Because Sullivan was shifting to a more relaxed lifestyle and anticipated living on a fixed income , he wanted a house that was both beautiful and private , with lower monthly expenses . Ron DiMauro of DiMauro Architects designed a ground floor , full-time living space with a kitchen , family room and covered porch that connects to a master bedroom suite . There ’ s also a shingled mudroom leading to a two-car garage . A second-floor space with two bedrooms doesn ’ t need heat when guests aren ’ t visiting , and the 2,400-square-foot house faces east with windows that let in lots of light and allow passive heat . Because Sullivan loves to cook (“ I ’ ve sheet-panned my way through the pandemic ,” he jokes ), the kitchen , in Benjamin Moore ’ s Simply White , is kitted out with
Fresh Start
The pared-down , less-is-more aesthetic extends to the master bath , which had lacked cohesion and natural light . Keene designed a new double bowl vanity , flanked on one side with a luxurious tub and double-hung windows , and a bidet on the other .
The clients ’ love of marble reappears as an element in the bathroom counters and the floor . ( They wisely bought a massive slab for the project before the reno got underway .) While most of the pendant lights throughout the house are an updated take on tradition , the eye-catching scalloped chandelier in the master suite , with its playful nod to the beach nearby , is an exception .
The project was Keene ’ s first since opening her own firm , Keene Architecture . Despite launching in the middle of the pandemic , as well as having a new baby , she says everything went smoothly . It only took a matter of months , and there were no troublesome supply chain issues . Timing , she admits , was everything . It helped that the builder is also her partner in life . “ Communication flowed freely ,” she says . “ We were literally doing the demo while we were still designing , although I wouldn ’ t recommend it ,” she deadpans . First time out of the box , though , the graceful results speak for themselves . �
108 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY 2022