One look at this spacious Narragansett
home abutting a beautiful meadow with uninter-
rupted views of Beavertail Lighthouse and it’s easy
to see why the current homeowners were enchanted.
Aptly named Ocean Meadow, the property’s outer
beauty is only rivalled by its interior.
“The clients first came to us when they were in the
process of closing on the home,” says Janelle Blakely,
owner of Blakely Interior Design. “It was missing
some key elements — they had a very specific desire
for an open concept kitchen / living area for hosting
family now and into retirement years.”
From there, Blakely worked closely with architect
Gail Hallock to realize the home’s full potential.
“Looking at the original plans, we knew the client
wouldn’t be satisfied force-fitting the old roof and
trying to add in a new structure. So, we encouraged
him to go for a more flattering fit,” Blakely says.
“He later said, ‘I’m so glad you pushed me on that
because I’m much happier with the end result.’ ”
A third of the house, including the old kitchen
and outdoor patio, was also removed to make way
for the larger, more enriched kitchen and family
room. Receptive to the design experts’ vision
for the kitchen, Hallock gave Blakely full reign
of the layout plans. The result is an expansive,
colorful space with good flow and subtle nautical
elements — an ode to both the seaside location as
well as the homeowner’s affinity for fishing. Two
immaculate-yet-functional islands with overhead
lighthouse-reminiscent light fixtures take center
stage in the kitchen, bordered by a gleaming tile
backsplash and coastal blue cabinetry which
complements the redefined roofline. Light-hued
beams and hardwoods frame the space and carry
into the attached living room. During the day,
the scene is immersed in sunlight thanks to the
wall of windows overlooking Ocean Meadow’s
eponymous grounds, while at night loungers can
bask in the glow of the statement Ralph Lauren
brass and leather chandelier. Ideal for cozy family
movie / game nights in front of the wainscoting
fireplace and tv mount, the room is accented by
mixed metals like polished nickel and brass as well
as bright, comfortable furnishings.
“Our aesthetic is colorful,” says Blakely. “The
blues are a nod to the coastal theme, but there are
reds and yellows sprinkled throughout, too. Our
talents involve using color effectively and at different
levels for different clients depending on their tastes.”
By the end of the renovation, the home essentially
doubled in size, not only due to the kitchen / living
room expansion but also through the addition of a
three-car garage complete with a second-floor room.
Blakely both helped fine-tune the final design and left
their colorful mark throughout the home.
“We’re really in our sweet spot when we work on
projects where we can play an integral part of the
team from the beginning. Then every step of the
way is very intentional,” says Blakely. “That’s what
we’ve done here, and it was a wonderful process.” ◆
FULL SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN
•
NEW CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION PLANNING
BLAKELYINTERIORDESIGN.COM • (401) 789-1516
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’S NEST | 2020 13