7 min readMarble has a reputation for being too cold and polished, making a home feel museum-like if it’s overdone. However, when the material is used thoughtfully in a variety of contexts—and executed by a team of experts—the result is genuinely impressive. Such is the case for an eight-bedroom, nine-and-a-half-bath home in Newport, Rhode Island, where designer Galen Kirby of HAAS Design relied on materiality and architectural details as the design's signature focal points.
“The client was fully aligned with going ‘all out’ on marble,” Kirby recalls. “We sourced some truly unique and special stones, particularly for the primary bathroom, fireplace, and kitchen. We also procured specialty alabaster console tables from Europe that flank the front entry, incorporated marble plinths and coffee tables throughout, and even had ‘marbled’ globes in some of the lighting fixtures.”
In the kitchen, marble wasn’t just limited to the countertops; it carried through in the range hood, backsplash, casing openings, and even the windows. The living room’s marble fireplace had veins that introduced movement into the space and felt harmonious with the coordinating side tables made from leftover fireplace slabs. Meanwhile, the bathrooms—specifically the powder room and primary bath—were wrapped in stone and balanced with plasterwork (a new material and process for the design team) for a refreshing feel. “The plaster introduced a quiet, tactile backdrop that complemented the marble rather than competing with it. Because marble naturally has so much movement and veining, using a material like Marmorino [in the primary bathroom] helped ground the space and let those stone selections really shine,” Kirby adds.
Plaster aside, other elements such as warm wood tones, aged brass accents, crisp white shiplap, and layered textures all contributed to making this marble-clad home feel lived-in and welcoming, rather than cold and calculating. “We spent a lot of time refining selections, especially when it came to millwork, materials, and fabrics—looking for options that could take wear and tear from kids while still feeling refined and intentional,” Kirby says. “Striking that balance between durability and elegance is always a challenge, and it was a constant consideration throughout this project.”
All five family members were involved in the creative process to ensure the home reflected their lifestyle, and Kirby insists that client inclusion is the secret ingredient to making a property of this size look deeply personal. “My favorite thing about this house is how balanced it feels,” Kirby adds. “It’s a new build with a clean, contemporary aesthetic, but it never feels cold or overly polished. There’s a warmth and livability to it that comes from how intentional every layer is—from the materials to the furnishings to the way the family actually uses the space.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Galen Kirby, HAAS Design
Builder: Horan Building Company
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
The Space: An eight-bedroom, nine-and-a-half bathroom home across 9,000 square feet.
DINING ROOM
A marble-clad cased opening offers a subtle, luxurious transition.
Warm wood tones, woven textures, and upholstered seating contrast nicely with the clean lines and neutral palette of the dining room, providing a sense of calmness in a room typically bustling with energy and movement. “A linear pendant spans the length of the dining table, anchoring the room and emphasizing its proportions, while the alignment of the kitchen island and cabinetry beyond creates a layered, axial view that draws the eye through the space,” adds Kirby.
KITCHEN
A spacious, welcoming kitchen was a must for the family of five.
“One of my favorite aspects of this space is the use of marble as a true architectural element,” says Kirby. “Rather than limiting it to countertops or a backsplash, we carried it throughout the kitchen—in the range hood, the cased openings, and even around the windows. It creates this really cohesive, elevated feel where the material itself helps define the space. The veining adds movement and interest, but because the palette is kept so soft, it never feels overwhelming.” The designer notes that marble wasn’t just an isolated feature; it also became the unifying material across the house.
BREAKFAST NOOK
Big windows frame a scenic view that invites pause and promotes calm.
According to Kirby, a feature many clients are asking for right now is “in-between” spaces that aren’t fully dining but also not just lounge; rather, they’re movable extensions of the kitchen. “Instead of a built-in banquette, the clients opted for fully upholstered dining chairs around a more casual table, which creates a much more relaxed and inviting atmosphere,” says Kirby. “These chairs are not only comfortable, but also functional—they’re on rollers, so they can easily move throughout the space. It becomes a highly flexible area where the family can gather for breakfast, work on laptops during the day, or casually spend time together without needing to use a more formal dining room.”
WINE DISPLAY
A collector’s private stash has its moment to shine.
A built-in wine display, crafted by Jonathon Dahl Woodworks, turns an overlooked wall into something both functional and unique. Since the display is recessed into the wall, it also saves valuable floor (or countertop) space and keeps the storage visually light, creating a moment of surprise. Practical and elevated, this is part of the home’s overall design story.
