Distinctive HOMES | Winter 2022

HOMES

of the East Bay & South Coast

DISTINCTIVE HOMES

of the East Bay & South Coast

A supplement to the East Bay newspapers

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A renovation of historic proportions

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A Warren couple lovingly restores a house as old as America itself The little touches add warmth, charm and spice to the holiday season

A family homestead sets the high mark

Recently sold for $5 million, this family estate is loaded with great memories (and ocean views)

Holiday Décor: It’s all in the details

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The Highs of 2022

See the highest home sales of the year for each East Bay community

All A-board for entertaining this season

Charcuterie and Wine – the perfect holiday entertaining pair

PHOTO COURTESY MOTT & CHACE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

This $5,000,000 estate conveyed with eight acres of land and three buildings — the main house, a separate guest home with its own kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The land rolls down to Quicksand Pond, which connects out to Little Compton beaches and the Atlantic Ocean.

A renovation of historic proportions

A Warren couple lovingly restores a house as old as America itself

BY ETHAN HARTLEY

Although many people in the East Bay have gone through the effort of restoring an historic home, it is difficult to imagine that many have gone to the lengths that Patricia Mues and David Gaskill of Warren have gone.

They purchased The Rufus Barton House at 47 Broad St. in 2015 and have painstakingly restored every conceivable element within the nearly 240-year-old house. They have taken great care to keep the restoration as historically accurate as possible, and outside of a few times where they enlisted some help, the couple (David is 76, Pat is 72) have done the vast majority of work themselves.

“We really didn’t get any breaks in here,” David recalled from the main living room area during a recent tour.

PHOTOS BY RICHARD W. DIONNE JR.

The front facade of The Rufus Barton House at 47 Broad St. in Warren. Built in 1783, it was once covered in white vinyl siding. It now features historic clapboards, and windows much closer to what the original house would have had.

Original wide-pine floorboards can be seen in front of the restored brick hearth at the right side of the photo.

“Everything that could go wrong pretty much did go wrong. It was a little bit daunting at some points.”

Pat recounted one instance where David was coming down from a ladder, when one of the legs shifted and sank into a hole they hadn’t known was there. He was flipped off the ladder, which flew sideways and whacked him in the chest.

“Luckily it didn’t hit his face,” Pat said.

Such pain is expected when trying to revive a home that was first erected circa 1783 — the same year the Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

Keeping true to history

The house Pat and David bought in 2015 looked nothing like the one you can walk by now in Warren’s charming historic district, which sits directly between the town’s bustling Main and Water street corridors.

“This house was on the market as sort of a cheap, two-family,” David said. “But as soon as I looked at the front of it, I knew it was a late 18th-century house. It

Continued on page 10

The kitchen after its complete renovation.

Two late 19th-century Chinese Cormandel lacquer screens with intricate carvings that adorn either side of a library and entertainment center are an example of the antiques Pat Mues and David Gaskill have filled their homes with to complement its historic origins. The fireplace to the left was uncovered when removing wood paneling installed by a previous owner.

was obvious because, although it was all pretty much obscured by vinyl, you could see the the wide, full central chimney stack with multiple flus in it. That’s the giveaway.”

With an unsightly vinyl exterior matched by an equally unappealing carport, the couple knew they had their work cut out for them from the beginning. The inside offered no respite. Original plaster was long covered up, as were the original wide-pine floor boards downstairs, masked by hundreds of years of replacements, ending at the top layer with various types of linoleum. There was nothing to do but get to work, which included many hours prying, cutting, scraping, sanding, painting, hammering, plastering, and pulling lots and lots of nails. David estimated they removed up to 40 tons of “stuff”, including plaster, wood paneling, and various scrap out of the house throughout the restoration — which David roughly estimated took more than 2,000 total hours, and is still ongoing.

Outside they removed the vinyl siding in stages, exposing late 19th-century clapboards — many of which could be scraped and re-painted, but some of which needed to be replaced entirely. The carport leading to the side door was mercifully felled, replaced by an attractive gravel driveway

and a homemade portico, highlighted by a unique pediment that was found sitting outside being given away for free, which of course required its own entire restoration process.

