Location: Newport, RI
Project Type: Addition & Renovation
Client: Private homeowner

This 1930s single-family home in Newport, Rhode Island, had plenty of potential, but its compartmentalized floor plan, limited storage, and dated exterior left much to be desired. With a growing family and a new baby on the way, the homeowners wanted a more open, functional layout and a refreshed exterior that would give the home a new look.

The existing first floor featured a closed-off kitchen with no seating, limited storage, and no designated entryway for coats and shoes. Upstairs, three bedrooms, a small office, one shared bathroom, and impractical closets left the family without the storage, privacy, and convenience they needed.

OS Design and Consulting worked closely with the homeowners to design a modest two-story addition that maximized the property's allowable building area under Newport's zoning regulations, avoiding the need for zoning relief and the associated delays and expenses. Extending just eight feet from the rear of the home, the addition creates valuable new living space while keeping the construction budget in mind.

On the first floor, the redesigned layout introduces an open kitchen with peninsula seating, a dedicated playroom, a half bath, and a functional entryway with mudroom storage. A new rear door provides convenient access to the backyard. Upstairs, the addition creates a true primary suite with a private bathroom and walk-in closet, along with a dedicated second-floor laundry room.

Alongside the interior improvements, a complete exterior siding renovation will give the home a refreshed, cohesive appearance, integrating the new addition with the original structure and significantly improving its curb appeal.

The result is a thoughtfully designed addition and renovation that transforms both the appearance and functionality of the home without dramatically expanding its footprint. This Newport project demonstrates how strategic space planning and a modest addition can make an existing house feel like a whole new home.