The Evolution of a Weekend Home
“One of the greatest privileges of this work is growing alongside our clients. Watching their lives evolve and having the opportunity to help their homes evolve with them is something we never take for granted.”
We first worked with this East Hampton family in 2016, transforming a recently purchased house into a colorful, pattern-filled retreat inspired by their British roots. A few years later, we returned to renovate the kitchen and dining room, introducing a quieter palette and more layered textures that reflected both their changing tastes and the evolution of our own design aesthetic.
This past year, they called us back once again. This time, it was to furnish a newly expanded outdoor living space designed for the way they entertain today. With their daughters now nearly grown, the house has entered a new chapter. The result is a series of welcoming spaces for long dinners, fireside conversations, and summer evenings with family and friends.
There's something incredibly rewarding about returning to a home you've designed and helping it continue to tell your clients' story. We are honored to be part of this home’s story and this wonderful family’s summer memories.
The home’s exterior (complete with littles) in 2016
WHAT WE DID: An Unexpected Palette
In a region awash in white, blue, and cream, this family’s love of color hadn’t faded in the 10 years since they became our clients, but it had shifted. The bright punches that originally infused the home with childhood energy was ready to move into a more mature, muted palette. Along with the mood shift, there were functional updates to be made as well. With this in mind, we set out on a phased project starting with the kitchen.
Here, we removed a cavernous pantry to make the self-serve coffee and bar area. The island is clad in Pietra Cardosa stone, and the back counters and bar are a work-horse quartzite. To warm it up, we used walnut accents, tying each section of the kitchen together through the paint, wood, and counters.
IN THE LIVING ROOM
Having reassessed the art in the various spaces, we relocated the botanical plates to a different Living Room wall and added a new credenza. In keeping with the tone set by the kitchen renovation, we stripped the vibrant plates to create a more muted scene for the room. The sweet Hugo Guinness drawing, originally above the fireplace, was moved over the banquette, which we had reupholstered in a Natasha Baradaran fabric; the rattan chair, likewise, was reupholstered, new sconces were added, and the much-loved stone coffee table was kept as-is.
In the back hall, we changed the wainscoting color - using a more sophisticated shade that still works with the wallpaper, which was in great shape and still felt fresh. The vintage prints were rearranged to give a bit more breathing room and to the right we added the pantry that we lost in the kitchen back in.
OUTDOOR DESIGN
For years, the family put up with blinding sunlight on the uncovered porch, and it was time to give them some shade. We studied many different ways to make it work, and in the end, they extended the roofline and patio with a step down to the lower level to create an area that would work for spring, summer, and fall.
This is definitely a “hosting house,” so of course it needed an outdoor fireplace. Now in their teens, the kids have their friends over to hang out, as well as their parents, so plenty of seating was needed. A new sectional and all new furniture was purchased; however, much like inside, the coffee table remains. We added in a ton of custom cushions from Pierre Frey, and a hanging day bed overlooking the pool ensures that the whimsy of a weekend house is kept well intact.
