In an extraordinarily short eleven months Parker Construction completed the Birdhouse, a brand new Newport estate, overlooking the Aquidneck coastline. The property includes a sweeping sixteen thousand square foot shingle-style main house, matching carriage house, and exquisite landscaping.

The particularly tight schedule dictated that construction continue unabated through the winter; to accommodate this, the entire site had to be tented for the cold and snowy months. Inside what became known as the Igloo the Birdhouse rapidly began to take shape. Throughout the project, work began in the very early hours and continued late into the night as subcontractors from numerous and often disparate trades worked in close proximity so that construction could finish on time. Parker Construction managed every aspect of the project, overseeing continuous construction on site and working closely with the design team.

From the outside the Birdhouse looks ever the traditional New England home but inside this traditional style mixes with the singular tastes of its owner. Indeed avian details throughout the house illustrate that the Birdhouse is in fact well-named; perhaps most prominent are the faux roosts gilding the segmented wood cathedral ceiling of the breakfast room. Outside, a large custom birdhouse – itself a scaled replica of the main house, complete with wood shingles – sits in the wet meadow.

Of particular note is the Wicker Room; the recreation of a barn interior, in this open living room wood set in geometric patterns adorns all surfaces, the only exception: a full-height stone fireplace with step shelves to hold burning candles. Wicker furniture is carefully arranged throughout the space and a folding door system opens to the outdoor patio. 

The first floor is also home to a large kitchen with soapstone countertops, painted millwork, and cathedral glass doors. On the other side of the building, the master suite includes a custom closet, sitting area, and office. The front stair boasts waved balusters, a nod to the Atlantic views prominent in many areas of the home. The home’s windows are all custom, imported from Germany.

Downstairs in the basement the home’s extensive mechanical systems illustrate that the Birdhouse is a truly modern home, complete with elevator and a sophisticated audio visual system. The property’s heating and cooling needs are supplied by a geothermal system fed by a number of underground wells drilled during construction.

 

The grounds have been completely landscaped with uncut meadow grass surrounding the new duck pond. Out back the exterior patio opens from Nanawall system and includes heated terrace stone and a fireplace, making the home ideal for social gatherings.