Press Room

RESIDENCES AT THE OCEAN HOUSE USHER IN NEW ERA OF ELEGANCE AND MODERN LUXURY IN UNPARALELLED SETTING

WATCH HILL, R.I., May 5, 2010 – Located on one of the most pristine stretches of shoreline on the East Coast, the Ocean House will be a sanctuary for those seeking a luxurious escape.  When it re-opens on June 1, 2010 after a $140 million rebuild and restoration, the celebrated Victorian-era property will offer 23 private residences in addition to its 49 guest rooms, complete with every modern convenience and five-star service only available at the world’s finest resorts.  Situated high on the bluffs of Watch Hill, residents of the property will enjoy a private beach, as well as sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk and Block Island.

The Ocean House will evoke a timeless elegance that captures the residential ambiance of the area’s turn-of-the-century summer estates.  Carefully rebuilt to its original grandeur using energy-efficient and sustainable materials and practices, the new structure replicates the original exterior’s warm yellow façade, red-cedar shingled roofs, wide verandahs and historically accurate details.  In addition to replicating the exterior, the resort’s interiors have been reconfigured to capitalize on the oceanfront setting and abundant light in order to open up the spaces.

The residential wing offers one- and two-bedroom suites and studios – all with water views and each with a different layout so that no two are the same.  Thoughtfully designed, the spacious well-proportioned residences fill with light from elegant, oversized windows.  Each residence features a large private terrace or garden facing the ocean, perfect for relaxing or entertaining.  The interior detailing will be immaculate with period millwork and crown moldings throughout, hardwood floors, fireplaces with built-in bookshelves and exquisitely appointed kitchens and bathrooms.  Kitchens will include custom-crafted cabinetry, granite countertops as well as Viking, Thermador and Miele appliances.  Marble bathrooms will feature luxurious fixtures and rich finishes to create a sumptuous environment that restores, revives and relaxes.  

Owners may also choose to make the Ocean House their permanent home, a summer respite or make their private residence part of the resort’s available guest rooms. The Ocean House’s residences promise the best of both worlds – all the privacy and comforts of home combined with the year-round services and amenities of the finest resorts, including wait staff, room service, concierge and housekeeping personnel, as well as an impeccable spa, fitness center, casual and fine dining offerings and pool and beach services.  The Ocean House residences are offered from $1.5 to $4 million.

“Residents of the Ocean House will enjoy a domestic Eden, where privacy abounds, and yet the many facets of daily life are taken care of,” said Daniel Hostettler, Managing Director at the Ocean House.  “Beds are made, robes hung, shoes polished, breakfast served and details like fresh flowers, towels, cabanas and refreshments on the beach make life just that much more pleasurable as do an array of year-round activities and amenities.”

Residents will be members of the exclusive Ocean House Club, which will afford access to all Club and Resort on-site and off-site activities from Yoga and Tai Chi on the property’s private beach, surf-casting lessons, harbor cruises and golf, to championship croquet with a resident professional, indoor tennis and squash, wine seminars and more.  Residents will also enjoy the private members-only Club Room, an intimate, wood-paneled dining venue, offering residents simply prepared steak and seafood with signature beverages and the resort’s extensive wine list.  Residents will also have access to private chef and catering services.

A state-of-the-art fitness center with commanding ocean views will be among the property’s extensive list of amenities, offering fitness classes and a 20-meter indoor lap pool overlooking the beach.  The fitness center will also include a yoga and movement studio as well as a spacious relaxation room. 

The 12,000 square-foot OH! Spa will provide personalized, seasonally inspired treatments performed year-round by trained therapists that echo the therapeutic and rejuvenating properties of the ocean.  A full-service nail and hair salon will also be on property.  Residents who need to attend to business matters will also have access to a wood-paneled boardroom with water views and all business-related services.

 In addition, the Ocean House will offer some of the finest farm-to-table dining with estate-grown ingredients from the resort’s farm and a full-time Food Forager, who will serve as the liaison between the culinary team and local purveyors.  Among the variety of dining venues, Seasons, the resorts’ main dining room, will include a wood-burning fireplace and an exhibition kitchen plus outdoor terraces, and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Watch Hill area itself offers an array of theaters, museums, vineyards and outdoor activities with world-class shopping just a short drive from the resort.  The charming village boasts the oldest continuing operating carousel in the country, galleries, antiques stores, seaside parks and homemade ice cream shops.  Located at the southeastern tip of Rhode Island, Watch Hill is a two-and-a-half hour drive from New York and a one-and-a-half hour drive from Boston.  Just four miles away, Westerly Airport welcomes private aircraft and regional air service. T.F. Green Airport in Providence is 45 minutes away and Amtrak services are available in the nearby town of Westerly.

For more information about the Ocean House, call 401-584-7000 or visit www.oceanhouseri.com.
 
About The Ocean House

The Ocean House, one of New England’s last grand hotels, will re-open its doors in June 2010 after a $140 million rebuild and restoration.  The 136-year-old property, originally built just after the Civil War, is perched high on the bluffs in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.  Guests will enjoy sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk and Block Island from the resort’s 49 guestrooms and 23 private residences.  Farm-to-table casual and fine dining, the 12,000-square-foot OH! Spa and more than 10,000 square feet of event space will make the Ocean House ideal for mid-week business retreats, close-to-home family vacations, weekend luxury escapes and destination weddings.  Developed by Bluff Ave., LLC and decorated by Niemitz Design Group, the stately property is a member of Preferred Boutique, the elite collection of intimate hotels and resorts launched in 2005 by Preferred Hotel Group.  For more information, please visit www.oceanhouseri.com or call 401-584-7000.

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