Camped out in the middle of a wealthy ocean playground with its mega-mansions and boldfaced names , this little brick house built in 1914 nevertheless holds its own . Despite humble beginnings as an electric substation for a trolley that ran from Westerly to Watch Hill , the current owners , George Rose and Frances Ricci , recognized its potential under the peeling paint and a massive concrete slab that covered a big chunk of dirt floor . “ It was a mess ,” Rose says . A complete renovation meant working with an architect savvy to the requirements of a building on the National Register of Historic Places — in this case , Michael McKinley of McKinley Architects . It could make a sweet guest house for the family , who lives nearby , they realized . “ It had cool , curved windows and the light was exceptional ,” says Ricci , “ plus it was very sturdy looking .”