spaces that were outdated and counter-productive to contemporary living. This was
largely due to the presence of two massive, centrally located masonry chimneys.
“They essentially divided the first floor into four small, disconnected spaces,” says
Harris. “We needed to establish more modern relationships between them and create
some breathing room.”
And so, he and his team entirely removed the obtrusive, aging behemoths. Now
having the flexibility to rescale the rooms as they wished, Sixteen on Center expanded
the living room footprint as well as the kitchen, filling the latter with their own cus-
tom cabinetry and hand-selected, high-quality finishes and pendant lighting. To
further open up the first floor, they likewise removed a load-bearing wall between
the original entry and living room and installed an exposed steel beam spanning
the depth of the home to seamlessly connect the living room, stairs, entryway and
kitchen. Sixteen On Center made further good use of the home’s newfound extra
space by constructing another bedroom, a full bathroom and a mudroom.
Up on the second floor, the chimney removal also made room for the team to
combine two small existing bedrooms into one large master bedroom, where the pan-
eled headboard is the piece de resistance. Sixteen on Center fashioned the beauty out
of salvaged material from the original building.
Next door, they fitted the master bath with a porch-like feel, featuring a vaulted
cedar ceiling, large windows and a custom medicine cabinet with a barn-door-style
mirror. The best part? The room opens to a covered second-story perch on the back
of the house, above the first-floor porch mentioned earlier.
“While this aspect of the remodel is admittedly a bit bizarre, it actually works quite
well for the homeowners,” says Harris. “It’s just big enough for a few people to enjoy,
so it made sense to connect it to one of the home’s most private spaces. Plus, the best
views are to the north, behind the house.”
The final product was a home that not only befit the homeowners’ vision and
lifestyle, but also impressed the local builders’ scene. In fact, since its completion,
the home has gone on to earn Fine Homebuilding Magazine’s 2019 award for Best
Remodel. ◆
SIXTEEN ON CENTER, 41 Eagleville Rd., Tiverton,
401-816-0324, sixteenoncenter.com
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’S NEST | 2020 65