Some original remnants of the house remain, including the hardy corner posts that for centuries have supported the structure, as well as some of the original wainscoting and even a bit of original paint that can be seen on an interior window apron. They take pride in the original pine floors that run in front of one of the downstairs’ two brick hearths. An original door, with its original latch, still leads down to the cellar.

For areas where maintaining originality was not possible — such as the windows, which had been replaced by vinyl windows — the couple crafted new sills and often had to make entirely new frames. They scored a major find from friends Davison Bolster, Eileen Collins, and Scott Lial, the latter of whom had been storing glass windows from around 1830. Pat spent two years refurbishing those, which now provide passage for vast amounts of natural light.

Although the home now features a modern kitchen with granite countertops and 21st-century appliances, a feature that

evokes the historic nature of the home is never far from sight. They have also taken steps to fill the home with as many antiques as possible — two late 18th-century Chinese Cormandel lacquer screens with intricate carvings that adorn either side of a library and entertainment center are a highlight.

Living in history (literally)

Mues and Gaskill don’t just live, physically, in an historic home, they make history a part of their lives. Gaskill does deed research for the historic plaque program in Warren, which can be seen adorning the numerous historic homes throughout the town, including their own. Mues is the co-chair of the Warren Middle Passage Project, and remains involved with the Warren Preservation Society.

David said that he feels incredibly fortunate to live in the house, especially after all the effort exerted.

“I feel sort of privileged to live in a house with this much history and local connection, both from an architectural and aesthetic point of view as well,” he said.

Pat concurred.

“We are so proud of what we’ve done here. It’s been really fun and really rewarding to build our home.”

Natural light pours in from the study window. The windows are from the 1830s, and some original paint was found remaining on the window apron.

Holiday Décor: It’s all in the details

BY LUCY PROBERT

When it comes to decorating for the holidays, sometimes it’s the little things that make a home festive. Lou Lou’s Decor, in Tiverton and Newport, fills in the details after the tree is up and decorated and the season is in full swing.

“It’s a magical time of year,” says owner Stacy Carlson. So bring in the whimsical, whether it’s personalized place cards at the dinner table, special holiday pillows on the couch or a North Pole mug for morning coffee. Making the season warm and cheerful creates lasting memories for years to come.

Add sparkle with gold accents: Standing ornamental deer, $61, sitting deer, $48. Looped leaf handmade holiday tree, $47.50. Stewart tartan tree skirt, $395. Boxwood wreath with red ribbon in window, $72.50

Make guests feel special by sitting them down to individualized place settings: Holiday topiary place cards, set of 12, $16. Christmas sprigs paper placemats, set of 12, $31. Interlocking key napkin, $14. Garnet appetizer plates, set of 4, $39.50. 11” Puro white dinner plate, $32. Gessato tumbler, clear, $23. Amalia acrylic wine glass, $24. Berry & Thread North Pole mug, $42. Joy holiday shell, $48.

Splashes of green and red add fun to a festive meal: Holiday topiary place cards, set of 12, $16. Garnet appetizer plates, set of 4, $39.50. Le Panier melamine plate, small, $24. Christmas sprigs paper placemats, set of 12, $31. Interlocking key napkin, $14. Royal tartan ginger jar napkin ring, $20. 7” red pepper grinder, $214. 13” ribbed tree, $50.50. Amalia acrylic wine glass, $24. Joy holiday shell, $48.

All A-board

Charcuterie and Wine – the perfect holiday entertaining pair

BY LUCY PROBERT

Charcuterie boards are the ideal party offering. Not only do they make entertaining easier as an all-in-one-serving appetizer, there is also no end to the possible variations of cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts and dips to present to guests.

