Narragansett Kitchen

This 1890s home in Narragansett, RI, was the 2020 This Old House season 42 home of the year. Sitting on a corner lot, steps from the beach, the home was in poor condition with rot, deterioration, and structural damage after more than 20 years of neglect. This was a unique design story, with the project facing many challenges, the first being limitations on building due to its historical status. The second challenge: the build took place during the unprecedented Covid-19 Pandemic, bringing almost all work to a halt. Rachael Louzon of Heritage Kitchens worked diligently with the homeowners to plan and work in unconventional ways to bring life back into this Rhode Island gem.

The kitchen, pantry, and baths transitional design, were Rachael’s focus. The clients originally wanted to use an inspirational photo with black and white with gold, which was a bit too heavy for the home’s history. Then the Covid-19 Pandemic shutdown in-person meetings and work on the home. Rachael was forced to work with the homeowners via Zoom, showing options and recommendations. Creating a transitional design, Rachael was able to take the client’s idea and soften it to meet the needs of the homes historic charm. 
A classic, white Shaker style door made of Maple was chosen for the perimeter cabinets, and features traditional framed construction but with an inset. This detail not only provides a cleaner, more modern finish by positioning the door and drawer flush with the frame, it also showcases Wood-Mode’s precision craftsmanship.

The clients wanted some interest in their kitchen design. Leaning into the homeowners’ desire to add some standout details, gold accents were added to the island, bar and custom hood, all made by Wood-Mode, were able to blend with the home’s historic stain glass windows. Rachael additional details allowing for the homeowners’ style to shine through. For example, the mullions on the upper white cabinets were painted the same black finish as the island, Walnut drawer interiors, and a continuous quartz countertop throughout the kitchen, tie the design together. Integrated throughout the kitchen and pantry drawers and cabinets make it a breeze to find whatever is needed, day or night. 

The pantry was the biggest challenge in this space, as the homeowner wanted a swinging door. The outside looked like a regular cabinet door, but when opened revealed the home’s former outhouse turned pantry. With lots of storage organization options, the space was outfitted with interior storage options for wet and dry goods, jars, cooking utensils and more.

Off to the side of kitchen sits a powder room featuring a standout standalone vanity in a Mediterranean blue finish, while upstairs, the master bath is outfitted with multiple storage vanities. “Her” vanity is outfitted with pull out makeup storage, hairdryer storage with built in electric outlets.

Rebuilt by Sweenor Builders, the home’s overall interior design is by designer, Kristen Martone, with the kitchen, baths, and whole home cabinetry design by Wood-Mode designer, Rachael Louzon of Heritage Kitchens.