Specialization
The hardest lots in Southern New England are the ones worth living on.
Waterfront and historic properties come with the most rules, which is exactly why we built the studio around them. We handle every regulatory hurdle so you can focus on the excitement of creating your home, on a schedule that accounts for the approvals from day one.
Own a historic home you actually want to live in.
You bought the house for its character. You should not have to give up light, flow, or a modern kitchen to keep it. We design and build the whole renovation under one roof, so the preservation approvals, the structural work and the finishes are all one team's responsibility. You are never the referee between an architect and a contractor.
What You Keep, What You Gain
Harmonizing Period Charm with Contemporary Living.
When undertaking a historic renovation, the challenge is understanding how to preserve centuries-old architectural heritage while seamlessly integrating the luxurious comforts a modern family requires. Our integrated Rhode Island design-build team ensures new finishes, bespoke cabinetry and contemporary layouts flow naturally alongside preserved period elements.
Historic District Commissions
- Certificate of Appropriateness applications
- Presentation before local HDC boards statewide
- Material and window replacement compliance
- Addition design per Secretary of the Interior's Standards
State & Federal Preservation
- RIHPHC review coordination
- Historic tax credit eligibility guidance
- National Register compliance
- Preservation consultant coordination
Design-Build Execution
- Design aligned with commission requirements before application
- Craftsmanship that protects irreplaceable historic fabric
- Integrated permitting, construction and interiors
- Realistic HDC timelines built into every schedule
Coastal Homes for Generations.
Building along Rhode Island's beautiful coast means mastering FEMA flood zone restrictions, CRMC requirements, local zoning rules, septic system approvals and much more. Our team interprets these regulations on your behalf to maximize your build's potential while maintaining project timelines.
Through thoughtful material selection and construction techniques, every decision serves decades of durability to defy salt air, hurricane-force winds, and relentless moisture commonly affecting coastal homes. Whether you desire a modern coastal aesthetic or traditional New England shingle style, the result is a home that harmonizes with its natural surroundings while standing strong against the elements, without compromising on the beauty that drew you to waterfront living.
Discover how we have brought these principles to life across Rhode Island's coastal and historic neighborhoods.
View our projects
Historic Homes for Modern Lives
Transforming a treasured historic property requires artistry, precision, and deep expertise in period design. From colonial refinement to Victorian grandeur, we approach each historic renovation project with profound respect for the original design while integrating today's comforts and technology. Our team sources bespoke elements and period-authentic finishes that harmonize with the home's character, so additions feel as though they have always belonged.
While regulations surrounding historic homes can feel overwhelming, our team navigates the complex approval processes on your behalf, developing plans that align with neighborhood character, building codes, and historic district requirements.
Questions
Common questions
Yes. Hill & Harbor is built around coastal and historic properties: CRMC and FEMA compliance, Historic District Commission preservation, and design-build execution for the most regulated lots in the state.
Building along the Rhode Island coast means FEMA flood zone restrictions, CRMC requirements, local zoning, septic approvals, and construction that can stand up to salt air, wind and moisture. The studio interprets those rules so the design matches what can actually be permitted.
Yes. The studio renovates historic homes with respect for the original design while integrating today's comforts and technology, and handles the approval processes that come with historic districts.
Project Inquiry
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