Rhode Island’s home style preferences are experiencing a major shift.  Smaller homes with authentic period design are rapidly gaining favor over the larger properties favored a decade ago. Buyers want new-old homes that look historic on the outside but contain open spaces, walk-in closets, cooks’ kitchens and high efficiency mechanicals on the inside.

21 Mia Court on the Exeter / North Kingstown line is such a home. Completed in 2008 by former historic home owners, this jewel of a house incorporates all the things they loved about their historic farm house in Charlestown.  Wide plank pine floors, exposed beams, hand hewn doors, forged iron hardware and a huge fireplace with beehive oven are classic American Colonial elements.  The arrangement of these elements, however, is as modern as can be with an open floor plan, first floor master suite, large eat in kitchen and soapstone center island.

Old New Home Trends

Little did they know design trends in 2014 would validate their concept for 21 Mia Court.  High-end builders, architects and designers are moving toward authentic designs that are true to their period – no more mixing farmers porches with Palladian windows – purity of style is the design objective now.

Form, Function & Location

On the outside, it’s hard to tell this is a new house – even the setting among vintage stone walls, walking paths and woods is reminiscent of Colonial Rhode Island.  The location, on the other hand, is all 21st century – just 5 minutes to Kingston’s train station, 30 minutes to Providence and 20 minutes to T.F. Green.

It’s not easy to get this combination of old and new right.  Purists have been know to take extensive measurements of antique homes to reproduce the proportions exactly.  Indeed, these owners took several years to select all the materials and plan every inch of space before a contractor set foot on the property. Proportion and scale are the name of the game, and this little house is exactly right.