time” Ferry brings you to Chappaquiddick, and the drive along farmland and fields, bumpy dirt roads with wooded seaside scrub pine, and a narrow driveway leads you to a partially cleared area for the prospective homesite. As you approach the site, the elevation opens the views of Katama Bay, providing a wide, south-facing view across the sun-kissed water as far as the eye can see into the Atlantic Ocean. What a special spot! This land proved to be the perfect place for our clients to build their dream summer getaway to Chappy for themselves, their children, and generations to come! — Matt Antonio, Charthouse Realtors
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“One Sale I’ll Never Forget (Twice)…” “I sold Quansett Farm on Horseneck Road in Westport, twice! The property was originally a land grant from the King of England to the Almy family and they held the house in continuous ownership for hundreds of years. The exquisite seaside farm has spectacular views of Buzzards Bay, to Cuttyhunk and beyond. After the sale, the legendary 1776 home had to be taken down but was replaced by an ‘Architectural Digest’ kind of home that fits into the landscape and farm setting. The new owners’ circumstances dictated that they had to sell. The perfect buyer had missed out on the sale six years earlier. This time, he quickly snapped it up and is living happily ever after in this legendary oceanfront estate!” — Will Milbury, Milbury and Company
820 Taunton Ave (Rt. 44) | Seekonk, MA | 508-557-0170 | InfinityKitchensandBaths.com Showroom Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm
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MILBURY & COMPANY
Est.
Westport $749,000 - Charming farm house with water views and deeded access, floating dock and jetty. Contact Sarah Korolnek 774.644.9156
1980
Tiverton - COMING SOON! Magnificent antique preserved with attention to detail and superior craftsmanship. Contact Roberta Burke 508.498.3285
Westport $1,795,000 - The Paquachuck Inn . . . iconic Acoaxet Bed and Breakfast offers nine guest rooms, fabulous great room, commercial kitchen, waterside deck, garden, green house and 10-slip dock. Contact Will Milbury 508.525.5200
South Dartmouth $7,950,000 - Rare offering! Stunning 70+/- acre waterfront estate overlooking Padanaram Harbor. Rolling meadows, woodland trails, water frontage, dock potential. Stroll to Padanaram Village! Contact Will Milbury 508.525.5200
SOLD
South Dartmouth $1,695,000 Contact Will Milbury 508.525.5200
Padanaram Westport
Westport $850,000 Contact Will Milbury 508.525.5200
Mattapoisett $1,395,000 Contact Will Milbury 508.525.5200
304 Elm Street, South Dartmouth, MA 02748 790 Main Road, Westport, MA 02790
Round Hill $775,000 Contact Maggie Tomkiewicz 508.995.2444
(508) 997 7400 (508) 636 2400