REAL-ESTATE

Elegant Victorian overlooks Mount Hope Bay

Christine Dunn
cdunn@providencejournal.com

TIVERTON — When Sally Rodriguez bought the historic Mercy Grinnell House at 1616 Main Rd. five years ago, she was ready for a challenge, or, as she put it, a project "that could keep me engaged."

She knew the c. 1890 Victorian in the Stonebridge neighborhood, located on rising ground overlooking Mount Hope Bay, needed lots of work. Rodriguez works in the medical devices division of Johnson & Johnson in Raynham, Mass. She said she was drawn to Tiverton because it reminds her of the way the South Shore of Massachusetts used to be.

Rodriguez, a biostatistician, methodically started her renovation project with exterior improvements and worked her way inside to add new mechanicals, build a luxury cook's kitchen, and renovate the bathrooms. Today, the home also has a new roof and a new 10-zone, high-efficiency gas heating system.

In addition to painting, the exterior repairs included the gutters and much of the cedar siding. In the basement, two coats of stucco were added to the interior walls. The private, lush backyard is also located on rising ground. Rodriguez said she enjoys the harvest of blueberries from the garden.

The three-story house has five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bathroom and 3,622 square feet of living space. The third floor, formerly used as guest rooms and live-in maid quarters, has not been restored.

There is an elegant front entrance facing the water, with steps leading up to the front door, which is framed by a set of decorative porch areas. There is also a larger side porch entrance near the parking area.

This side entrance leads to the open-design family room and gourmet kitchen. A large, half-circle, two-level granite-topped island separates the kitchen work area from the family room. There is seating for four at the upper level of the island, and ample work space in the lower level.

Rodriguez said there used to be a wall separating the two spaces but that was removed during the renovation. Most of the original floors have been refinished, but in the kitchen, new flooring was installed.

The kitchen also features a Wolf gas range, topped by a large hood. Glazed white subway tiles were used as the backsplash. A built-in desk/work area is in one corner of the kitchen.  

The first floor also includes a roomy double parlor. The double front doors, which have etched glass inserts, open to the center hallway and the front staircase. There is also a back staircase off the kitchen and mudroom, and a spacious formal dining room.

Upstairs, the bedrooms have been painted in soft neutral colors, and the bathrooms are updated and fresh. One features a compact ladyslipper-style clawfoot bathtub. The spacious master suite, above the double parlor, includes an area that could be customized to expand the closet space, or provide room for a mini office or sitting room. It connects to the renovated master bathroom.

The house at 1616 Main Road, Tiverton, is priced at $759,000. Real-estate taxes are $10,364. For more information, contact Carol Guimond at Century 21 Topsail, (401) 418-0462.

— cdunn@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7913

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