Step Inside a Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Condo with a Neutral Palette

Designer Blair Moore added paneling to the living room walls to give the space character and a sense of authenticity. The soaring room is painted Sherwin-Williams Shoji White. Two postmodern European pendants are part of a collection of four.

The custom dining table and chairs are from Moore’s new furniture line, Roweam; little is known about the painting, but it serves as an ideal juxtaposition to the Croft House credenza.

Moore designed a custom console to reside next to the fireplace.

A rug from Minori Casa anchors both the dining and living spaces.

The settee and chair in the cozy study are vintage Hans Olsen. A series of dramatic folding panels gives the room gravitas and complements the French coffee table.

With so many angular points of interest in the kitchen, Moore chose to add a soft curve to one side of the island as an unexpected counterpoint. Both the island and cabinets are white oak. Standing sentinel, a trio of vintage saddle stools from Roweam adds a sculptural note.

With its soft curves, the guest room console pairs nicely with an Italian lamp, Tony Paul stool, and charcoal sketch, all one-of-a-kind pieces from another era.

In the guest room, a wall that gives guests a sense of privacy divides two twin beds; the painting is by Mary Vogel.

The primary bedroom features a brass sconce by Obsolete, antique artwork, and a Roweam bench; the bed is dressed in a neutral grain-sack coverlet and a burgundy linen bedspread.

The Aquidneck Club in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, is a magical place in a bucolic setting overlooking picturesque Narragansett Bay. For one Boston couple who have been longtime members, it has served as a weekend respite from the hustle and bustle of their busy weekday lives in the city. So when one of the club’s coveted condominiums hit the market—a rare occurrence—the duo snatched it up.

Then they called Blair Moore, creative director and principal of Moore House Design based in Warren, Rhode Island, to come to the rescue. The club’s majestic shingle-clad facade is quintessentially New England; the residence’s interiors Moore initially encountered were not. “The space didn’t reflect the outside of the building, which feels warm and inviting,” says the designer. “Inside, it felt void of detail and craftsmanship.”

Working with builder Christopher Pettit of Pettit Construction, Moore and the couple embarked on a complete renovation that included new paneling and lighting, entire kitchen and bath reworks, and new flooring, tile, and plumbing. No detail was overlooked.

In the meantime, Moore and her team devised a design scheme that would honor the building’s architectural heritage and coastal sense of place, along with her clients’ desire for minimal, calm spaces and a lack of clutter. The designer’s less-is-more approach melded sculptural furniture with contemporary silhouettes (many from her new furniture line, Roweam) while also incorporating vintage and antique pieces to retain a sense of warmth and coziness.

When it came to selecting—and editing—furnishings, lighting, art, and accessories, Moore maintained a hard line on what made the final cut.

“Don’t put anything into your space unless it adds character, value, and conversation,” says Moore. “And if it doesn’t, why do you need it? You don’t need it. If I’m adding something, it has to add value to the story of the house and to the story of the clients.”

For these lucky homeowners, Moore’s acute eye and edited approach allows every special piece to contribute its own narrative to a decorative tale that seamlessly blends old and new with a nod to the present and future. It goes to show that, when done right, minimalism can make a maximum impact.

Project Team
Interior design: Moore House Design
Builder: Pettit Construction