Artful Hotels: Ocean House

There are many reasons to plan a visit to Ocean House in Watch Hill. This stretch of southwestern Rhode Island shoreline, which includes Westerly (and the Ocean House’s sister property, Weekapaug Inn), is stunning and offers far more than beautiful beaches. The food on the property is exceptional, the spa and pool are both lovely, you’re steps from the pristine, sandy beach, and the sunset views are spectacular. A particularly fun bonus - especially if you’re a Swiftie like me - is the guaranteed glimpse of Taylor Swift’s beach house, visible from both the dining room and the shoreline.

One of the Ocean House’s most distinctive draws, however, is its esteemed art collection. During our first visit several years ago, we were blown away by the breadth of original work on display—especially pieces by Ludwig Bemelmans, best known for the Madeline books. In the decade since that trip, we were delighted to see that the collection has continued to grow.

The Bemelmans Gallery at the Ocean House is a thoughtfully curated collection of original works, architectural commissions, and Madeline illustrations belonging to the hotel’s proprietors, Deborah and Charles Royce. It represents the largest permanent, private collection of Bemelmans’s work on public display in North America.

The art in the hotel isn’t limited to the Bemelmans Gallery, there are collections of work on each floor - a truly unique guest amenity!

Keep scrolling for glimpses of our fantastic stay at the Ocean House, a part of our Artful Hotels series.

*Thankfully the Ocean House is dog-friendly - Thatcher had a fantastic time exploring the grounds, running on the beach, swimming, and exploring Watch Hill.*

The fall pumpkin display was its own work of art!

A view of The Bemelmans Gallery At Ocean House in the hotel’s basement.

*A wall of* Madeleine *illustrations anchor the downstairs gallery.*

*Bemelman’s* Farewell to the Ritz series. The drawings, commissioned by Town & Country Magazine when the hotel was torn down in 1951, depict Bemelman’s experience from his life at the famed New York Ritz-Carlton on 46th Street & Madison Avenue. During our first visit, the inn sold reproductions of these as notecards in their gift shop.

*Thatcher poses in front of Taylor Swift’s house :)*

Artful Hotels’ is a travel series featuring hotels and inns that place an emphasis on art and design as an integral part of their guest experience. Having the chance to visit different art-filled properties over the years has greatly informed our aesthetic and the way we prefer to travel. These photographs are from our own personal travels.

Photos by gallery owner, Meredith Perdue.