Find Coastal Comfort in This Charlestown Abode

The formal den has spectacular views of Foster Cove. Photography by Elaine Fredrick

Although the spacious home overlooking Charlestown’s Foster Cove has a contemporary feel — it was built in 1988, after all — a glance inside offers a sense of an earlier time and place, with its soaring ceilings and post-and-beam elements. 

It was those glorious bones that designer Kim Valente wanted to preserve while helping the owners give their summer home a coastal and beachy feel. 

The first floor features post-and-beam construction. Photography by Elaine Fredrick. Photography by Elaine Fredrick

“One of the first questions they had for me was, ‘What should we do with the beams?’” says Valente, founder and principal designer at Brick & Beam Studio in Ashaway. “I suggested keeping them, because the wood is really beautiful and really warm in this space.”

The owners purchased the property as a summer home in 2020 and contacted Valente that November, seeking to redo the space in a coastal vibe that could withstand frequent guests and their beloved pets. With that in mind, Valente opted for performance fabrics on the upholstery and durable wool runners on the staircases so the pups wouldn’t slide and lose their footing.

The home’s main color inspiration comes from a circular rug in the center of the dining area: The soft corals and tones of periwinkle and cobalt are used throughout the expansive first-floor area, pulling all the rooms together. 

They tackled the trickiest part first — how to divide the living area from the dining area in such an open space. Valente showed the couple different layout options to try to figure out what made sense for them. 

“A lot of homeowners struggle when there are no walls to put their furniture against,” Valente says. “They go, ‘I like the open concept, but I don’t know how to lay it out.’”

designer Kim Valente of Brick & Beam Studio. Photography by Elaine Fredrick

The owners went with a rounded sectional that gives the living area an intimate feel, with a dark wood console
dividing the space that has little drawers for storage and rattan pieces that echo the kitchen’s barstools and the patio’s decorative elements. 

The striking den is all drama, with peerless views of the cove through soaring windows and an oversized fireplace set with varying sizes of blue-and-white pottery. But still, there’s an air of comfort in the soft fabrics, plush cushions and throw blankets nestled throughout the room. 

A lustrous cream and cobalt palette is pulled through from the formal den. Photography by Elaine Fredrick

An enclosed patio just off the living room has plenty of extra space for entertaining, for relaxing and playing cards or just enjoying the ocean breezes. A pine table left behind by the previous owners was done in a soft cream finish to match the surrounding decor. 

Handcrafted pieces from Etsy, finds from West Elm and colorful artwork — including a nautical landscape by local artist Jeanette Vertentes — round out the space, along with plenty of greenery. The project was finished in the summer of 2021.

They’ve kept in touch with Valente, however, looking to add little things here and there, like a chair in one of the bedrooms and other small touches. 

“We love when clients do that — it’s such a nice continuation of the relationship,” she says. “We already know what they like, so it’s really easy to say, ‘Sure, here’s an option.’” 

The enclosed patio. Photography by Elaine Fredrick