Distinctive Homes | Spring 2023

Distinctive HOMES

of the East Bay & South Coast

New

on 3.73 acres with 3-beds, 5-baths, a guest apartment, heated saltwater pool & pool cabana, a 200’ jetty and 2 deep water moorings. $5,500,000

TIVERTON

Modern 21st Century Home on the Sakonnet River

waterfront construction

TIVERTON

Townhouse at The Villages on Mt. Hope Bay End-unit with 2-beds, a den and fully finished lower level. $965,000

PORTSMOUTH

Coastal Elegance at the Aquidneck Club Water view residence with 5-bedrooms and a heated pool. $4,900,000

TIVERTON

Unit at The Villages on Mount Hope Bay Top floor corner unit with 2-bedrooms and two balconies. $750,000

DISTINCTIVE HOMES

of the East Bay & South Coast

A supplement to the East Bay Media Group newspapers

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Quiet elegance

Nestled between saltmarsh, river and ocean, a century-old Dartmouth estate is simultaneously classic, modern, luxurious and sublime

the Point

New owners took this Poppasquash estate and reimagined it in every way possible

The finishing touch

Cupolas, from the classic to the quirky, are the cherry on top of many New England homes

23 27

Color in the kitchen A reimagining at

White kitchens are still the most popular, but many homeowners are adding bright and bold colors

The more things change

Through pandemic, turmoil and economic uncertainty, the local real estate market rolls on

PHOTOS COURTESY MOTT & CHACE SOTHEBY’S

This Poppasquash Point home underwent a multi-million-dollar transformation, with new owners renovating both the interior and exterior of the property. See more about it on p. 14.

Quietly spectacular

Nestled between saltmarsh, river and ocean, a century-old Dartmouth estate is simultaneously classic, modern, luxurious and sublime

BY JULIA STEARLY

Among a charming array of Dartmouth beach cottages, both large and small, lies a long, private lane, lined on either side by rows of trees. A passerby would never know that at the other end of the driveway is one of the most unique and exquisitely classic estates anywhere in this region.

Along the path, those lucky enough to explore the estate would first come across a carriage house, which broker William Milbury describes as having a “sort of old Vermont feel to it.” The walls and ceilings of each room are lined with pristine custom wood paneling, and the quality of woodworking remains incredible throughout the building. Though just an outbuilding, this structure has a one-car garage, a powder room, a complete home gym, and a loft with pool and card tables for family time or entertaining.

Further down the lane is a clearing with a circle driveway that abuts both the three-car garage and front entrance of the main house, built in 1906. Though nothing

about the home is flashy, anyone who sees it up close would know without question it is something special.

“This house is the image of understated

elegance,” Milbury said. Past the door into the foyer is the study, which simultaneously captures the feeling of an age-old

PHOTOS COURTESY MILBURY AND COMPANY

This Dartmouth estate is nestled beside the mouth of the Little River. The entire compound includes the main house, pool house, carriage house, enormous guest house and numerous nearby cottages.

A view of the pool house and main house, all overlooking river and ocean.

The interior of the home retains much of its early-20th-century design, with rich woodworking, beams and trim, but everything in the house has been updated. Though they appear original, windows and doors are custom-design to today’s standards.

university as well as a beach-front reading room. One wall even showcases a handpainted scene of the ocean.

Also on the first floor is the main living space, an open room nestled between two wall fireplaces and complete with wall-towall windows overlooking Little River, a gorgeous sandbar, and Potomska Point. Close by, the grand dining area is the perfect setting for an elegant family dinner.

Up the main staircase is a stunning landing area with custom woodworked handrails and an open, airy feel. Four of the five bedrooms are on this floor, each with its own en suite bathroom. A true mark of this home’s classic style are the differences in design between each bedroom; one could say they’re themed. For example, one room’s walls are adorned with insect wallpaper, another with pink flowers.

Further down the hallway is a one-of-akind playroom for the owners’ grandkids, with a loft that is currently home to a vast array of stuffed animals. This room is nothing short of a child’s daydream, featuring dollhouses with real shingles and hinged windows.