Whether tackling it on your own or ordering one from a local cheese shop, for an upcoming holiday event present a board that looks as good as it tastes. And choosing wines to pair with so many different textures and flavors isn’t as hard as it seems, says Neil King, director of operations and wine and spirit Buyer at Grapes & Grains in Barrington. “The goal of pairing wine with charcuterie boards is to let the plate shine and have the wine complement the flavors, not overwhelm them,” he says.

Charcuterie

With more than 150 cheeses and 15 types of meats to choose from, The Cheese Wheel Village Market in Tiverton

Four Corners offers custom-made charcuterie boards. For the board shown here, Cheese Wheel’s manager, Emily Brayton, chose five cheeses, including Red Witch, a mild and creamy cheese from Switzerland that she says ‘is the ultimate snacking cheese to pair with alcohol or other snacking foods’; Fromager d’Affinois, a rich and buttery double cream French cows’ milk cheese, ‘hard not to like’; Cotswold Onion and Chive, a traditional double Gloucester, incredibly rich and full flavored; Manchego, dry and nutty and here, paired with a fig jam and a 4-year-old cheddar ‘always a crowd pleaser’.

Featured meats include a rose made of hot salami, a ribbon of mild and slightly sweet-flavored Genoa Salami and Smoked Beef Bresaola (beef prosciutto), sliced paper thin with a soft texture and full-bod-

ied smokiness. Prices for custom-made charcuterie boards at the Cheese Wheel range from an appetizer for 3 to 4 people, usually under $50, or the one featured, which is $175 to $200. “With all of the cheeses and meats we have year-round, we can offer an extensive range of high-quality options,” Brayton says.

Wine

Whether you’re serving charcuterie or bringing wine to a gathering, here are some suggestions from Grapes & Grains’ Neil King for the perfect pairing with meats and cheeses (all are under $25).

“It’s best to serve a wine that’s not too tannic or full-bodied,” he says.

Starting with whites he recommends Domaine Jean Aubron Muscadet. “As a neutral, low acid white, this one pairs well with charcuterie as well as oysters and shellfish.”

G.D. Vajra’s Claré J.C. Langhe Nebbiolo is one of King’s favorite reds because of

This charcuterie board, assembled by The Cheese Wheel in Tiverton, would sell for $175 to $200.

its excellent textural experience. “This wine is fresh and fruity with small bubbles and can even be served chilled. It goes down very easily,” he says.

For an organic Sicilian wine, another favorite is Le Cantine di Indie Polpo Rosso, about as full-bodied a red as he would recommend for a charcuterie board. “It has just enough tannins to cut the saltiness of meats but won’t overwhelm the taste.” Sicilian wines in general are always super versatile, he says.

And finally, even though it’s winter, don’t shy away from serving rosé wines, he says. “Look at the French, they drink it year-round.” He likes Domaine Gavoty’s Récital from Côtes de Provence because of its dryness, and lower acidity.

“When you have all of the salty components of a charcuterie board, it’s good to have a rosé that will keep it fresh and clean with a nice zippiness to it.”

When choosing wines in general, King says, a good way to start is to think about where they come from in the world and what kind of food is served there.

“Be adventurous. It’s a great way to introduce others to something new and different.”

Wishing you all a Joyful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

When choosing wines to pair with charcuterie, look for options that are not too tannic or full-bodied.

A family homestead sets the high mark

This private estate sold for $5,000,000, making it the highest sale since 2020 in one of the region’s most exclusive communities

BY SCOTT PICKERING

The estate at 30 Rockbridge Road in Little Compton is among the rarest of rare properties. Its recent sale for $5,000,000 set the high mark in the region’s most iconic Farm Coast community, not just for this year, but for the past two years.

Its attributes are endless, beginning with the real estate market’s oldest cliché: location, location, location.

The first “location” speaks to where the home resides in the world. For those who have not visited recently, take a drive to Little Compton and re-enter the world of another era, maybe two eras. There are few areas in America that still retain much of their character from centuries past. Little Compton does.

