For one Barrington couple, finding the house of their dreams came down to one thing: tranquil living among nature. “We were looking for something that felt more connected to the water and where our kids could spend more time running around outside,” say the homeowners. “What sold us on the house was the backyard and the feeling of peacefulness we felt just sitting out in the yard.” While the custom-built Nantucket colonial ticked all the boxes, the kitchen – the familial heart of the home – didn’t exactly align with their tastes. “We were looking for somewhat of a ‘California casual’ vibe in our home,” they explain, “something that gave off a natural and relaxed feeling with a sense of connection to nature and the outdoors.”
Admittedly feeling overwhelmed with how to execute that vibe while honoring the architectural integrity of the home, the couple turned to Lindy Lowney Design, an East Greenwich-based residential interior design agency specializing in modern coastal interiors. For nearly 20 years, Lowney has styled and designed homes throughout Southern New England and beyond. With an attention to detail, eye for color, and affinity for all things coastal living, Lowney, who credits her intrinsically coastal aesthetic from her upbringing at the Jersey Shore, was ideally suited for the East Bay project.
The coastal kitchen refresh, says Lowney, included painting the custom cabinetry, replacing the granite countertops, and updating hardware and fixtures for what the designer describes as a “fresh, modern, organic update.” She created a neutral palette with off-white and light gray paint, installing soft white quartz countertops, swapping out the existing hardware for brushed brass hardware, and adding contemporary, clean fixtures throughout.
Lowney also felt compelled to give the aesthetic a clear sense of place. “Introducing the coastal color palette, layering in texture, and adding subtle coastal decor provide hints of the Rhode Island coastline,” she explains.
For the couple, the transformation celebrates everything they love about the home and living in Barrington. “We enjoy being active and outdoors, particularly on and near the water,” they say. “We love the kitchen/dining area and how open it feels with a view into the backyard. It’s probably where we spend the majority of our time in the house and is a great, open place for bringing people together.”
Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.
Lowney, an Allied practitioner of the American Society of Interior Designers, says the Ocean State provides countless coastal influences in her local client projects. “I take inspiration from the shoreline to infuse a similar color palette and introduce textures reminiscent of the beach,” she explains. “Simple introductions of coastal hues used in paint, furnishings, and decor can give that Ocean State vibe.” For the kitchen, she selected a soothing white quartz countertop sourced from Arnold Lumber Company’s Kitchen Design Center & Showroom in Wakefield.
As the founder of a Rhode Island-based boutique interior design studio, Lowney knows her way around local coastal communities, including Barrington, where she loves to peruse the stacks at Barrington Books for both business and pleasure. Nearby Blue Kangaroo Cafe gives her all the cozy cafe vibes while she satisfies her sweet treat cravings at Sweet Lorraine’s Candy Shoppe. Her Barrington client concurs, while adding that a short trip to another favorite, Groundswell in Tiverton Four Corners, is worth the trek!
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