Built in 1930, a shingled seaside cottage and its sprawling gardens in Little Compton, Rhode Island had seen better days by the time Dara and Dan Brewster bought the property in 2000.
Built in 1930, a shingled seaside cottage and its sprawling gardens in Little Compton, Rhode Island had seen better days by the time Dara and Dan Brewster bought the property in 2000.
Photography by Nathan Fried Lipski of Nate Photography.
Photography by Nathan Fried Lipski of Nate Photography.
The Brewsters (owners of online shop Dara Artisans) have–with the help of friends and family–tamed the wisteria, trained roses to grow over the front door, created a kitchen garden, and built terraces and retaining walls with local stone on the property’s six acres.
The Brewsters (owners of online shop Dara Artisans) have–with the help of friends and family–tamed the wisteria, trained roses to grow over the front door, created a kitchen garden, and built terraces and retaining walls with local stone on the property’s six acres.
The Brewsters live on Sakonnet Point, with views of the sea and Newport, Rhode Island.
The Brewsters live on Sakonnet Point, with views of the sea and Newport, Rhode Island.
The driveway is bordered by hydrangea hedges.
The driveway is bordered by hydrangea hedges.
Roses grow over the front entryway.
Roses grow over the front entryway.
The major challenge in creating the seaside garden was to choose plants that would prove impervious to salt, sea spray, and wind.
The major challenge in creating the seaside garden was to choose plants that would prove impervious to salt, sea spray, and wind.
Dan Brewster and his son, Graham, 26, built the dry-stone retaining walls.
Dan Brewster and his son, Graham, 26, built the dry-stone retaining walls.
An exuberant morning glory vine climbs a lamppost.
An exuberant morning glory vine climbs a lamppost.
Hydrangeas stand guard over the sunflowers.
Hydrangeas stand guard over the sunflowers.
The Brewsters have two perennial gardens, a kitchen garden (with four raised beds), and a naturalized garden along the perimeter of the property.
The Brewsters have two perennial gardens, a kitchen garden (with four raised beds), and a naturalized garden along the perimeter of the property.
Purple and white phlox in full summer bloom.
Purple and white phlox in full summer bloom.
A butterfly magnet, spiky white liatris will reach heights of up to 4 feet in the summer garden.
A butterfly magnet, spiky white liatris will reach heights of up to 4 feet in the summer garden.
Raspberries begin to ripen.
Raspberries begin to ripen.
Dara Brewster (L) and potted container plants.
Dara Brewster (L) and potted container plants.
An outdoor room for gatherings and dinners is sheltered from the sea.
An outdoor room for gatherings and dinners is sheltered from the sea.
The outdoor dining room is original to the property.
The outdoor dining room is original to the property.
Shutters get replaced every five to seven years after the wood succumbs to the effects of the harsh salt air.
Shutters get replaced every five to seven years after the wood succumbs to the effects of the harsh salt air.
A late-afternoon view of the gardens and the sea.
A late-afternoon view of the gardens and the sea.
