Seriugam: A Shingle-Style Waterfront Cottage on Prudence Island

Joel and Jane Maguire spent two years cruising the New England coast aboard their 36-foot trawler, searching for the perfect waterfront home site. A classified ad in Soundings Magazine in 1998 led them to Prudence Island, Rhode Island — an island reachable only by private boat or the ferry from Bristol. They arrived on a 10 a.m. ferry, fell in love with the island, and had a signed agreement to buy a lot before leaving at 4 p.m.

Location and Setting

Seriugam sits on a high, wooded parcel with private beach frontage on the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. The lot is framed by protected conservation land on one side and the ocean on the other, offering privacy, natural views and a literal walk-down path to the ever-changing shoreline. Prudence Island is a quiet, roughly 5.5-square-mile oasis halfway between Providence and Newport, with about 80 percent of the island preserved as conservation land. Some 80 residents live on the island year-round, with the population growing to about 1,000 in summer months.

Architectural Style and Outdoor Living

Designed by a local architect and built by a regional contractor to reflect classic New England coastal charm, Seriugam is a shingle-style cottage that blends traditional details with modern conveniences. The house features a broad west-facing front porch that captures afternoon light and sunsets over the water. Three sets of French doors connect the porch and stone patio to the main living area, allowing indoor-outdoor living and easy entertaining.

Interior Layout and Living Spaces

Inside, the great room is a standout — fir floors, a two-story beamed cathedral ceiling and a dramatic stone fireplace with propane heat that anchors the south wall. The fireplace stretches up to the beams and creates a warm focal point for gatherings. Built-in cabinets conceal an elevating television, keeping the room’s aesthetic clean when the TV is not in use. A bookcase-lined library nook with a window seat overlooks the surrounding conservation woods, providing a quiet spot for reading or working.

Jane Maguire, a psychotherapist, specified a kitchen tailored for both everyday life and entertaining: a gas range with an Italian tile surround, a convection/microwave oven, a pantry, a pass-through to the dining area and a sunny breakfast nook by a bay window. The large dining table in the great room is used for celebrations and family meals, while the kitchen nook serves more casual dining needs.

Bedrooms and Amenities

The three-bedroom, two-bath cottage includes a master suite on the home’s north end with a 16-foot beamed cathedral ceiling, two closets, and direct access to the front porch through a sliding glass door, plus a private rear deck. The master bath offers a jetted tub and a multi-head shower.

Additional interior spaces include a bookcase-lined office, closets and a workshop. A distinctive feature of this home is an exercise area with a heated indoor lap pool and an electric sauna; glass doors in this space open to a rear porch that accommodates a hot tub, creating a private wellness retreat within the home.

Upper Level and Views

Upstairs, a skylit family room at the head of the stairs provides flexible space for games and recreation — it is large enough for a pool table and includes a triangular window that looks down into the great room. Sliders from the family room open to a guest bedroom with a wall of waterfront windows that bring in natural light and bay views.

Systems, Utilities and Off-Grid Capability

Seriugam is equipped for reliability and comfort. The house uses oil-fired three-zone radiant heat for efficient winter warmth, a built-in vacuum system, and whole-house water filtration and purification. The property is served by a private well and septic system. For energy resilience, the Maguires installed a computer-controlled whole-house generator and maintain 900 gallons of propane to supply the range, fireplace and backup power, allowing extended off-grid living when needed.

Annual property taxes are approximately $8,000. The combination of a private beach, conservation surroundings, strong mechanical systems and thoughtful interior design make this property a distinctive island residence.

Sale and Contact

After 15 years in the home they built and loved, the Maguires are now downsizing to be closer to family. Their 4,000-square-foot, two-story house with indoor lap pool and waterfront lot is offered for sale for $975,000. For more information, the Maguires have made details available through their listing site and by email at [email protected].

April 2015 issue