SLIDE SHOW: Bernstrom Home in Middletown, RI

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12065.jpg

  The exterior of the home lit up at night. The homeowners transformed the 1980s home devoid of charm into a shingle style cottage. They covered the exterior with untreated red-cedar shingles that will weather to a silvery gray.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12066.jpg

  The kitchen's sliding pantry door is another reclaimed from a turn-of-the-20th-century barn in Maine by family friend Jeff Soderbergh.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12067.jpg

  Maaike and Erik in their kitchen. The kitchen island is a reclaimed piece by Stephen Staples of Plainville, Massachusetts.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12068.jpg

  The homeowners' dog Maggie dozes in the sun filled dining room.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12069.jpg

  The dining room table is another reclaimed piece crafted by Jeff Soderbergh using 1700s-vintage pine from the Vanderbilt stable in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12070.jpg

  The living room is full of natural light thanks to the addition and replacement of multiple windows during the renovation process. Erik's grandfather, who was ahead of his time, used reclaimed floors from France to create the coffee table in the heart of the sitting area.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12071.jpg

  The sleek mirror was crafted by artist friend, Brian Schopfer, who is the caretaker at Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The wood came from wine-stained oak barrels.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12072.jpg

  The Swedish writing desk was passed down to Erik from his paternal grandfather. The painting above depicts a boat once captained by his maternal grandfather.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12073.jpg

  The guest room is a bright space with sweet embroidered pillows on the bed.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

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  An antique wardrobe holds extra linens in the guest bedroom.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12075.jpg

  The master bedroom. The blue egg pillow was created by Rhode Island artist Ashley Van Etten.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12076.jpg

  The Bernstroms found this antique dresser from the 1900s in Wickford, Rhode Island. The names of several Rhode Island towns including Wickford, Jamestown and Newport (not visible) appear on the drawer fronts.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12077.jpg

  The bathroom has a pedestal sink and both bathrooms feature ceramic tile accents.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12078.jpg

  Custom-made ceramic fish tiles decorate both the guest and master bathrooms. They were created by Pat Warwick of Warren, Rhode Island.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12080.jpg

  Second Beach near the couples home offers plenty of winter surfing opportunities for Erik. St. George's School's chapel appears in the distance.

  

• Photo/Art by Nat Rea

  http://www.yankeemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy_cms_images/12081.jpg

  Erik and Maaike take a stroll along the tree-lined road with their rescued dogs, Willy and Maggie. They both fell in love with the area long before they happened upon their current home.

  

Maaike and Erik Bernstrom found the home of their dreams in Middletown, Rhode Island. Or, rather, they found the house that would become the home of their dreams through hard work and perserverance. Take a visual tour of their 1980s contemporary house turned shingled country cottage.

See more work by photographer Nat Rea: http://www.natrea.com
See more work by stylist Angel Tucker: http://www.angeltucker.com