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Exquisite Restoration Showcases M Newport Mansion in Vintage Glory

When we envision a home remodel these days, our minds immediately go to the camera-friendly confines of “Fixer Upper.” You know, the well-worn formula of transforming a ho-hum house with shiplap and subway tile.

However, the owners of this shingle-style Queen Anne, currently on the market in Newport, RI, for $2 million, went far beyond a cosmetic face-lift.

“This home was restored rather than renovated,” says listing agent Kate Leonard.

The owners, who purchased the place as a vacation home in 1994, “spent years bringing it back from a terrible four-unit to the absolute original,” says Leonard. “They were exquisite with what they did, because they were trying to keep the integrity of the house.” 

A historic property expert helped the owners select paint colors, light fixtures, sconces, and even doors that were accurate for the time it was built, in 1881.

Paperwork has been submitted for the property to be considered for the National Register of Historic Places.

Walk in and you’ll be transported back to the era of custom craftsmanship and architecture from Clarence S. Luce, known for his sunflower house in Boston, and other residential designs in the city. Originally built for a woman named Letitia B. Sargent as a summer residence, the home measures 4,805 square feet and has seven beds and 5.5 baths.

Original details include stained-glass windows, custom woodwork, an ornate staircase, chandeliers, and multiple fireplaces. The main level features large public rooms with high ceilings, including a sitting room, family room adjacent to the kitchen, casual eating area, formal living and dining rooms, a den, and sunroom.

The bathrooms and kitchens have been modernized and the bedrooms are en suite—but all the modern touches blend well with the home’s vintage elements. There’s also a large deck, grassy yard, and three-car garage.

The huge home is located “in town,” says Leonard, and within walking distance to shops and restaurants. 

The exterior is notable for its re-creation of the original cladding: a combination of wood trim, shingles, and stucco.

With so much space, there is an option to convert the property into a bed-and-breakfast, if the zoning board approves. A 1,200-square-foot top floor could be turned into an innkeeper’s apartment, with guests staying on the second floor. It’s certainly a tempting option for the next stewards of this historic home.

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