At the This Old House 2018 Idea House in Narragansett, RI, dozens of details make the home distinctive in its functionality and its aesthetics, and speak to the skill of the entire team—from home builder Jeff Sweenor and his 50-member crew to interior designer Kristen Martone.
Builder Jeff Sweenor, a dog owner himself, told This Old House Magazine that thoughtful touches like these are what set the Idea House apart: “This house has so many special details, and they are all about making the house extremely functional, livable, and even fun. Every room has something extra.”
Three standout details:
1) For the first-floor master bath vanity, the Sweenor crew made a drawer that maximizes storage by crafting it to fit around the plumbing under the sink.
2) The wood countertop created by Grothouse for the butler’s pantry includes a feature called an “integrated bowl,” an artfully carved depression in the American black walnut that acts as a container for fruit and other objects that might be prone to roll.
3) For a wallcovering in the stairway leading up to the guest suite above the garage, interior designer Martone chose “Woods” by Cole & Son, a pattern depicting a forest of birch trees, in onyx and white. First introduced in 1959, the wallcovering is considered a design classic for its evocative pattern and its ability to function as a neutral background while also conveying a comforting sense of nature.
The staircase leading up to that birch-tree wallcovering is a showpiece in its own right. As builder Jeff Sweenor describes it, the foyer floor is “a white oak herringbone pattern outlined in dark walnut with a dramatic custom staircase built in our mill”—setting the tone for the level of detail carried throughout the home.
