Growing up on her family’s farm in Tiverton, Amanda Fasano has long had a connection to the land. Ferolbink Farms, an expansive potato farm that extends from near the center of the peninsula down to the banks of the Sakonnet River and Fogland Marsh, dates back to 1870. Today, Ferolbink is one of the state’s largest potato farms that also grows some smaller crops with its rich soil and rustic charm. So when Amanda and her husband Rob were told a neighboring property that bordered the farm on three sides was coming on the market, they knew exactly where they wanted to make their home — but not without some modern upgrades.
The cottage’s original owners built the home in 1956, and had long been friends with their Ferolbink neighbors. It was in the same family until Rob and Amanda bought the charmer, and the couple considers themselves lucky to take the home into the future. “It was an old cottage that was kept nice but it had no character,” says Rob. “It had wood paneling and it was outdated... We bought it knowing we’d have to do some work to it to make it livable for us.”
They considered razing the property entirely after they purchased it in October 2010, but after researching the costs involved with such a project, they reconsidered their options. “We saw the ad for Sixteen on Center in a local magazine,” explains Rob. After inviting the Tiverton- based design/build firm to their fixer-upper to discuss the possibilities, they knew they had met the right person to execute their vision while bringing in fresh ideas and architectural interest. “As soon as Shawn [Harris] stepped into the house, it was all him. We all hit it off and we got a good feeling right away,” tells Rob. “He wanted the job. He said this was exactly what he wanted to do.” At the time, Rob explains, the bulk of Sixteen on Center’s building portfolio was made up of renovations and additions, and though the Fasano home was technically a renovation, it was virtually a new construction with intentions to only keep just the original foundation and some walls intact. But the couple had every faith in Shawn and moved forward with plans for a two bedroom, two full bath home that was energy efficient, comfortable and original. When construction commenced in May 2011, the couple moved down the street into Amanda’s parents’ home where they could come by the build site daily and be on hand to make decisions on everything from repurposing space to finishes and lighting fixtures. “I was able to really be involved with the whole process,” says Rob, who alongside his father, painted the entire interior, saving what he estimates to be nearly $10,000. The colors they chose were mainly neutral-based, creating a cohesive balance throughout. His father also helped design the state of the art heating system, as that is his field of expertise.
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