Working closely with interior designer Bay Hill Design, our carpentry crews seamlessly integrated a storage nook and shelf system at the front entry with the winding staircase. A custom steel handrail provides a sleek and modern feel to this cozy entrance.

Oak Staircase

The Staircase is gracious and wide, the foyer wainscoting is carried up and down through-out all four levels of the home. The art lights above the artwork help light the way and showcase the owners collection of art..

Ricken Desai Photography

Centrally located stair cascades into the kitchen which is open to a covered outdoor dining deck and backyard - . Photo by Dan Arnold

The staircase showcases hardwood tread and risers to the second floor, also all hardwood hallways.

When a world class sailing champion approached us to design a Newport home for his family, with lodging for his sailing crew, we set out to create a clean, light-filled modern home that would integrate with the natural surroundings of the waterfront property, and respect the character of the historic district. Our approach was to make the marine landscape an integral feature throughout the home. One hundred eighty degree views of the ocean from the top floors are the result of the pinwheel massing. The home is designed as an extension of the curvilinear approach to the property through the woods and reflects the gentle undulating waterline of the adjacent saltwater marsh. Floodplain regulations dictated that the primary occupied spaces be located significantly above grade; accordingly, we designed the first and second floors on a stone “plinth” above a walk-out basement with ample storage for sailing equipment. The curved stone base slopes to grade and houses the shallow entry stair, while the same stone clads the interior’s vertical core to the roof, along which the wood, glass and stainless steel stair ascends to the upper level. One critical programmatic requirement was enough sleeping space for the sailing crew, and informal party spaces for the end of race-day gatherings. The private master suite is situated on one side of the public central volume, giving the homeowners views of approaching visitors. A “bedroom bar,” designed to accommodate a full house of guests, emerges from the other side of the central volume, and serves as a backdrop for the infinity pool and the cove beyond. Also essential to the design process was ecological sensitivity and stewardship. The wetlands of the adjacent saltwater marsh were designed to be restored; an extensive geo-thermal heating and cooling system was implemented; low carbon footprint materials and permeable surfaces were used where possible. Native and non-invasive plant species were utilized in the landscape. The abundance of windows and glass railings maximize views of the landscape, and, in deference to the adjacent bird sanctuary, bird-friendly glazing was used throughout. Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography

David Lauer Photography

Chris Snook

Soaring 20 feet from the lower-level floor to the underside of the main floor ceiling, this 2017 home features a magnificent wall constructed of split-faced Indiana limestone of varying heights. This feature wall is the perfect backdrop for the magnificent black steel and stained white oak floating stairway. The linear pattern of the stone was matched from outside to inside by talented stone masons to laser perfection. The recess cove in the ceiling provides wall washing hidden LED lighting to highlight this feature wall.

The recovered salvaged wood accents lend a hint of the rustic to this modern barn home. Trent Bell Photography