Have you ever heard someone say that a house has “great bones?” These are often the most desirable abodes because they feature well-built foundations, high-quality framing, or solid architectural details that provide a canvas for customization. These homes are storytellers… accumulating modifications through the years that accommodate growing families, empty nesters, or trendy renovations. Such is the case of a 1967 ranch in Narragansett. Set along the quiet edge of a salt pond, this home tells a distinctly Rhode Island story – one shaped as much by generations of summer rituals as by thoughtful architectural evolution. This home has, over decades, expanded and adapted into a layered coastal retreat designed for gathering.
Owned by a retired couple who have long summered along the coast (and wintered in Florida), the house now serves as a seasonal anchor for a growing family that includes their three adult children and eight grandchildren. The owners were first drawn to what East Greenwich-based interior designer Lauren Winsor describes as “the waterfront setting and private dock on the salt pond,” a rare balance of seclusion and access. “The property allows them to entertain generously while still enjoying the quiet rhythm of coastal life,” Winsor explains.
A major renovation in 2012 reimagined the home for ease and flow, prioritizing first-floor living and spaces that could accommodate a steady stream of guests. The latest addition – a 640-square-foot bonus room above the garage – extends that ethos. “The goal was to create a space that could serve multiple purposes without compromise,” says Winsor. Outfitted with a custom window bed, trundle, convertible sofa, and ample storage, the room easily transitions from sleepover central to movie lounge to game room. At its center, a custom ping pong table by Providence’s Edge and End Studio doubles as a gathering surface for puzzles, cards, and dominoes.
Throughout, the design remains cohesive and quietly assured. “Our goal was cohesion – ensuring the FROG (finished room over garage!) felt fully integrated with the main home, as if completed in one thoughtful phase,” Winsor notes. The palette draws directly from the landscape: “We leaned slightly patriotic and into a classic New England feel,” she says, layering whites, creams, and coastal blues with subtle touches of red. “You know you’re by the water, even when it is out of sight.”
Integral to the home’s character is the owner’s background as an antiques dealer. “Blending collected pieces with new custom work gives the space depth and authenticity,” Winsor explains. Furnishings sourced from nearby resale shops sit comfortably alongside contemporary elements, while local artwork reinforces the home’s coastal sense of place.
In the end, it’s a house dictated by purpose. “Let your surroundings guide you,” Winsor reflects. Here, the water, sky, and enduring pull of a Rhode Island summer have done exactly that.
Lauren Winsor dishes on how to be your own best designer. “We always work with local businesses and trades on our construction projects,” says Winsor. “The happiest elements in the project are those created by local artists – the ping pong table by Edge and End and artwork on the walls by Narragansett artist Marilyn Saaybe. Collected treasures from Brimfield and regional antique shops add history and personal narrative, which ultimately makes the space feel lived-in rather than newly constructed,” she says. “The light fixtures on this project are both Visual Comfort/Chapman & Myers – Myers is a Rhode Islander and friend!”
“Beyond the color palette, there is some amazing artwork with local scenes,” says Winsor. She shares that the painting of the waterfront at the breakers is a vintage find. Antiques on this project were sourced from some great shops including Consignments Ltd. in Wakefield, and The Corner Cupboard and RE Antiques, both in North Kingstown.
“Let your surroundings guide you,” Winsor advises. “The setting of this project was a big influence on the design. The blue sky and water dotted by white sailboats on the salt pond were a big inspiration for the overall color palate. We carried the blue and white through all the textiles in the room – rugs, upholstery, drapery and pillows.” Learn more at HouseOfWinsorInteriors.com
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