Down the secondary staircase is the kitchen, a time capsule of a retro diner, complete with handpainted checkered wood flooring and bright red accent appliances. Also in the kitchen are sliding glass doors that lead out to a gorgeous patio, an

absolutely perfect setting for a summer gathering, all of which overlooks the inground pool with a connected halfmoon spa, and of course, a pool house. The pool house is impeccable, with full bedroom suite and more of those water

The view facing south and east, toward Buzzards Bay, Cuttyhunk and the Vineyard.

views, including a second-floor balcony facing the ocean.

The summer home for a New Yorkbased family, the estate is nestled along the mouth of the river, with views out to Buzzards Bay, Cuttyhunk, Martha’s Vineyard and beyond. The only neighbors for the main house are the river, the ocean, a DNRT (Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust) protected salt marsh — and a spectacular Colonial home set atop a hill, which happens to be the property owners’ guest house.

Milbury and Company is marketing the entire estate — main house, carriage house, guest house and several cottages nearby — for $12,950,000. It is also offering the main house for $7,950,000, with the other properties available separately.

This property is truly its own corner of the Earth, an absolute sight to see. While from the road it may just be a sliver of driveway, up close this home is a one-of-a-kind beauty that captures the essence of elegance. As Milbury said, “Money talks. Wealth whispers.”

The only close neighbor within sight of the main house is its own guest house, shown here, which sits high above, also overlooking the water.

The Dartmouth estate, currently on the market for $7,950,000, includes a carriage house (right), the main house (center), pool house (left) and deep-water dock. It is surrounded by river mouth, ocean and protected marsh (left), conveniently isolated from the rest of the world.

A reimagining

New owners took this Poppasquash estate and reimagined it in every way possible — the results are striking

BY SCOTT PICKERING spickering@eastbaymediagroup.com

Though not as sparsely populated as it once was, the Poppasquash peninsula in Bristol is one of the few areas of Bristol County, R.I. that whispers of its rural past. Still home to an 18th-century farm museum and an active nursery, Poppasquash juts from Bristol Harbor into the upper reaches of Narragansett Bay, home to deer, wildlife and the sprawling estates of modern luxury.

Even among those, the home at 5 Courageous Circle is unique. Owned by yearround Boston residents who purchased it as a second home just a few years ago,

the space has been updated, renovated and reimagined in nearly every way possible. The owners spent millions to change almost everything, and the final result is difficult to describe in words or even pictures. The home today has a quiet elegance that is best appreciated from the inside.

Currently on the market for $6.25 million, Realtor Allison Dessel gave a tour of the home that she has fallen in love with. “My dad used to say that there are properties where you’re sitting there and you feel like you’re in Hollywood. This is like Hollywood. It’s low-key Hollywood,” Dessel said. “It’s not not ostentatious, it’s just really, really nice in every way.”

A complete renovation

Nearly everything about the house — and property — has been renovated in the

past three years. The list includes a dramatic reimagining of the first floor, with enormously wide open spaces for the kitchen, dining and living areas; a new addition with bedroom/bathroom on the first floor; new fireplaces; new bathrooms for every bedroom on the second floor; a newly finished basement, with a gym, a theater / media room, and a huge laundry room with two washers and two dryers.

They converted from oil heat to natural gas. They upgraded to a six-bedroom septic system. They upgraded the electrical systems. They wired AV systems and smart technology throughout the house, with Sonos speakers everywhere. They installed water filtration systems for every faucet. They re-sided the house, replaced the windows and doors, installed a wholehouse generator … and the list goes on.

PHOTOS COURTESY MOTT & CHACE SOTHEBY’S

New owners spent millions renovating this property on Poppasquash Point. Everything except the roof on the main house was replaced or redesigned in some way. The pool, patios, putting green and enormous lawn look out over Narragansett Bay, Prudence Island and the southern tip of Bristol.

They even replaced columns from the front of the house because they felt they were too large for the scale of the home.

“Basically the only thing they did not renovate was the roof on the main house, because it was only nine years old. Everything else was updated,” Dessel said.

More striking than the updates are the choices made throughout the redesign. “Their attention to detail, their aesthetic, the materials they used, the appliances, everything they did was so high-end and just perfect,” she said.

