Geoffrey Rigby-Leather established Island Residential Design in 1988 on Block Island, Rhode Island. 

 

Over the last three decades, Geoffrey has provided a diversified design service, including new homes, family compounds, historic renovation, additions, and outbuildings.  

 

Known for his use of New England and Block Island vernacular forms, imaginative interiors, and sensitive siting, Geoffrey strives to achieve his clients needs for contemporary living whilst balancing the regulatory and environmental requirements. 

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Geoffrey was born in England and grew up in a small coastal town in North Somerset. Educated in the Bristol area, he has lived and worked in London, Paris, and New York. In London he met the renowned American photographer Deborah Turbeville and worked with her in New York and Paris on her apartments and installations at the Sonnebend and Clock Tower Galleries in New York.  

 

In the ten years Geoffrey worked in New York he designed loft/apartment renovations, custom furniture for the likes of actor Cynthia O'Neal and the notorious Roberto Polo.  He was also part of a team designing restaurants with Michael “Buzzy” O’Keeffe.

 

Deborah introduced Geoffrey to Block Island one summer where she had rented a house while making a short film. The strong light, the combination of ocean and country reminded him of southwest England and left a huge impression. So much so that when staying at a B&B five years later an opportunity to buy a lot came up and he bought it. He designed and built a small studio/residence with the help of a local builder. It was featured extensively in Conde Nast’s House and Garden magazine and noted for its siting, minimal design, color, and the abundance and quality of natural light.

 

Geoffrey met Jerry Anderson one summer, and Jerry showed him an old stone foundation of a 22’ x 52’ barn which had blown down in the 1938 hurricane. He wanted to restore the foundation and build a new barn on top. On the strength of this commission, and a passion for returning to rural life, he moved to Block Island as a year-round resident in 1988 to complete the barn.  Since then he has lived and worked on Block Island exclusively, designing over sixty custom homes/family compounds, historic renovations, guesthouses, swimming pools, saunas, and kitchens.

 

One of his favorite projects was the partial earth-sheltered guesthouse built into the bank alongside the restoration of the Historic Weather Bureau. Recent projects include the restoration of the John Mott Farmhouse on West Side Road, a new family compound on Dunn’s Cartway, and a renovation of a “Kingston Kottage” for a local beekeeper.

 

Committed to traditional forms with interiors which reflect classic or contemporary living, Geoffrey offers a good humored, imaginative, personal service, with a step-by-step approach to the design process.

 

He continues to live on Block Island year-round with his wife Charlotte and daughter Lucy.