Despite incredible growth in the real estate market and new construction throughout, much of the town remains

PHOTOS COURTESY MOTT & CHACE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

The rear of the main home at 30 Rockbridge Drive in Little Compton has extensive decking on all three levels, along with banks of windows, all designed to capture views of Quicksand Pond and the ocean beyond.

Home to countless Thanskgiving dinners, birthdays and Election Night parties, the dining room’s soaring, curved wall of windows is a signature design in the elegant home.

fields and farms, woodlands and trails. Open hills rolls down to the ocean, and quiet lanes lined with stone walls lead to hidden farmhouses off the main road. There is no community like it in southern New England.

The second “location” speaks to this home’s spot in the Pequaw-Honk neighborhood. Dubbed by some a “billionaire’s row” because of the exclusive owners who live there, in the 1970s it became Little Compton’s first conservation neighborhood, carved into pristine farmlands while balancing both land preservation and understated, private homes. Getting there takes a while no matter where you’re coming from, as you pass through a series of twisting, turning, wooded roads to reach the southeastern corner of Little Compton, not far from the state line.

The third “location” speaks to this home’s spectacular views. Facing south, it looks out over acres of fields and trees to Quicksand Pond, the beloved Little Compton beaches (Goosewing and South Shore) and the Atlantic Ocean. The estate conveyed to a local buyer as two lots, with a combined eight acres of rich land, trails and magnificent views.

Simple elegance

The home itself is like the neighborhood — rich but understated. It has the founda-

tion of a modern luxury home, with soaring ceilings, banks of tall windows, custom woodwork and multiple decks facing the water, but it has none of the pretense.

The main home at 30 Rockbridge feels like it has been there for a century

(though it was built just 30 years ago). The wood floors have intricate inlays. The kitchen is distinctively farmhouse. The rooms are comfortable but not super-

The farmhouse kitchen was a frequent gathering place for the family.

The back decks, which wrap around the length of the home, can deliver privacy and serenity any time of year.

sized. Nothing is bigger than it should be. Everything is simple and elegant.

It’s a home that the Thompson family says goodbye to with regret. Nancy and the late Carlton Woodruff Thompson built the home to be a family sanctuary, and that’s exactly what it has been for them. The home has hosted a family rehearsal dinner, a wedding, countless holidays, birthdays, and a long string of Election Night parties. They do not part with it easily, especially since the family’s connection to the property stretches back generations.

The original Pequaw-Honk was a farm owned by the Thompsons’ grandfather, who was a principal in one of the iconic department stores of the late 19th century, McWirr’s in Fall River. The original Pequaw-Honk farmhouse still stands, just behind the Thompson house.

In marketing materials to support the sale of the house, the Thompson children were asked what they love most about the house: “The fact that we see and hear almost no one while looking out over the most beautiful landscape of woods, meadows and

With built-in bookcases, rotunda-like ceiling, curved wall and exposed beams, the first-floor bedroom has the feel of a cozy room in an historic bed-and-breakfast.

water. Also, our access to Quicksand Pond means that we have an amazing place to kayak and sail and also direct (water!) access to Goosewing Beach, arguably the most beautiful beach in New England.”

While the property connects to the water, so does the house itself. Every room is designed to capture ocean views, including the entryway foyer, the second-floor landing, and every bedroom. A third-floor loft area provides a play space for kids or and additional sleeping area for guests, but most importantly, it opens to a rooftop deck with sweeping views of the region.

Also on the property are a garage and a separate guest house, with kitchen, living area, bedroom, loft and two bathrooms.

The estate is one of the region’s true hidden treasures — a family compound designed for comfort, privacy and most importantly, good memories.

The sale of 30-20 Rockbridge Drive was facilitated by Liz Kinnane and Cherry Arnold with Mott & Chace Sotheby’s. Debby Ladd of Lila Delman Compass represented the buyers.

The entryway foyer became its own gathering spot during family events, as the staircase landing was often used as the stage for speeches or children’s performances.

