Salt Marsh House Art Barn

Salt Marsh House Art Barn

Located on the marshes of Narragansett Bay, this newly constructed 1,700-square-foot “Art Barn” sits adjacent to the Salt Marsh House. Designed in accordance with the requirements of the Newport Historic District Commission, the structure was conceived to complement—rather than replicate—the old English character of the primary residence (circa 1905), while introducing a distinctly contemporary expression.

The Art Barn functions both as a gallery for the owner’s eclectic art collection and as a private living space, incorporating a primary bedroom within its compact footprint. Embracing a modern rustic aesthetic, the building is composed of stucco exterior walls, wainey board siding, and a taper-sawn red cedar shingle roof, balancing simplicity with tactile richness.

Generous 10-foot-tall pocket doors open fully to the landscape, dissolving the boundary between interior and marsh and allowing natural light to animate the double-height volume. A stained and etched concrete slab floor anchors the space, while carefully integrated interior elements—including expansive wall surfaces, custom lighting, and tailored shelving—are designed specifically to showcase the artwork.

A cathedral ceiling enhances the vertical scale of the interior, allowing a second-floor balcony bedroom to overlook the gallery below, reinforcing the dialogue between living space and curated art environment.

Photography: Warren Jagger
Featured In: Athome in Fairfield County, Luxury Home Quarterly
Recognition: Athome A-List Finalist