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Waterfront Living in Warren

One couple dreams life away on the Kickemuit

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Few homeowners can walkout their back door, take a few steps and sink their toes into a soft sandy shoreline, but for Juliana and Richard Hart, it’s a way of life – and one that never loses its appeal. Nesting in a second home on the banks of Bristol’s tranquil Kickemuit River, it’s easy to see why the couple fell for the coastal cottage. “I think one of the really attractive pieces of the home were the rights to the mooring and all the swimming and kayaking,” says Juliana. She says being so close to Mount Hope Bay, one can easily kayak as far as the Narrow River on a clear day.

Though the exterior of the waterfront cottage evokes the style of a bygone era, it’s all about modern luxury with an unpretentious approach. The home was built by Niles Gregory from the ground up in 2002, but it was erected over the footprint of a home that had been there since 1940. “It was built so thoughtfully… you walk in and the first thing you see is the birds – the herons, the swans and people fishing,” says Juliana enthusiastically. “You are just drawn to commune with nature.” Instead of trying to compete with such captivating surroundings, the Harts let the obvious take center stage by adopting a white color palate throughout the three-bedroom, two-bath home.

Open the front door and the open, airy vibe is palpable. White bead-board wainscoting in the entry creates a warm New England welcome punctuated by coat hooks for convenience. Immediately one can’t help be mesmerized by the swaying green grasses and blue water dotted by bobbing sailboats in plain sight. Natural wood detailing inside includes the open staircase that leads to the second floor which blends effortlessly with the outdoors just footsteps away.

Adopting what has been deemed an “upside down” or inverted floorplan, the kitchen and dining room can be found on the top floor along with the master bedroom, while additional bedrooms remain on the first floor. Details including exposed beams and coffered ceilings add character but stop short of evoking a rustic ambiance.

The seemingly simple all-white kitchen wants for nothing with modern amenities like double ovens and intriguing design details including vintage-inspired silver drawer pulls and a bead-board backsplash throughout. The bar area features an additional sink and four illuminated glass-front cabinets to display both prized possessions and entertaining essentials. The clean colorless palate allows unexpected details, like a pair of stained-glass pendulum lights that brighten the spacious island, to catch your eye. The open kitchen seamlessly flows into an expansive, informal but defined dining space. “We like the inverted style,” says Juliana, who says she first saw the layout when vacationing down south and hasn’t seen it much in southern New England. “The house is so easy for entertaining! We entertain family and friends and it’s

just a wonderful spot.”

Despite both of those areas being open, warm and welcoming, one of the areas the Harts enjoy the most is just around the corner where guests might be surprised to find main living area – a spacious room anchored by a stunning beach-stone fireplace surrounded by oversized windows framing the unforgettable view. Exposed beams are seen overhead but with a deck leading out to the natural wonder they consider the backyard; it’s hard to tear your eyes away. “The views here are spectacular,” she says, adding that it is one of her favorite places to enjoy her morning cup of coffee, most especially as the sun is rising and casts its first light on to the river. The view is identical downstairs, where a bedroom with floor to ceiling windows has a door that leads out to the patio. Even with the 180-degree views of nature, the space seems surprisingly private, most especially with detailed and strategically placed lattice work and the natural canopy of nearby flora and fauna. Here you’ll also find an outdoor shower, perfect for a refreshing cool down after an on-the-water adventure.

With such inspiration wafting through the air, it only makes sense that Juliana is an artist. A piece from her pottery collection can be found nearby at Bristol’ s Alta Luna Gallery, a salon-style gallery in the “LoHo District” of historic downtown Bristol. In fact, Bristol’s vibrant arts scene is just one of the things she lists when talking about why she and Richard have such a fondness for the town. “We just love Bristol – the harbor, the town, the arts scene… we love the shops and the restaurants. My wish would be to retire here.” The home is listed with William Raveis Real Estate.

Kickemuit River, Waterfront Cottage, Home, Bristol, Rhode Island, luxury, William Raveis Real Estate, the bay

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  • LiLRhodyRE

    It is really great that The Bay does these real estate feature articles, it certainly is a service to the seller, your readers, myself as the agent and most importantly the house hunter. However, I think it is critical to get the Town correct in the headline, it is in Bristol. Otherwise, it is a beautiful house or condo alternative on the Tranquil end of the Kickemuit River overlooking protected lands in Touissett.

    Monday, September 23, 2013 Report this



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