n
ESTLED IN A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD
in Jamestown among other traditional bungalows
sits this lovely, unpresumptuous house. Its sharp
facade combined with thoughtful landscape design
offer an inviting picture from the street. Inside, the
finishings are tasteful, comfortable and — like the
exterior — well suited to its location. This place feels homey, unfussy. It feels
like Jamestown. While the architecture and interior are just the right degree
of simple, the story behind this house is far from it.
Balancing preservation and progress can be tricky business, particularly
in highly desirable coastal communities richer in historical charm than new
buildable lots. In 2007, the town of Jamestown solicited a team of design and
planning experts to help it visualize what that balance could look like in the
island’s Village district over the next twenty years. Union Studio Architects
founding principal Donald Powers, who led that team, says the town was also
looking to stem the tide of teardowns that had been occurring on the island.
It’s no secret that when outdated structures on prime real estate come under
new ownership, the temptation to start from scratch is great; the results,
however, are not always so great. The inherent character that draws people
to places like Jamestown dissipates when behemoths replace cottages and
individual design overshadows community aesthetics. >>
The shiplap ceiling and white subway tile are
decidedly coastal. Dana Powers, who took the lead
on the interior design decisions, said she wanted
an easy kitchen: Silestone quartz counters are
attractive and virtually maintenance free.
60 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l
MARCH 2020