On Sakonnet Point Road, where summer cottages seem to come with their own mythology, the S. Newell Smith Cottage has been part of the Little Compton landscape for more than a century. Built around 1920, the petite coastal house was one of a pair reportedly built by two local sisters. (A story that its companion was lost in a hurricane persists, though it has never been verified.) More than a century later, the cottage might easily have met a very different fate: a teardown, a much larger house, a fresh start. Instead, it got a second act.
Its owners, who bought it in 2022, have spent years vacationing in Little Compton, and the house represented something they had been working toward for a long time. With a young family – three kids and a dog – and a plan to remodel, the decision to purchase this cottage was as easy as a Sakonnet Sunday morning. “The location was exactly what we always hoped for,” the owners say. From the house, Tappens Beach, the harbor, and Lloyd’s Beach are all within walking distance. The property also takes in two distinctly Little Compton views: Round Pond stretching toward the ocean to the south, and broad lawns rolling toward the harbor to the west.
The house needed some help. It was tired, and while its proportions and traditional beach-cottage character were exactly what the homeowners loved, it wasn’t equipped for family life or the inevitable parade of friends and extended family that comes with a beloved summer house. They hired Milk and Honey Group for the job, in part because Isabella Califano Ehrlich, the founder and principal designer, had designed her own Little Compton home years previously and knew the terrain. Ehrlich says the renovation became an exercise in restraint and ingenuity.
Every room was expected to do more, accommodating the family of five while still making room for guests. The footprint remained essentially intact, but the house gained valuable living space through carefully designed additions. “For us, creating an Ocean State vibe is about embracing the character of the home and allowing the architecture to lead,” says Ashley Machon, the group’s marketing manager. “What a gift it is to give a home new life while still honoring its history and original character.”
The expanded porch is perhaps the best example. Double French doors open onto generous dining and lounging areas, creating an almost seamless transition between inside and out. Upstairs, a second porch extends from the bedrooms. Both were designed to look as though they had been there from the beginning. Inside, the designers took their cues from the coast without resorting to the expected collection of anchors, shells, and navy stripes. Instead: soft, relaxed colors, while layers of pattern and texture subtly tie the rooms together. And then there is the coral. The color makes its first and most dramatic appearance at the front gate, where it pops against the home’s muted sage trim. Ehrlich says the gate was one of her favorite elements of the entire project, and the homeowners get the credit for insisting on a color with some attitude. The same coral appears throughout the house in smaller doses such as lighting, hardware, wallpaper, and accessories. The effect is playful without being kitschy, a nod to the exuberance of old-fashioned summers.
For the family, though, the real design inspiration comes from the place itself. Little Compton has long been their refuge from the pace of everyday life. Their established summer rituals include jumping off docks in the harbor, riding waves at Tappens, and shopping farmstands for produce. “We can feel our blood pressure drop the minute we hit West Main Road,” they say. The result is an historic cottage that has been given room to evolve while keeping its original spirit intact. Here, the architecture does the talking. The design knows when to listen. The house doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t announce that it is a beach house; it simply understands that it is one. And that coral gate? It just happens to have the last word.
Milk and Honey Group specializes in renovation and full-home interior design, emphasizing architectural design. Their passion lies in refreshing older and historic homes – honoring their architectural past while updating them for modern families. The team on this project includes Isabella Califano Ehrlich, founder and principal designer; Brittany Truett, design director; Ashley Machon, marketing manager, and Ali Pothier, studio manager. Learn more at MilkAndHoneyGroup.com.
Bounded on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by the Sakonnet River, on the north by the town of Tiverton, and on the east by the town of Westport, MA, Little Compton is known for its pastoral charm. Family favorites include Wishing Stone Farm for produce and provisions, Sweet and Salty Farm for dairy, and Young Family Farm for flowers. Head over to The Commons to check out newly opened Elsie’s on The Commons, serving breakfast, lunch, and coffee; shop everything from pickles to PJs at Wilbur’s General Store, and sip coffee amidst creativity at The Art Cafe.
Set on 170 acres with water views, the focus at Sakonnet Vineyard is on the guest experience. Stock your wine cellar with their award-winning selections, and make sure your cupboards are lined with their classic “Rooster” stemware. It’s a frequent stop for our homeowners, who find it a relaxing reset. Weekends are filled with events like live music, and this month’s Rhode Race Wine Run on October 17. Learn more at SakonnetWine.com
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