Plans
The project home is located Narragansett, RI, in a neighborhood known as Anawan Cliffs. The neighborhood is part of an association that owns private beaches, association land and a large expanse of coastline with its own "Cliff Walk" that provides each homeowner with deeded walking rights along a one plus mile path along the coast. The original house was built in 1978. Never actually finished, the home was a Tudor-style colonial complete with the cream stucco and dark brown trim. The house was infested with mold, critters (small and large) and significant water damage. When inspected, the house was determined to have no sheathing, but managed (barely) to stand for four decades with a Dryvit exterior attached to 2x4 framing. You could poke a stick through the wall if you pushed hard enough. With windows deteriorated from years of coastal storms, neglect and moisture seepage and a basement with a significant water problem, the house had been penetrated with mold throughout the walls and most of the remaining plasterboard. With sections of the house completely unfinished including the living room, the house was deemed unsalvageable. The original home was demolished after core materials such as cabinets, doors, tile, woodstoves, fixtures and copper pipes were salvaged along with a few of the huge rhododendrons replanted, in August 2008.

The new plans, which took over two years from first drawings to completion, include hands on and personal design creations from the homeowners and were implemented by local architect Laura D. Krekorian. Taking into consideration everything from environmental impact on the land to its orientation to sun, snow and rain, the home will be a demonstration in site stewardship, best green building practices, building durability, sustainable materials and eco-smart construction techniques that can be applied by other home builders for the benefit of future homeowners. The project will also be a green showcase in system integration incorporating critical elements of today's home such as energy efficiency, indoor-air quality, security/safety, connected networks, home control as well as entertainment technologies and environmentally preferable products.

The Green Life Smart Life project will be a design native to the New England landscape. A shingled cottage style home, every room was designed to maximize the ocean view while creating space that was warm on details but not "overdone". The family needed every room to be everyday living space. Forgoing formal dining rooms and living rooms for a larger kitchen with an adjoining eating area and large media room, the home's first floor has been created to be the family hub. With a cook's kitchen stocked with fare from local farms and organic goods plus favorite vintages pulled from the wine cellar, family gatherings will be incredibly inviting.

With well thought out details such as a charging station, kids storage cubbies, laundry chute, built-in bookcases and working pantry all built with FSC certified wood by a local master carpenter, the home squeezes a lot into its reasonable footprint. With four full bedroom suites including the first floor guest suite tucked off for relatives, the project will provide extensive opportunities to showcase technology and green living in one family's life.