The outdoor spaces

The reimagining went well beyond the main house. The entire property, located near the very tip of Poppasquash, has 3.2 acres. The owners inherited an inground pool and a detached, three-car garage. They changed both of those dramatically and didn’t stop there.

The pool itself got a new finish and a heater, while the garage was converted into a two-bay carriage house, with two separate bedroom suites, and an outdoor shower. Surrounding the pool is an outdoor play area that evokes that “Hollywood” feel.

The kitchen is the anchor of a new wide open layout, gleaming white, simple and elegant in every way.

The view from a foyer, looking out over the 3.2-acre property and Narragansett Bay.

Gorgeous decking, hardscapes, bluestone patios, putting green and inground lighting combine with a spectacular outdoor kitchen to create an entertainer’s dream. The kitchen sits beneath a large pergola, featuring stone counters, two refrigerators, two freezers, a grill, a multi-burner range, an ice maker and a sink. Large groups can easily gather at bar-height stools to soak in the views of Bristol Harbor, Narragansett Bay, Prudence Island and the Mt. Hope Bridge.

The enormous lawn slopes down toward the water, and the property is split by the private road leading to the couple-dozen estates at this end of Poppasquash. The property includes the deep-water dock that juts into the bay, along with a lengthy stretch of beachfront. Dessel said the owners have appreciated everything the waterfront property affords.

“They love this location,” she said. “They boat to Warren to have dinner. They paddle-board in the morning. They kayak. They pick muscles on the beach, their own muscles, and they make sauces with them. This is a place to use and enjoy, and they definitely have.”

The dining area, surrounded by new windows and doors, blends with the outdoor patios and pool area.

A sunken family room is framed in windows on all sides, anchored by a new fireplace.

Hello, East Bay!

Finishing touch

A local company often puts the cherry on top of New England homes, with cupolas that range from the classic to the quirky and creative

BY PAIGE SHAPIRO

Most people are familiar with a widow’s walk — 19th century belvederes whose name is said to have come from the wives of seafarers who would watch for their husband’s return on the shoreline. But as the widow’s walk slowly descends into obsolescence with modern constructions, their usual centerpiece — cupolas — seem to outlive their faithful rooftop companions.

Cupolas are the icing on the cake of any beautiful New England home — though they have been around since long before that. The first cupolas were seen as early as the second century A.D. in Syria and were used for practical purposes like ventilation or lighting. Today, they provide a tasteful finishing touch to any noteworthy seaside shanty or coastal chateau.

The word itself derives from Italian and means ‘little cup,’ and that’s exactly what it is — a modest dome that sits atop any type of roof, from gable to gambrel, providing a look into the personal taste and style of the home’s owner. Whether louvered or windowed, cupolas often straddle the roof ridge and can range in size.

A cupola of any kind is a unique indication of taste, but Cape Cod Cupola goes one step further — the Dartmouth-based company custom designs cupolas to match the most niche of specifications, from a miniature dome that went on to outfit an electric train set to an octagonal 850-pound, copper-roofed monolith that required boat transportation and crawler cranes.

Whatever the weather, most of their cupolas are lit by lantern from within and boast a striking copper weathervane planted at its peak, constructed entirely with materials made in the .US.

In business since the ’40s

The company, which has been around since the early 1940s, is owned by Michael Roderick, a man who admits that architec-

ture was never his greatest interest. “I got into the business because my wife asked me to get into the business,” he confessed with a smile. “I see myself as a steward for this company. My passion is for keeping this family business healthy and running effectively. I look at ways to change it and keep it running smoothly. That’s my focus.”

Roderick and his late wife, Kim, inherited the company four years ago from Kim’s grandfather, John E. Bernier Sr., after he passed away.

As a seedling, the company began with Bernier, who worked as a custodian at Roosevelt Junior High in New Bedford. In order to make some extra money to support his sons, one of whom had Cerebral Palsy, Bernier started making and designing simple copper weathervanes in his basement. What started as an honest side-hustle quickly bloomed into a fullfledged enterprise after putting an advertisement in the New York Times. As the

Continued on page 20

A custom weathervane points the way from atop a roof at a seaside Cape Cod home.

business boomed over the next few decades, the company began to offer small, louvered cupolas, something that Roderick recalls after working part-time for a few summers in the seventies.

