8 Rhode Island Shingle Cottages With Salt-And-Sun Patina
Along Rhode Island’s jagged coastline, shingle cottages stand as silent witnesses to generations of salty breezes and summer sunshine. These architectural treasures develop a unique silver-gray patina over time that can’t be bought or rushed; only earned through years of coastal exposure. I’ve fallen head over heels for these weathered beauties and can’t wait to show you my favorite examples of nature’s most perfect weathering process.
1. The Seaside Sentinel of Watch Hill
Perched dramatically on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic, this 1880s grand dame wears her age like a badge of honor! The three-story cottage features shingles so perfectly silvered they almost shimmer in the sunset light.
I stumbled upon this beauty during a weekend getaway and couldn’t stop photographing its weathered texture. The original owner was a Boston shipping magnate who wanted his summer home to eventually match the color of his beloved sailboats.
Fun fact: locals say the cottage’s distinctive widow’s walk was added after the Hurricane of 1938 nearly swept the entire structure out to sea!
2. Newport’s Hidden Harbor Gem
Tucked between mansions on Ocean Drive sits this understated single-story charmer that could easily be mistaken for driftwood from a distance. Unlike its flashier neighbors, this 1920s fishing cottage embraces simplicity with hand-split cedar shakes that have faded to the most extraordinary pewter shade.
The current owners (bless their preservation-minded hearts) have refused to power-wash or stain the exterior despite neighborhood pressure. Instead, they’ve highlighted the natural patina by planting purple hydrangeas that pop against the silvery backdrop.
My favorite detail? The slightly crooked chimney that looks like it’s telling stories about nor’easters past.
3. Narragansett’s Curve-Roofed Wonder
Holy architectural eye-candy! This Narragansett stunner features a dramatically curved roof that mimics the rolling waves visible from its wraparound porch. Built in 1905 by a sea captain with an artistic streak, the cottage’s shingles have developed varying shades of patina; darker gray near the roofline, silvery-taupe at the base.
What makes this place extra special is how the owners have embraced the weathering process. Rather than fighting coastal elements, they’ve documented the color changes photographically over 25 years.
Would you believe they hold an annual “Patina Party” each August to celebrate another year of nature’s artistry? I’ve crashed it twice; don’t tell!
4. Jamestown’s Diamond-Patterned Treasure
Someone had serious design vision when creating this Jamestown jewel! The cottage features alternating diamond-patterned shingles that have weathered unevenly, creating a mesmerizing checkerboard effect across the facade.
During my visit last summer, the owner (a delightful 80-year-old former boat builder) explained how his grandfather hand-cut each shingle in 1897. Apparently, he used two slightly different cedar varieties, which explains the distinctive weathering pattern that emerges after decades of salt spray.
The copper gutters have developed a matching verdigris that perfectly complements the silvered wood. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve considered scrapping my city apartment to live in something half as characterful!
5. Block Island’s Wave-Battered Beauty
Surviving over a century of Atlantic tantrums is no small feat! This sturdy cottage sits barely 50 yards from the surf line on Block Island’s windward side, wearing what locals call “the perfect storm patina”; a uniquely striated pattern where wind-driven rain has created horizontal silver streaks across the facade.
The original shingles date back to 1876 and have thinned to almost paper-width in some spots. Yet somehow they hold fast!
My architect friend nearly fainted when she saw the hand-hewn oak frame that’s kept this place standing through countless nor’easters. The current owner maintains a delightful tradition of adding one new shingle each spring, creating a fascinating timeline of weathering stages.
6. Little Compton’s Farmhouse-Style Charmer
Marriage of farmhouse functionality and coastal charm? Yes please! This Little Compton darling combines practical New England farmhouse design with weathered shingle beauty. The massive central chimney (rumored to contain bricks ballasted over from England) anchors a perfectly proportioned structure wrapped entirely in cedar that’s silvered to a soft platinum hue.
Unlike many coastal cottages, this one sits slightly inland, creating a more subtle weathering pattern that lacks the dramatic striations of direct oceanfront properties. Instead, it’s achieved a remarkably even patina that glows almost luminously at dusk.
The owner shared that his family has never once treated the exterior in 137 years; now that’s commitment to the natural aging process!
7. Wickford’s Harborside Time Capsule
Color me obsessed with this petite harborfront gem in historic Wickford Village! Barely 800 square feet of perfection, this former boat builder’s workshop dates to 1850 and features unusually small shingles that create a scale-like appearance.
The northeastern exposure has resulted in a fascinating color variation; the harbor-facing side has developed a deeper graphite tone while the street-facing facade maintains a lighter silver-gray. Brass hardware throughout has developed a complementary patina that makes the whole cottage feel like a living history exhibit.
During king tides, water occasionally laps at the foundation, adding minerals that have created a distinctive dark band along the lower shingles. Pure weathered perfection!
8. Saunderstown’s Octagonal Oddity
Architectural rebels, rejoice! This unconventional eight-sided cottage breaks all the rules while achieving patina perfection. Built in 1915 by an eccentric mathematics professor, the structure features a progressive weathering pattern that spirals clockwise from dark charcoal to silvery pearl.
How is this possible? The clever builder installed the shingles in eight different months over a year, allowing each section to begin its weathering journey at different times. A century later, the effect is subtly mesmerizing.
The current owners have enhanced the natural patina by installing antique blue glass windows that cast otherworldly reflections on the weathered wood during sunset. I’ve shamelessly added this to my lottery-win dream home list!