LIVING ROOM
Leftover stone from the fireplace gets a second life as custom end tables.
The fireplace serves as the central focal point in this symmetrical living room layout. “The marble surround introduces movement and contrast, while maintaining a soft, neutral palette that feels consistent with the rest of the home,” Kirby notes. “Built-in shelving on either side adds both function and balance, creating space for curated styling while reinforcing the room’s structure. The integration of lower cabinetry keeps storage discreet, allowing the open shelving to feel light and intentional.”
LOUNGE
This serene third-floor retreat pairs soft neutrals with sweeping ocean views.
“This third-floor lounge was designed as a private retreat for the wife—a quiet, light-filled sanctuary that takes full advantage of the home’s sweeping ocean views,” Kirby says. To play into this calming mood, the designer kept the furniture and decor accents in a soothing palette of cream and brown shades. “The low marble coffee table adds a sculptural element, subtly referencing the material language used throughout the home while keeping the palette cohesive,” adds Kirby.
GUEST COTTAGE
Luxe details offer visitors a moment of peace and tranquility.
The guest cottage feels like an extension of the main house, featuring many of the same elements, from marble veining to wood tones to warm brass accents. “The space feels cozy yet elevated—a thoughtfully designed retreat for guests that prioritizes comfort, function, and a sense of place,” Kirby says. “Built-in wood shelving introduces warmth and texture, creating a natural transition between zones. Large glass doors anchor the space, opening to views of the ocean beyond and the apple orchard and vegetable garden, reinforcing a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.”
POWDER ROOM
Soft blue plaster creates a calming, cocoon-like effect.
The serene blue powder room strikes the right balance between softness and structure, explored through materials like a custom Tadelakt-style plaster and a standout stone inspired by the nearby surf. “It’s a small space, but one that feels incredibly considered, where materiality and proportion do all the work to create something memorable and refined,” adds Kirby.
GIRL’S BEDROOM
Delicate patterns and clever built-ins promote play.
Kirby notes that one of the most challenging areas in the home was turning a massive would-be primary bedroom into a more appropriate space for the client’s six-year-old daughter. “The scale of the room initially felt overwhelming for a child, so a major focus became, how do we make this space feel comfortable, safe, and appropriately scaled for her?” she adds. The solution? A custom-built-in bed that helped anchor and define the room.
“We created a substantial headboard—approximately four feet high—that doubles as a divider within the space, with integrated cabinetry for toy storage,” the designer says. “It provided generous, functional storage, helped break the room into more intimate, designated zones for sleeping and play, and also created a sense of privacy by buffering the bed from the main window, which faces the driveway.”
PRIMARY BATHROOM
Marble wraps the room, marrying luxury with everyday functionality.
The client’s investment in marble shines in the primary bathroom. “The stone was thoughtfully selected for its soft yet dynamic veining, and carefully bookmatched throughout the space to create a sense of continuity and movement across the walls, vanity, and shower,” Kirby says. “The vanity is integrated into the architecture with clean, tailored lines, while the shower is framed in glass to maintain openness and keep the materiality as the focal point.”
OUTDOOR PATIO
A lush landscape with tall plants provides privacy and comfort.
Effortless and livable are two words that perfectly capture this home’s outdoor space. Patrick Sweeney designed the landscape, integrating native plants, stonework, and layered textures to create a private, nature-first cove for a busy family. Further out, there’s even a vegetable garden and orchard. “We selected furnishings that reinforced a relaxed, coastal lifestyle,” adds Kirby. “The overall palette is light and neutral, allowing the natural surroundings—grasses, hydrangeas, and seasonal plantings—to take center stage.”
Kirby designed the various outdoor living zones to act as a natural extension of the interior. The blue hue on the outdoor showers is the same shade used for the front door, a repeating detail that ties the different parts of the property together.
About the Designer
Galen Kirby, founder of HAAS Design, is known for creating homes that feel warm, layered, and quietly coastal, often mixing antiques with custom furnishings sourced from around the world. Her work spans both interiors and interior architecture, with an emphasis on spaces that are as easy to live in as they are beautiful to look at. Influenced by nature, art, travel, and history, she approaches each project with a storytelling sensibility and a respect for the home’s existing architecture.
