Bright Ideas

While Liz Newton and Seth Goldenberg relished life in Providence, the two started to rethink age old city vs. country debate when their now-two-year-old son Eli started taking his first steps. “Part of why we wanted to move to Jamestown was to have green space to roam around,” says Goldenberg, a RISD grad. Describing their abode in the West Ferry neighborhood an “optimistic and creative environment,” it’s safe to say the family is thriving in their new surroundings. “It’s been a delight,” he says.

It’s hard not to fall for the quality of life afforded in Jamestown, which encompasses all 9.7 square miles of Conanicut Island. Natural beauty abounds with cerulean-hued coves, acres of state parkland, bucolic farms and sweeping ocean vistas, while a quaint traditional village with shops, restaurants and galleries are reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell piece – only the buildings predate the 20th century painter’s works. “I think Jamestown is one of the last remaining gems in New England, the fact that it is virtually not commercialized,” Goldenberg says. “We compare it to Moonrise Kingdom.” It’s an appropriate comparison considering much of the Wes Anderson film was shot in and around the island.

In addition to the surrounding great outdoors, one of the many facets that first attracted Newton and Goldenberg to the home was that it was a blank canvas. “It was an opportunity for us to make it ours,” explains Goldenberg, adding that their previous townhouse in the Renaissance City was significantly smaller. “We moved there to consolidate our business and family life,” he says. The couple has since dubbed what has become their creative compound “The Ideas House,” an appropriate name for what has become ground zero for the Goldenberg design innovation think-tank. One of the programs of his business is creating “The IDEAS salon,” where executives can come together and be inspired to challenge their way of thinking, be inspired and craft fresh, ground-breaking ideas. But first, the couple sought to design the parlor where the magic could unfold. They turned to Janelle Photopoulos of Fresh Nest Color & Design in nearby Saunderstown to execute their vision.

“When Seth and Liz first approached me about designing the parlor, they desired a space that met their functional need as much as their aesthetic one,” Photopoulos explains. The designer had her work cut out for her. While the parlor is the largest room in the home, its excessively high ceilings, expansive 23’ span of floor to ceiling windows along one wall and ample square footage combine to create a cavernous feel. While the open space needed to be preserved for gatherings up to 20, Photopoulos also had to fashion multiple seating groups for smaller one-on-one conversations. “They looked to me to help the room take on a more intimate feel while addressing the needs of their entertaining lifestyle,” she says. One of her many design solutions was using a 95” long cocktail bench to allow for maximum seating flexibility. “Benches are great because they can be used to break up a larger space and serve two separate seating areas at once,” she explains.

As art and color categorically correlate with creativity, Photopoulos methodically chose to leave the walls as a blank canvas and infuse splashes of color via artwork and accessories. “I strategically placed pops of color so the room felt well balanced but wouldn’t overwhelm the art,” she says. “Due to the red-orange tones of the cherry hardwoods, I recommended an analogous color scheme of blues and greens that would naturally work well with the fixed hues in the space.”

Photopoulos chose bold pieces including a pair of vivid green leather salon corner chairs, two ottomans with a blue and green pattern of fanciful medallions and head-turning modern throw pillows. Though the design wows, there’s something else that inevitably takes center stage: the view. “While one would naturally use fabric to achieve the goal of making a space feel more intimate, we didn’t dare cover up the beautiful view,” she explains. “In fact, it would have gone against everything Seth and Liz stand for. They love the charm of classic and vintage pieces, but they prefer the clean lines of a modern aesthetic. Curtains would not have been the thing to do in this case.”

Now completed, the parlor is as successful as the business leaders who gather there. Though Goldenberg calls the process a collaboration, he is clear that Photopoulos did a yeoman’s job designing critical spaces. “She had a lot of freedom,” he says. “I give her a lot of credit for having the vision.”

Though the parlor is dedicated to the IDEAs collective, other spaces in the home hint at the family’s whimsical side. The open kitchen juxtaposes natural wood cabinetry with stainless steel appliances and hardware - all of which is anchored by a wall color reminiscent of a Granny Smith apple. Eli’s penchant for the children’s book Where the Wild Things Are is apparent and there’s another space coming together that personifies the couple’s commitment to living in an “optimistic and creative environment.” It’s called the Superhero Room, and it’s where Goldenberg says the trio is spending much of their time these days. “It’s a family and conference room, and Eli has a lot of his toys there,” he says. Designed with Goldenberg’ collection of historic comic book posters, it’s also a place, albeit an unexpected one, for the corporate bigwigs to strategize how to face their biggest challenges. Reveals Goldenberg, “It takes a team of superheroes to take them on!”