The highs of 2022

Following are the highest residential property sales in each East Bay community in 2022. Sales, as recorded on Zillow, were current through mid-November.

Set on more than nine pastoral acres abutting conservation land, this contemporary home was artfully designed to capture the abundance of natural light from the south-facing, floor-to-ceiling doors and windows. It sold in July after a stunning renovation to set the high mark in Portsmouth for 2022.

A magnificent pergola off the kitchen sets the stage for indoor-outdoor living/entertaining and leads to an exceptionally landscaped 2,000-square-foot bluestone and granite patio. There are two primary en suite bedrooms with marble and glass-enclosed showers and walk-in closets, plus a third en suite bedroom. The top floor is composed of an oversized post and beam living area/office with outdoor deck featuring Sakonnet River views and an additional bedroom and full bath with soaking tub.

A four-stall garage has an attached artist studio with heat/AC, and a half-bath. Surrounded by stone walls, the grounds feature a putting green, raised-bed gardens, a potting shed and orchard.

PORTSMOUTH | 230 Briarwood Lane $4,600,000

The sale was brokered by David Huberman and Michael Sweeney of Gustave White, with Kimberly Doherty of Lila Delman Compass.

Nicknamed “Crow’s Nest,” this new construction home along Usher Cove on Bristol’s Poppasquash Point set the high mark for Bristol when it sold back in February. The home is designed to offer privacy and rare access to Usher Cove Beach.

A flowing floor plan enhances water views from all rooms. High quality 2x6 construction, 4” wide oak floors, high ceilings, intricate millwork and blue stone patios demonstrate the thoughtfulness that has resulted in this finished product.

The sale was brokered at both ends by Kate Leonard of Lila Delman Compass.

• roofing (new, replacement, repairs)

• metal roofing • rubber roofing

• siding • downspouts

• flashing / reflashing • chimneys

• and much more!

This stunning, new waterfront home was built on a private two-acre lot nestled near Barrington Beach. It sold back in February for nearly $5 million, which remains the high mark in Barrington for 2022.

With soaring ceilings and banks of custom windows, the sun fills the open floor plan with light. The great room with fireplace is an entertainer’s dream. The adjacent kitchen offers custom cabinetry, quartz counters, a custom ash island and top of the line appliances. The first floor also features a private office, family room, custom mud room, powder room and additional full bath and secondary laundry.

The home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and nearly 7,000 square feet of living space. The lower level was sold with a gym and sport court playroom.

The sale was brokered by the Kirk Schryver Team at Residential Properties (now with Compass), with Kevin Fox of Residential Properties.

Setting the high mark for Middletown sales back in May, this spectacular waterfront compound provides incredible unobstructed water views from a home that was completely renovated in 2012. Those renovations include all new systems, wiring, kitchen, baths, siding, and roofing. In addition, smart systems, radiant heat, upgraded Wi-Fi, and surround sound are just a few of the thoughtful upgrades.

Special features include a beautiful chef’s kitchen, an elevator, living room with wet bar, dining room, den, screened porch and two primary bedrooms. Sitting just above the water’s edge is a serene seaside terrace that features a pool and cabana with its own bedroom, kitchen and bath. Numerous spaces for outdoor entertaining include a beach deck with fire pit, breakfast garden with a Koi pond, a bluestone patio with incredible fieldstone outdoor fireplace and a pool terrace with pizza oven. A private staircase leads to a rocky beach and the two moorings.

The sale was brokered at both ends by Eric Kirton of Lila Delman Compass.

$2,825,000

This one-of-a-kind private compound with spectacular ocean and river views, set on 4.2 acres, with deeded access to the water, and a shared dock, set the high mark for Westport, Mass., when it sold in April. Located just steps from the Westport River and minutes to private and public beaches, this iconic seaside estate is located in the highly sought after Westport Harbor / Acoaxet area.