From the traditional to the quirky

After an overhaul in the ’90s, Cape Cod Cupola gradually added larger, windowed cupolas to their repertoire. Brian Chabot, who has been with the company for more than 40 years, is credited with designing the framework of most of the cupolas they offer. Now, with a dedicated team of typically 10 people, the company of carpenters and craftsmen create an impressive range of rooftop structures.

The most typical cupola design comes coupled with a handmade copper weathervane, most likely in the shape of a rooster, a ship, or a fish. But the longer Cape Cod Cupola sticks around, the stranger the custom weathervanes seem to get — like Spongebob Squarepants, Mary Poppins, and the Statue of Liberty holding a beer, to name a few. The vane is usually copper and can be detailed with gold leaf and patina green colored copper as well.

The company is responsible for cupolas and weathervanes all over New England, including notable locals like the vane that adorns Tabor Academy’s training ship, the top of Westport Federal Credit Union, and the bluefin tuna that is mounted above the cupola of Ice House Bar & Grill.

The modern classics

An important factor for any construction force on the coast of New England is durability. How does something as small as a cupola stand the test of time when faced with an enemy like a nor’easter or the tail end of a brutal hurricane? For a fixture that pierces the sky at least a few dozen feet in the air, materials like PVC have become the new black. Wood, the more historical materials for cupolas, has been replaced by its cheaper synthetic component for longevity’s sake (and the sake of wallets, everywhere). Cape Cod Cupola admits that they get many requests from people whose decision to opt for the classic wooden exterior bit them in the butt after a few short, wet years. Nearly 95 percent of their cupolas today are built with PVC, which Roderick says are essentially maintenance free.

Luckily, says Roderick, their business has a helpful network of homeowners, carpenters and architects who can vouch for their quality, regardless of material. Word

of mouth certainly goes a long way in this neck of the woods, and Cape Cod Cupola is no exception to that fortunate requisite.

“We find a lot of customers coming back to us,” he said. “And there’s a lot of people out there who see a cupola in their neighborhood and say ‘I want to get that on my house.’ That’s surely a big part of

our business.”

A passion for the business

Despite the community that appears to have formed around Cape Cod Cupola, the business is not always easy to maintain. “Our orders have dipped off since October,” Roderick said, noting inflation

Whales atop a home in Barrington, R.I.

A Jeep soars over the top of a home in Centerville, Mass.

and fewer housing starts as the likely cause. “That presents a challenge for us. I can’t keep the same payroll when I’ve got less orders coming in. It’s hard to find good people and keep them around.”

But this isn’t going to stop Roderick and Cape Cod Cupola. After the passing of his wife two years into their ownership, he hopes to keep the company thriving until he can one day hand it off to one of his four children. “When you buy a business, you’re in it 24/7,” he said. “I am very passionate about this business. I believe in customer satisfaction, and we back our product 100 percent.”

And to prove it? Roderick’s own home, a colonial on Bulgarmarsh Road in Tiverton, is topped with a windowed cupola and a Beetle Cat boat weathervane. “If you own the company, you gotta have a cupola on your house,” he laughed.

A classic eagle atop a waterfront home in Jamestown, R.I.

The Cape Cod Cupola crew poses after installing two giant cupolas and custom buffalo weathervanes at a home in Wellesley, Mass.

Fresh and bold: Kitchen color trends for 2023

BY LUCY PROBERT

When it comes to color trends for kitchens this year, it would be a stretch to think that white will go by the wayside, but mixing in other shades can go a long way toward adding personality to a room most believe to be the heart of any home.

“Adding color can be so fun when designing spaces,” says Nicole Martel, owner and principal designer of Three Sparrows Interior Design in Warren. “Integrating pops of a color like blue brings in a wow factor and also fits well with the coastal style that many in the Ocean State appreciate.”

Color can also not only impact a room’s appearance, but with this year’s popular shades, greens evoking nature and blues bringing in either the calm of the ocean or a bold statement, they can be refreshing as well.

