September 23, 2011 - Sagaponack Beach House installation highlights

One of our favorite longtime clients called us in February, 2011 to design their newly purchased beach house. Together we determined a game plan to make considerable cosmetic changes while avoiding serious construction in order to complete the work quickly. 3 weeks of intensive design sessions culminated in a wonderfully personal design with elegant and comfortable spaces and 7 unique bedrooms.

We immediately removed yards of carpet, window blinds, and wallpaper throughout. The kitchen felt drab and dated and, while the appliances were in great condition, all of the finishes needed to be addressed. We removed a built-in desk and superfluous ornamentation at the millwork, replaced counters and re-worked the island, lacquered the cabinetry and replaced the ceramic tile with wood flooring. The floors and stair railing were refinished a dark burnt umber and we sampled paint colors including many shades of white and gray to replace the prevalent buttercream yellow. The study millwork was lacquered in a dark blue-black and the walls were papered in sea grass to create a cozy yet dramatic space.

In March, I came across a pair of 1970s Robert Haussmann sconces at Rewire on a Los Angeles visit. These large-scale sculptural lights look great from all angles and were perfect for the double-height dining area. We continued to source remaining light fixtures, selected in-stock fabrics and refurbished dozens of vintage pieces to expedite delivery and complement the diverse aesthetic. We fabricated a custom 12-foot curved sofa to anchor the Sunroom, on view from the main living area. A piece this special requires several visits to our upholsterer to oversee the frame and ensure the proper form, fit, fabric application and seam locations. We were thrilled when it landed safely with the help of 5 strong gentlemen through the pouring rain!

-Elena