The property features three buildings – a classic 1890s home with 5 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms and one halfbath, a beautiful converted barn with full kitchen and bath, large multi-functional gathering space, two sleeping lofts with built-in bunks, and as well as a large deck that overlooks the property and harbor. The detached two-car garage also offers a one-bed, one-bath year-round apartment on the second level. The sweeping lawn slopes down towards the river and includes deeded walking access to the shared dock.

The sale was brokered on both ends by Liz Kinnane of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s.

WESTPORT | 564 River Road

Facing west in the desirable Terrace neighborhood of East Providence, this gem sold with a new dock, float and deck, setting the high mark for sales in the city in 2022. At the time of the sale, it was zoned as a two-family that could be used many different ways.

The main living space has an open floor plan with soaring ceilings and sweeping views of Narragansett Bay. Two bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms are on the first floor. An additional bedroom on the second floor has 180-degree views of the Bay and with full bath, large walk-in closet and and its own deck.

The lower level is a walk-out and also offers stunning views with versatile living spaces, kitchen and full bath and its own private patio.

The sale was brokered by the Kirk Schryver Team at Residential Properties (now with Compass), with Melissa Wagner at Keller Williams.

This waterfront home in the Touisset area of Warren faces southeast, overlooking Mount Hope Bay. Its August sale set the high mark for Warren in 2022.

With five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, it sits on more than an acre of land. The primary suite is on the first floor and is an oasis of relaxation. Also on the first floor there is a great room with wet bar, as well as an eat-in kitchen, formal dining room and oversized living room. The foyer boasts a dramatic 2 story entryway. There is a deck with mechanical awning. The walkout basement is finished with a second family room and room for additional guest quarters, office space or an exercise studio, as well as a beautiful stone patio.

The sale was brokered by Alicia Reynolds at Residential Properties, with Bryan Hoffman of Williams & Stuart Real Estate.

This inviting home on the Sakonnet River is set on a double lot and is located between Seapowet and Fogland Beaches and near the Seapowet Marsh. Built in 2000 by the present owner, this home was lovingly cared for. The deck off of the main living area is perfect for outside dining with stairs to the yard below. The primary bedroom has a Juliet balcony, masonry fireplace, and dressing room, an ensuite bath with double sinks, a large soaking tub, marble shower with a steam shower. The property comes with a mooring with direct water access and the potential for a second mooring. It set the high mark for Tiverton when it sold back in January.

The sale was brokered by Phyllis Ibbotson of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s.

EAST PROVIDENCE | 149 Terrace Ave., Riverside $1,000,000

WARREN | 10 Stonegate Road $1,895,000

TIVERTON | 135 Driftwood Drive $2,100,000

South Dartmouth $12,950,000 - Little River Road Compound! Oceanfront estate with main resident, two-bedroom pol house, carriage house, spectacular separately deeded four bedroom guest house and deep water dock, two guest cottages with dock and three-bedroom ranch Enjoy exquisite Buzzards Bay views from this landmark estate! Contact Will Milbury 508 525 5200

NEW LISTING!

Round Hill, South Dartmouth $775,000 Penthouse/Mansion Unit, 1291 s f with community amenities: pool, golf, beach, tennis Contact Maggie Tomkiewicz 508 995 2444

NEW LISTING!

South Dartmouth $1,695,000 Classic Greek Revival set on 38 acre in the heart of Padanaram Village Contact Will Milbury 508 525 5200

LAND Tiverton $275,000 Alice Petersen 965.6938

NEW LISTING South Dartmouth $949,600 Kevin Quinn 774.319.3401

Westport Acoaxet

This striking, custom-built, post-and-beam style home is set on 1.9 acres and offers 3,476 sq. ft. of magnificent living space with three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, upscale kitchen with heart pine flooring, three-car attached garage . . . grounds include patio with firepit and pergola, outdoor shower and custom shed. A stunning place to call home!

SOLD Westport $1,795,000 Will Milbury 508.525.5200

Offered at $1,875,000 Contact Chris Hiller 508.965.8409

UNDER AGREEMENT Westport $795,000 Maggie Tomkiewicz 508.995.2444