Newport Point Project Reveal

Designed by Moore House Design, Photographed by Zack DeZon

Newport Point Project

As seen in Rue Magazine

There are homes that feel preserved…..And then there are homes that feel understood. Something that I take very seriously here at Moore House Design

This early 1900s residence, tucked within Newport’s Historic Point District, was always the former—but it needed to become the latter.

Set just steps from the harbor and within walking distance of downtown, the home sits in one of Newport’s most coveted neighborhoods for in-town living. What makes The Point so special, however, is not just its proximity, but its protection. The entire district is overseen by a historic preservation committee dedicated to safeguarding the architectural integrity of these homes—a responsibility we take seriously in every decision we make.

Because in a place like this, design isn’t about reinvention. It’s about knowing what to honor, and where to push.

The Clients + The Vision

Our clients, a young family of five already living in Newport, had long admired The Point. When this home became available, they immediately recognized its potential—not just as a house, but as their primary residence for years to come.

The structure offered something rare for downtown living: generous interior square footage paired with a meaningful outdoor space. But like many historic homes, it came with challenges—tight transitions, underutilized areas, and a layout that didn’t fully support modern family life.

Their goals were clear:

create spaces for gathering and everyday living
introduce warmth and personality through vintage and art
rework the primary suite into something expansive and restorative
layer in a sense of ease that would allow the home to evolve with their family

The result is a home that feels distinctly Newport—classic in its bones, but softened, layered, and deeply personal in its expression.

Our Design Approach

The design of this home is rooted in a classic New England sensibility, layered with vintage pieces, custom furniture from ROWEAM, and a thoughtful use of color—most notably a deep, considered Newport blue woven throughout.

Our scope included a full renovation and furnishing of the 3,000-square-foot home, with particular attention given to reworking the flow of the first floor, reimagining the entire second-floor primary suite and introducing custom millwork and furniture to create a more tailored, intentional experience throughout

Completed in just twelve months, YES YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT! From Design to completion this entire project took only 12 months. The project required both precision and decisiveness—from our team and from the clients, who were exceptional collaborators from the beginning.

— THE LIBRARY SNUG —

This is one of my favorite spaces in the home—and one that required the most transformation.

When we first took on the project, the interiors were filled with high-contrast moments: fuchsia walls, zebra patterns, bright whites. The clients were ready for something more grounded, more layered, and more aligned with our Moore House Design sensibility.

The first move was architectural.

We opened the wall to the library, creating a direct visual connection from the entry. Now, when you walk into the home, you’re immediately met with three distinct points of view:

upward toward the staircase
through the central spine of the house
and into the Library Snug itself

It becomes a moment of invitation.

We closed the previous entrance from the living room and fully wrapped the space in rift-sawn white oak millwork, designed in collaboration with Trimworking and Troy City Woodworking. Within that millwork, we integrated:

concealed TV cabinetry
game storage
and a hidden picture rail system that allows the clients to rotate their art collection

The furnishings in this room include vintage pieces from my travels, a custom sofa from ROWEAM, an 18th century wine tasting table, and a brass dome pendant from Atelier de Troupe. The clients have a spectacular art collection, so I specifically wanted an integrated picture rail that would allow them to interchange artwork, creating their very own revolving gallery.

We kept the update intentionally simple, painting the staircase in Farrow & Ball’s Railings and introducing a custom runner in a deep midnight jute to add texture and contrast. To further refine the transition between spaces, we added a glass transom to subtly separate the entry from the living room while still allowing light to pass through.

- Shop The LiBRARY SNUG -

— THE LIVING ROOM —

Not every moment requires reinvention. In the living and dining spaces, we focused on refinement rather than overhaul.

This project was one of our smaller projects so this area we focused on updated the paint and trim details as well as curated the bar area and furnishings. The space is layered with two Bromley sofas from ROWEAM, one seven feet and one six feet, which create a relaxed yet tailored seating arrangement. I specifically wanted the Bromley Sofas because they are slip covered and with a young family I wanted that to be an option for them in the future.

One of the most meaningful moments came during demolition, when we uncovered the home’s original floorboards beneath layers of tile. Rather than discard them, we repurposed the material into a custom dining table from ROWEAM. It’s now one of the most personal pieces in the home—something entirely new, made from something entirely original.

- Shop The Living Room -

— THE HALF BATH —

A Jewel Box Moment just tucked just off the living room, the powder bath was designed to feel like a departure.

The walls are wrapped in Farrow & Ball’s Railings layered with Fayce Tailor grasscloth, creating depth and richness. A custom Acorn vanity from ROWEAM anchors the space, paired with a sculptural Workstead sconce wrapped in matching material.

Small, but intentional—and one of those rooms guests always remember.

- Shop The Half bath -

— THE 2nd FlOOR LIVING ROOM —

This space acts as a quiet transition point along the second-floor pass-through.

We removed the original door to the primary suite and used that footprint to create a large custom built-in, improving both function and flow. The room is layered with a custom sofa, a vintage kilim ottoman, and a Mahal rug from Passerine Home. It’s relaxed, comfortable, and designed for everyday use.

- Shop The 2nd FLOOR LIVING ROOM -

— THE PRIMARY BEDROOM & BATHROOM —

Reworking the primary suite required a complete reconsideration of the second floor.

Historic homes like this are often tall and narrow, with fragmented layouts that don’t support modern living. We relocated entrances, adjusted walls, and restructured circulation to create a suite that feels cohesive and expansive.

The primary bedroom is intentionally restrained—finished in Farrow & Ball’s Mouse’s Back and layered with vintage textiles and a ROWEAM Disc Desk.

But the true focal point is the bath.

A Private Retreat……This is my favorite room in the house.

The goal was to create a space that felt like a quiet escape—something that would offer the clients a moment of calm at the beginning and end of each day.

The bath is visible directly from the bedroom, and we leaned into that relationship—designing it to feel like a private spa.

We collaborated with Sakonnet Furniture Makers on custom white oak vanities, refining the lathe-turned leg detail to feel both traditional and sculptural. The layout includes a double vanity for her and a single for him, with a freestanding tub anchoring the center of the room.

Walls are finished in custom tadelakt, paired with reclaimed limestone flooring sourced from France.Showers are tucked discreetly to either side, softened with inset linen curtains made in Latvia—one of my favorite details—protected behind glass partitions to balance function and beauty.

Even the window required collaboration with the historic preservation committee, resulting in a true divided-light wood window with ogee muntins.

It’s a space that feels considered from every angle—and entirely its own.

- Shop The PRIMARY BEDROOM & BATH -

— THE LITTLEST ROOM —

A Kids room is all about playful fun that evokes a sense of curiosity for me. I love this room because, although the house was meant to feel simple, it still allows space for the kids to grow up and be playful. A pop of blue for the bunks is layered with simple patterns, the clients’ beautiful pine dresser, and a few fun lighting moments by In Common With.

- Shop The littlest room -

— THE AU PAIR BEDROOM & BATHROOM —

Keeping this room simple, we focused on function and comfort. This space already had a small kitchenette but the layout really left something to be desired. We worked to create a simple yet effective space for the au pair. We designed a custom bed with ROWEAM to anchor the room, then integrated a compact kitchenette with a small window seat, sink, refrigerator, and double burner. One of our favorite details is the piping on the bed, a subtle but intentional touch that adds refinement and character to the space.

A Note on Process

One of the biggest lessons in this project came in the final stages—during wallpaper installation in the powder bath.

Working with highly specialized materials like untrimmed grasscloth requires precision and oversight, and it reinforced something we always believe:
the smallest details require the greatest attention.