A custom dining table by Rhode Island craftsman David Ellison is a
centerpiece in the dining room, and beyond the table, a large window
offers views of the fully enclosed backyard. A Syrma pendant, by Tech
Lighting, adds a touch of glamour to the entry space off the garage;
glass railings allow natural light to permeate the stairway.
Family Centered
“Organization is central for me. I’m a very organized, deliberate person,
so every decision we made was on purpose,” says the homeowner. The
kitchen was no exception.
“I listed everything I needed to store from the rice cooker to the panini
press, and I made sure everything had a spot. When you’re a mom, your
house can get overrun with chaos but your house can really help you
manage that if it’s designed well.”
Crafted by Jutras Woodworking, the kitchen cabinetry features walnut,
oak and western red cedar in natural and lacquered finishes. Porcelain
tile helps delineate the kitchen from the rest of the open living-dining,
creating a room of sorts within the room. Practicality prompted the
decision to use quartz for the kitchen counters and island. (“It can take
a beating, and when kids are growing up in a house, they’re going to beat
it up,” says the homeowner.) The decision to carry the quartz up the
kitchen walls was stylistic.
The entry off the garage is another space that offers much needed
organizational opportunities. In addition to a mudroom that contains
a second washer and dryer, the space below the stairs was cleverly
transformed into a built-in storage area for shoes and assorted play gear.
82 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l
APRIL 2020