More on color

For those looking to have a soft and transitional feel to their space, creams and beiges are a good way to go, says Martel. Agreeable Gray from Sherwin-Williams or Revere Pewter from Benjamin Moore add slight color and a touch of warmth to the space and pair well with walnut (either in cabinets or as an accent like countertops or wood shelves).

A blue island splash

“If adding color to cabinets is too much of a leap, an island accent color can have the same effect without the full commitment,” says Martel. “The blue island here serves the purpose of breaking up the allwhite cabinets with a color that feels casual, while also pulling your eye to the center of the room. The shade, Downpour by Benjamin Moore, really makes a statement in this kitchen filled with whites, blacks and wood tones,” she says. The countertops are a leathered quartz, and on the island is a checkerboard butcher block, both of which contrast against the corresponding cabinet shade. Swapping out hardware, lighting or even adding a runner can also bring in new colors and textures.

A BLUE ISLAND SPLASH

Going green in Portsmouth

“The owners of this home renovated their kitchen five years ago but later felt it was missing something, so they reached out to us to help,” Martel says. The lower cabinets were painted Rosemary by Sherwin-Williams, a neutral base that grounds the space. “The lighter elements, like the upper cabinets, quartz counters and subway tile backsplash, keep it bright and airy.”

Lastly, the brass and wood elements, like the floating shelves, draw warmth to the design; both balanced and tranquil is how the space now feels, she says. “Green pairs well with brass tones that are now starting to replace nickel fixtures and hardware that have been popular in the past. Choosing cabinets in the green family, from sage to forest, is a great complement to the golden toned oak floors we are seeing a lot of in kitchen renovations.”

Continued on page 26

Bold charcoal on the East Side

“Incorporating dark and moody elements is a hot style trend but also feels classic at the same time if done right,” says Martel. “For a sophisticated and chic aesthetic, consider charcoal over stark black. We love using this color in a matte finish in a space that is light and bright. The space can be smaller but good natural light is a must.” She suggests pairing the darker cabinets with lighter walls and tile and adding wood elements to warm the space.

More on wood elements

“While wood is not a color, it can transform a room as much as paint can,” says Martel. “With endless stain applications and different wood species and grains, the sky is the limit. Adding these accents to any color can elevate the look and bring colors to life in a new way.”

PHOTOS BY NICOLE MARTEL

BOLD CHARCOAL ON THE EAST SIDE

The more things change …

In this market, the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same, which continues to be great news for sellers

BY SCOTT PICKERING

Since the start of 2000, the world has changed, then changed again. The economy has been clanging along like a dryer full of forks. Interest rates are skyrocketing toward their highest levels this century. And every industry, including schools, restaurants and retailers, essentially has a “Help Wanted” sign permanently affixed to its front door.

In other words, turmoil is commonplace, and normal is never quite the same.

Nonetheless, there are constants, and the local real estate market is one of them. Driven by historically low inventory and indelible appeal, this region and its miles of coastlines, alluring neighborhoods and high quality of life remain hot, hot, hot.

One real estate team has been living

this new reality for almost three years now, but is still amazed as they watch it play out. Lindsay Mitchell, of the Kirk Schryver Team at Compass, recently helped bring three homes to market in Barrington. She and colleague Elizabeth Kirk listed 5 New Hampshire Ave., located

in what’s known as the “Roberta Plat” neighborhood. It’s an area of small Colonials, Capes and ranches on 10,000- to 20,000-square-foot lots between the middle school and the East Bay Bike Path. They pre-hyped the listing, held two

PHOTOS COUTESY OF TODOR TSVETKOV PHOTOGRAPHY & COMPASS

This relatively small Cape on Lamson Road in Barrington hit the market at the end of March for $619,000. Lisa Schryver of the Kirk Schryver Team said the house was fully updated and in meticulous condition. It attracted a flurry of offers and sold for more than the asking price within days.

Lamson Road in Barrington.

days of open houses and showings, welcomed more than 100 potential buyers, received more than a dozen offers and sold the property for more than the asking price of $459,000.

Mitchell and team experienced the same at 26 Old River Road, a smallish Cape located not far from the Wampanoag Trail. They listed it, hosted nearly 100 buyers in three days, received multiple offers and closed it for more than the asking price of $589,000.

