Design by Scott Sanders | Photograph by Tria Giovan
DESIGN
HAMPTONS Though famous for its glamorous summer season, the Hamptons doesn’t come to a halt after Labor Day. In the spring, the East End is full of budding blooms, changing aerial palettes and residential preparations. From architects to interior designers, local professionals spend the off-season in creation and anticipation. Read on, and discover the work of these industry luminaries, from Quogue to Sag Harbor.
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James Merrell Architects PC 66 Main Street, Post Office Box 210, Sag Harbor, New York 631.725.9842 | jamesmerrellarchitects.com
For James Merrell Architects, house design is a hero’s journey. “Clients rarely come through the process unchanged,” principal James Merrell says. Each project is a guided intellectual and emotional quest, in which the architectural team and the clients fuse their collective values and interests. The Hamptons, which Merrell deems “a laboratory for architectural experimentation,” offers the firm a superlative landscape and client base with which to work. “Residential architecture offers the best opportunity to experience directly the connection between our imaginations and our ideals,” Merrell says. “To be able to see and inhabit the built manifestation—the realized dream—is truly magical, for us as designers and even more so for our clients.”
LIFE + WORK ON THE EAST END
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Off-season allure. Asked to share his favorite aspect of the off-season Hamptons, Merrell says, “Winter sailing. I’m part of a group that sails small boats 10 months a year. I often step out of my dry suit fully dressed for client meetings.” Spring in three words: “Break. New. Ground.” Summer anticipations: “Traffic, crowds and buzzing energy.”
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1. This new house in the open fields of Bridgehampton is both a barn and villa. 2. Big glass walls do not always need big views to feel special. Here, they create a virtual landscape mural of the sunlit woodland just beyond. 3. This breakfast banquette hangs off the house, so diners sit in the sunlit courtyard outside. It also offers a quiet afternoon reading nook.
DESIGN HAMPTONS: SPRING
JAMESMERRELLARCHITECTS.COM
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John David Rose Architect 596 Hampton Road, Southampton, New York 631.283.2051 | johndavidrosearchitect.com
John David Rose’s description of the Hamptons in the spring speaks to the revitalization for which the season is cherished. “It is awakened, enthusiastic and renewed,” the architect says. Though his masterpieces are scattered throughout this iconic seaside destination, Rose operates his namesake firm, John David Rose Architect, from Southampton. Known the world over for its magnificent summer season—and the larger-than-life residents who arrive with it—the Hamptons has, according to Rose, become more than its reputation as a periodic hot spot. “The Hamptons no longer ‘rolls up its sidewalks’ after Labor Day,” he says. “It has become a vibrant, four-season destination with countless unique offerings within each time of year. This has enabled our business to provide full services on a year-round basis.”
A SPRING SATURDAY IN THE HAMPTONS “I would start by drinking a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise off the stern of my boat,” Rose says. “Then, I would play a round of golf or spend time with the horses at Rosemoor Equestrian. I would end the day by picking up fresh, local seafood and produce to prepare at home with friends and family.” 2
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DESIGN HAMPTONS: SPRING
1. With a three-sided porch, this whimsical cottage was designed for outdoor living, and there is room for everyone. 2. A commanding Shingle-style home incorporates an existing tower for incredible 270-degree panoramic views of Peconic Bay. 3. This lovely seaside cottage has expansive views along the great shoreline of Eastern Long Island.
JOHN DAVID ROSE ARCHITECT P.C. AIA w w w. j o h n d a v i d r o s e a r c h i t e c t . c o m
62 Main Street Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 (631) 283-2051
596 Hampton Road Southampton, NY 11968 (631) 283-2051 Connecticut
New York
Florida
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Elizabeth Dow 14 Gingerbread Lane, East Hampton, New York 631.329.1414 | elizabethdow.com
IN CONTEMPLATION OF SUMMER
While local business owner and designer Elizabeth Dow loves the Hamptons’ summer season—she even has a dog named Summer and, not to be excluded, another who goes by Moon—she notes a recent increase in year-round residents. Dow’s store, Elizabeth Dow Home, boasts its own line of textiles, wallcoverings and upholstery; a wide representation of craftsmen and artists; brands like Schumacher and Kravet; and a full range of interior design services. Its breadth of offerings makes it a resource for homeowners, design professionals and enthusiasts alike. And as Dow tells it, there is no shortage of such individuals. “Overall, the Hamptons has a great mix of talent, local craftsmen and interesting stories—some already written, others untold,” she says. “The best part about it, for me, is being involved in the community during every season.”
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DESIGN HAMPTONS: SPRING
“In the spring, the Hamptons begins to buzz like bees in the garden,” Dow says. “People are full of hope, gardens are blooming and lawns are being mowed for the first time since late November. Then, the summer arrives, which I enjoy, because I love the chaos!” In preparation for the season, Dow stocks fresh, summery pillows and throws, lots of small house gifts, candles, books and accessories. She adds, “I also plan a series of summer art events.”
1. The living room is furnished with two Ani Silver chairs, upholstered in Elizabeth Dow linen from the Hampton Collection. 2. Designed for a private residence, this kitchen features custom steel-and-leather barstools from Elizabeth Dow Home in East Hampton. 3. The master bedroom of Holiday House Hamptons was brought to life by the customdesigned Cloud Bed.
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Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects 48 Foster Avenue, Post Office Box 3002, Bridgehampton, New York 631.537.0019 | stelleco.com
Frederick Stelle, Michael Lomont and Viola Rouhani believe architecture’s purpose is to highlight its landscape. “What Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects designs is not meant to compete with nature, but to offer the tranquility and shelter from which to appreciate it,” the team says. “It’s a modest approach that speaks to the truth of our surroundings, building materials and quality of space.” Asked to describe the spring season in the firm’s Hamptons location, the architects speak to rejuvenation, saying, “The light starts to change and the palette morphs from gray and brown to an explosion of color. Each day is an event, as flowers and trees bloom. The area starts to become more populated with the promise of summer around the corner. You can feel it waking up.”
THE EVOLUTION OF THE HAMPTONS
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“Although it has always been a getaway, the area is seeing more population growth and activity than ever before,” the SLR team says. “There are more restaurants, events and opportunities. Montauk, in particular, has undergone a big transformation in recent years. The stress this has caused, from environmental and infrastructure standpoints, has inspired a focus on sustainability and water quality.”
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1. This home floats above its stone terrace, which forms a bridge between the ocean and a pond. 2. Integrating the landscape into the architecture allows for a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living. Landscape architecture by LaGuardia Design Group. 3. An interior bridge with a skylight creates a bright, open concept and displays stunning vistas.
DESIGN HAMPTONS: SPRING