We've never had much money, so we do everything ourselves, instead of hiring architects. I mean, that can work too, but it feels like the space loses its soul when it's done that way. Every part of this home has us in it.”

Carol Riley

Tatters
324 Main Street
Warren, RI 02885
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Warren is home to an array of eclectic shops, restaurants, and businesses. One of them used to be an old schoolhouse. Another used to be an old church. And what lies inside that old church is as interesting as the story of how the owners became inspired to create it — on a whim, or a “fluke,” in the owners own words.

The beautiful glow of colors from the church windows is where the eyes might first gravitate when looking at the destination — which is … some might ask, “What is it, exactly?” Well, it is more than a few things — an old church, a boutique, a tea room, and a home — to a family that prefers to live a slightly different, unique, or some might say “quirky” existence.

Bought in March of 2019, by Carol and Michael Riley, the story of the church turned house began with an unfortunate accident — a rip in a gigantic painting set high above the alter that is now occupied by the two bedrooms that were installed as part of the conversion. The bedrooms are named in the essence of the couples quirkiness — holy space one and holy space two.

The painting was ripped in an attempt by the previous owner to take it with her, but it remains there, tattered and torn — almost like a symbol of the owners boutique, which is ironically named Tatters.

Carol, who is originally from England, remembers growing up very poor. She learned at a very young age that she had to use what she had on hand and to never be wasteful. This lesson led her to learn the skill of making clothes out of items no longer in use — like table cloths, linens, doilies, and more. The name of the boutique — Tatters — comes from her desire to take things that are being tossed aside or that are in “tatters,” and convert them to new, usable items, kind of the way she and her husband did with the church conversion. The boutique reveals layers upon layers of handmade clothes made from items no longer in use — adding a bit of “quirk” to the space.

Part of that “quirk” comes from the couple’s desire to upcycle things in lieu of purchasing them. So, when walking through the space there are several nooks and crannies with sofas, arm chairs, kitchen tables, wooden chairs, steel chairs — an eclectic array of items that Carol said “We mostly found for free on the side of the road.”

And now, in her latest endeavor, Carol has added a tea room within the boutique, using the tables, sofas, and chairs as places for people to sit down, drink tea, eat a scone or two, and enjoy a traditional English afternoon tea experience — adding another element to the eclectic scene in Warren.

Welcome to the tea room 

The upcycling begins as soon as you walk into the boutique. Sitting directly in front of the visitor when they step into the converted church is a table with a dainty tea cup on it and a picture holder, holding an artsy image similar to a Picasso painting, yet the thing that stands out most is the holder. It is handmade out of wood. It was made by the Rileys’ son, Patrick — another member of the family who uses his skills to make things. The wood work of Patrick can be seen throughout the boutique and home.

“We've never had much money, so we do everything ourselves, instead of hiring architects. I mean, that can work too, but it feels like the space loses its soul when it's done that way. Every part of this home has us in it,” said Carol who recently opened up the tea room inside of the boutique, hence the traditional porcelain tea cup on display.

The tea room inside the boutique offers many secluded spots for people to sip on some tea and enjoy sandwiches and baked goods, separated by curtains made by Carol herself, another element where upcycling is utilized. Carol either finds vintage materials at thrift shops or uses the incredible amount of donations she receives to make all the clothing by hand that is found for sale in the boutique. She shared a look at a dress made out of a table runner that has doilies added as both a decorative element and as a way to hide the stains on the runner. For Carol, things that are tattered and torn, can also be repurposed — and worn.

The curtains offer a relaxed element to the tea room, which is traditional in all aspects, including the use of porcelain cups, specific teas, and traditional English foods. Carol said, “I keep it traditional, like the scones are either plain or have raisins added, nothing else, because as soon as you add weird things like chocolate, it becomes — not traditional.”

Though the tea room is up and running, reservations are needed in order to secure a spot. Carol only allows so many people in at one time, both to capture the essence of the English afternoon tea experience, and to give herself time to relax. She said she knows that she could be even more ambitious with the space the converted church offers, but she would much rather live a relaxed life, almost akin to what it is like to sit and enjoy a cup of tea — the English way.