A method to the madness

Though the simple forces of supply and demand (there’s very little supply and a fierce level of demand) are driving much of the current market, the Realtors also have a method to create this madness. There’s a science behind what they do.

“We bring a very thoughtful strategy,” Mitchell said. “We do a lot to build interest from the buyers.”

Their tactics include “Coming Soon” signs; social media teasers; direct contact with buyers’ agents they know have clients at various

This Barrington ranch recently hit the market with an asking price of $459,000. Thanks to updates like a renovated kitchen, desired features like a finished basement, and an array of pre-listing improvements, it attracted more than 100 potential buyers in two days and more than a dozen offers. It immediately went under contract for more than the asking price.

price points; and pre-inspections. The latter has become standard operating procedure for the team.

“We do pre-inspections, so the buyers know what they’re getting,” said co-team leader Lisa Schryver. “It’s part of our strategy … We want people to know exactly what they’re getting, and as a result people trust our listings.”

Mitchell elaborated on how they often go beyond the pre-listing inspection to actually improving or fixing things before the property hits the market. “We try to resolve anything we can, so it’s a clean inspection,” Mitchell said.

Ready for the spotlight

Mitchell is also the staging specialist on the team, which is a critical part of the strategy. “We do a considerable amount of staging,” she said. “We stage every property.” The amount can vary from property to property. It could include a few pieces brought into the home, re-painting walls, refinishing floors, or even major repairs, if necessary. For most properties, it will take weeks. For some, the pre-listing work can last months.

This Cape on Old River Road in Barrington hit the market in early March with all the bells and whistles (modern kitchen, gleaming floors, sparkling bathroom, central air) priced at $589,000. Lindsay Mitchell and team showed it to nearly 100 potential buyers in three days and received multiple over-asking offers. It was under contract within four days.

Mitchell worked with the owners of the 5 New Hampshire property on a list of repairs and improvements. They did everything recommended by the team, and the results speak for themselves.

“I know the amount that they invested pre-sale, and they’re getting more than a 10-time return on that investment,” she said.

Still going strong Mitchell, Schryver and the rest of the team watch the market with a wary eye, especially while reading dire headlines about markets elsewhere, but they still see great things here at home.

“We saw things let up a little bit last summer, but right after the holidays, we went right back into the spring market,” Mitchell said.

“We’re still seeing so many buyers, especially here in Barrington,” said Schryver. “People want to live in Barrington. If it’s priced right, it’s going to sell.”

Just like it has for the past three years.

This home on Old River Road in Barrington went under contract within days of being listed for $589,000.

NEW LISTING!

Westport $2,795,000 - PRIVATE WATERFRONT ESTATE - Long drive meanders through twenty-five pastoral acres to this handsome, shingle-style residence, overlooking the Westport River Dramatic foyer leads to spacious fireplaced great room, opening onto wraparound decks Fireplaced library, office, and formal dining room Master bedroom suite with fireplace, guest bedrooms with en suite baths, and separ ate guest wing with its own entrance, kitchenette, and full bath Rolling lawns, meadows, gardens; a nature lover's paradise! Delightful country living at its best! Contact Will Milbury 508 525 5200

NEW LISTING!

Westport $1,149,000

Classic cape with a twist offers a million dollar view! Enjoy breathtaking sunsets from the deck overlooking the Westport River! This home offers 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, loft living space a summer paradise with inground pool, water access with community dock, float, kayak storage and quaint waterfront picnic area Contact Sarah Korolnek 774 644 9156

Summer

Rentals . . .

Westport Point $1,575,000

Set on high above the harbor, replete with rolling lawn, stone walls and dazzling sunsets, this home offers 2,800 s f of beautifully renovated space while presenting the charm of yesteryear Contact Kevin Quinn 774 319 3401 or Annie Atherton 617 676 7621

NEW LISTING!

Summer Rentals Available!

A few select weeks remain for summer 2023 in Westport Point, South Dartmouth, Padanaram Village, Mattapoisett . . . Call for details and availability. 508.636.2400 or 508.997.7400