SPACES
BY DANA LAVERTY • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGEL TUCKER
A North Kingstown home goes from frightful to delightful BEFORE with the help of a little Hollywood magic.
EREMY KING GAVE HIMSELF TWO YEARS to renovate the run-down fairytale cottage he bought in October 2023. But thanks to the magic of reality TV, King and his friend examined every room,
acres, not even glancing inside the home. the project took only two months and cost King nary a cent. staying until the heat and smell drove them“ The whole experience was surreal from beginning to end,” he says.“ I was outside. The couple, he figured, didn’ t want just in awe the entire time.” the house; they just wanted to rip it down
The yacht captain had been looking for roomier digs when he found the and build a new one. North Kingstown home on Zillow, with its trademark orange gingerbread trim, That’ s when King knew he had to save custom windows, handcrafted wooden details and working elevator.( Some it— it was too unique to be razed. eagle-eyed readers may remember that Rhode Island Monthly profiled the home in its“ When I saw the house one of my first“ Save This House” feature in May 2022.) thoughts was,‘ This house has to be shared
He was charmed by the details that former owner John R. Cota Sr. wove into it. No matter with people,’” he says. that it was dirty, and more than a little smelly, and that mice skeletons inhabited the heartshaped bathtub. King, always game to tackle a good project, could see the home’ s potential. in America” felt the same, calling King
Producers from HGTV’ s“ Scariest House
At the open house, he remembers an out-of-state couple roaming the parcel’ s four woody shortly after his closing after seeing the
36 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I APRIL 2025
BEFORE
CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE TOP: A coat of white paint brightens the once dark and dated living area; the kitchen is done in matte black with hints of copper and wood; a working elevator leads to the third floor; the refreshed black exterior makes the home’ s many windows pop.
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I APRIL 2025 37
Hand-painted collection of 100 % linen pillows and table accents such as napkins and table runners.
SUSAN TROY CLOTH
SUSANTROY. COM SUSAN _ TROY SUSAN TROY CLOTH
MODERN • THOUGHTUFL • SUSTAINABLE
For a fence you will truly cherish.
We are offering free estimates now for springtime installations! Have your new fence before summer arrives.
The 401
Vinyl • Chainlink • Aluminum • Cedar Wood
Residential and Commercial Serving all of Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts
GEM FENCING LLC
401-583-5730 GemFencing. com info @ gemfencing. com
RI Lic # GC-40893 • Fully Insured
J
Not So Scary
BEFORE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DANA LAVERTY.
More‘ Spaces’
inspiration can be found in each issue of Rhode Island Monthly!
Subscribe today at rimonthly. com
60 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’ S NEST | 2025