I
t’s not difficult to
understand why people are willing to
drive a little farther for groceries or gas
in order to call South County home: It’s
a lovely place — shoreline, estuaries,
forests and neighborhoods with a community feel.
“It’s a great place to raise kids,” says
this working mother of three. Immediately upon moving to South County
seven years ago, she and her husband
knew they wanted to stay and, more
specifically, on which street they
wanted to live. After a few years of
waiting patiently in a home but a
stone’s throw from where they wanted
to be, the perfect plot of land went on
the market. With the land they wanted
on the street they loved, it was time
to get down to the business of building.
The couple wanted a house that
complemented the rural landscape, but
rustic? Not exactly. Something more
refined — a touch more modern — was
more their speed.
They found Meridian Design Build
by happenstance — a bit of online
browsing one day and there it was, a
design/build firm that was equipped to
guide clients through the entire
building process, from financing to
In keeping with the client’s request for a modern take on a farmhouse, the attached
garage assumes the look of a barn. Tapered columns along the porch are reminiscent
of arts and crafts style architecture; the standing seam roof over the porch, front entry
and a second-floor window keep the exterior decidedly modern.
finish work. In addition to the firm’s
all-inclusive approach, what sealed the
deal for her and her husband was
seeing Meridian’s work first-hand. “We
viewed a couple of houses they had
done and we knew they were
capable of the quality we
expected,” she says.
Alex and Rod Mitchell,
owners of Providence-based
Meridian Design Build, say
private showings of real
homes demonstrate Meridian’s craftsmanship and get
clients’ wheels spinning.
Walking through a floor plan
rather than seeing it on
paper can help them realize
what will and what won’t
meet their needs. Ultimately,
every home is as individual
as its owner. This couple
wanted a modern farmhouse? Sure.
The exterior is clean and simple —
architectural details, such as the
standing seam roof over the entry
doors, stonework and tapered columns
on the porch, add interest. Inside,
seven-inch plank oak floors carry
warmth throughout the open plan.
The kitchen is grand in both size and
impression — incredible custom cabinetry painted white and gray stretches from the floor to the soaring ceilings,
bianco carrera marble counters and
seeded glass pendants over the island
do the space justice. In every room,
both large and small, there is a balance
between rustic simplicity and modern
minimalism. Even the first floor
powder room, featuring bold pink and
silver brocade wallpaper, is juxtaposed
with a farm table sink stand and a
beaded pendant light.
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