few things bring us more joy than creating a bespoke space for our clients. certain projects, like this family home in the hamptons, progressed in stages. what began as a gut renovation of the main house expanded in scope to include the addition of an attached guesthouse and blowout and remodel of the kitchen. with each stage came new challenges and opportunities and a welcome reminder that a designer’s work is never truly done.
escaping to the east end is all about easy living. we work so hard to enjoy life; who wants to worry about sandy feet during downtime? to achieve that no muss, no fuss vibe, we selected performance fabrics, in a palette of whites and steel blues, that could stand up to the wear and tear of beach house living while still looking chic and timeless.
we stripped the existing pine hardwood floors, bleached them and then added a custom watered-down light grey stain. the new, lighter finish highlighted the knots of the wood, adding to the beach house feel. we added texture by placing durable seagrass rugs throughout the space that look great and can take a lot of abuse. throughout the house we painted the interior doors a soft black and installed bronzed hardware. roller shades were installed on all of windows to keep out sun without hiding the views.
second-homes are no longer for a single season here in new york and our client wanted the house to function as a year-round retreat. cozy accents like cable-knit throw pillows, stylish throw blankets, and a modern log holder can take the house and its inhabitants from cool summer nights to chilly winter days without a hitch. accents of black, soft brass and natural wood tones ground the look. a curated selection of found objects continues the collected feel throughout the house, while an underlying geometric theme — like the gabriel scott fixture installed above the dining table — makes for a more modern contrast.
the main house is home to the master suite, two secondary bedrooms, the kitchen, dining room and living room. for the bedrooms we selected a mix of modern and relaxed materials like blackened steel, honed black stone, leather, raw wood, raffia, and soft brass.
since entertaining is almost always on the agenda, we were tasked with designing a living room with ample seating, without compromising the intimate and cozy vibe of the space. we selected an array of sofas, chairs, and stools that could be mixed and matched as-need. fans of london-based street installation and photographic artist slinkachu might notice “the jetty” (southbank, london, 2014) placed above the bar cabinet.
in the kitchen we mixed contemporary and classic elements to create a timeless and functional space. for the walls, we selected 2”x 8” tiles — which are longer and skinner than traditional subway tiles — to achieve a more modernized feel. for storage, we mixed white open shelving with brass mounts, perimeter cabinets in a blue-grey, and a dark charcoal island. high-end appliances and top of the line finishes — like a wolf range with coordinating hood and outstanding brass hardware from waterworks — finished the look.
just off the kitchen, a light and airy breezeway connects the original house to the new addition. upon entering, visitors can go right to enter the kitchen or left for the pool house wherein guests will find their accommodations.
downstairs we designed a tv room complete with kitchenette. to create a cohesive feel, the builder installed reclaimed beams to match those found in the dining room and master bedroom of the main house. oversized artwork purchased at local gallery on main street adds a pop of personality to this welcoming space.
upstairs two bedrooms offer light and bright accommodations for guests. a jack and jill bathroom adjoins the two spaces allowing the homeowners to double up on accessories and storage (the brady bunch got it right with that design!). a mix of carrara marble and classic subway tiles were used in all of the baths — in both the main house and guests houses — for a combination of durability and timeless elegance.
what’s a house in the hamptons without an outdoor area? we designed the layout for the patio with practicality in mind. the versatile set-up is equipped for everything from summer soirees to day-to-day poolside entertaining (aperol spritzes, anyone?). the homeowner hired a landscape architect to complete the retreat-like feel and their work grows more beautiful with each passing season.
