For a spec house in East Hampton, the architects conceived breezeways connecting three pavilions—the largest of which, located in the center, contains the main living spaces and guest bedrooms on the upper level.
Above the breezeways are terraces that allow for movement between the structures via the second floor.
The design recalls farm buildings, including gabled greenhouses, on an adjacent property.
The design recalls farm buildings, including gabled greenhouses, on an adjacent property.
Overlooking a coastal pond and the ocean beyond, this Sagaponack residence was designed to withstand rising sea levels, with the main structure, decks, and pool elevated and spaced out to enable floodwaters to flow beneath and around them.
The lower portion of the board-and-batten exterior features only the battens, also designed to allow water to pass through.
The lower portion of the board-and-batten exterior features only the battens, also designed to allow water to pass through.
“It’s an elegant solution to FEMA regulations.” — Christopher LaGuardia
The firm clad a sleek bayfront guesthouse in East Hampton in black-stained cedar so that it would disappear into its wooded surroundings.
The low-slung volumes contain the kitchen, master bedroom, and baths, while a soaring open space houses the living and dining areas.
“[This project] shows extreme restraint. It’s a throwback to a simpler time in the Hamptons, when the emphasis was on getting back to nature.”
— Michael Aram
The low-slung volumes contain the kitchen, master bedroom, and baths, while a soaring open space houses the living and dining areas.
“[This project] shows extreme restraint. It’s a throwback to a simpler time in the Hamptons, when the emphasis was on getting back to nature. ”
— Michael Aram
Inspired by the furniture of Dutch designer Ineke Hans for the brand Moooi, the firm employed rubber and recycled plastic for the exterior skin: The rubber protects the structure from the elements, while the plastic screen shields the rubber and mitigates heat gain. Judge Nathan Orsman deems it “restrained and sexy,” while judge Janice Parker says the “confident design is innovative and chic.”
The result: “a regional architecture based not on style, but on environmental factors,” says principal Paul Masi, who incorporated sculptural, yet functional louvered windows that accommodate cross breezes while regulating sunlight.
The panel used such adjectives as “striking,” “elegant,” and “beautiful” to describe the project’s façade, which judge Aerin Lauder likens to a backgammon set.
The panel used such adjectives as “striking,” “elegant,” and “beautiful” to describe the project’s façade, which judge Aerin Lauder likens to a backgammon set.
An open and airy floor plan takes advantage of all the natural light.
Rooms contained within the L portion are classically proportioned, while those in the more modern wing assume an open plan. Blaze Makoid expertly melded traditional forms with novel ones, right down to the interior moldings. Judge Russell Groves sums up the architecture as “sharp, with pleasing proportions and a contrast of materials.”
Judge Paul Goldberger cites the property’s “simple materials” as “a welcome change from an avalanche of shingles. I like the allusions to barns and the almost funky quality of this.”
The barn-like main dwelling makes use of a prefabricated steel-framing system.
The barn-like main dwelling makes use of a prefabricated steel-framing system.
The pool house has a view of the guesthouse and main house.
This North Haven compound’s vaulted interior provides capacious living quarters.
This North Haven compound’s vaulted interior provides capacious living quarters.
Built for a residence in Amagansett, this 400-square-foot cedar-shingled pool house functions as a kind of spa, complete with a sunken, romantic lounge area centered on a dark-steel fireplace.
The house was constructed using low-maintenance materials such as steel, mahogany, anodized aluminum, and limestone.
Inside, a skylit catwalk provides views of the living area below, as well as the pool and both bodies of water.
Inside, a skylit catwalk provides views of the living area below, as well as the pool and both bodies of water.
“Every detail and angle is thought through beautifully.” — JUDGE KERRY DELROSE
“The very legible master plan includes the integration of the landscape and pedestrian movement through the space.” — JUDGE ROGER FERRIS
“The very legible master plan includes the integration of the landscape and pedestrian movement through the space. ” — JUDGE ROGER FERRIS
Interior designer Maureen McDermott pulled an outdated East Hampton master bath into the present by mixing warm woods with sleek accents, including matte black fixtures, a floating concrete sink, and large-format porcelain tiles. The layout was reconfigured to include a walk-in closet and access to an outdoor shower.
“I love the connected outdoor space and the minimal lines,” says Wolfman.
“I love the connected outdoor space and the minimal lines.”
— Peri Wolfman
To remain consistent with an East Hampton home’s modernist exterior, Sagaponack-based Martin Architects kept the lines of its master bath extremely precise. Meanwhile, a variety of materials—brushed-titanium fixtures, hand-scraped Carrara marble tiles, and a cerused-oak vanity—lend interest to the neutral palette.
“A well-utilized space that's simple, but definitely not boring.”
— Suzanne Slesin
The wall-less master bath of this waterfront East Hampton residence is a true extension of the bedroom, featuring a steam shower that opens onto an outdoor shower and expansive windows that add to the room’s airiness. Judge Christopher LaGuardia praises the “beautifully fluid connection” between the spaces.
“[There is a] great use of natural and organic materials.”
— Michael Aram
“Clean and simple, and I love the use of light,” — Aerin Lauder
Located in East Hampton’s historic district, this one-acre site was reimagined to include a trellised lounge area and a new path constructed of salvaged bricks. Another seating area centered around a concrete fireplace is situated within the abandoned foundation of a 1903 home that once stood on the property.
“There's a wonderful mix of history, greenery, and contemporary design here. What an imaginative reuse of an old foundation!”
— Michael Aram
At a canalside property in Remsenburg, Lear + Mahoney Landscape Associates transformed a small niche between the motor court and the tennis court into a serene garden. Existing purple-leaved plum trees were the jumping-off point for the space, which contains boxwood parterres with a variety of annuals and oystershell paths.
“A beautifully executed traditional garden.”
— Peri Wolfman
The grounds of this 40-acre estate overlooking Sag Harbor Cove include a lush meadow, a woodland garden, a lavender field, and an orchard. The firm restored the property as part of an extensive renovation of a 130-year-old residence known as Maycroft, which served as a convent, a school, and a summer camp before being converted back into a single-family home by local architect James Merrell.
“A varied landscape that delivers on many levels.”
— Christopher LaGuardia
The firm introduced viewing pavilions and gravel paths and carefully positioned trees so that only one sculpture is visible at a time as people meander through the grounds. “It’s an innovative project that draws you in and holds you,” says judge Janice Parker, while judge Richard Keith Langham praises the “harmony between the naturalistic and formal elements.”
The firm introduced viewing pavilions and gravel paths and carefully positioned trees so that only one sculpture is visible at a time as people meander through the grounds. “It’s an innovative project that draws you in and holds you,” says judge Janice Parker, while judge Richard Keith Langham praises the “harmony between the naturalistic and formal elements.”
A pergola was fashioned of rough-sawn red cedar, one of several natural materials that speak to the property’s 19th-century barn and the neat rows of plantings.
“The scheme is most respectful of the indigenous environment and context”
— Lee Mindel
LaGuardia Design Group configured the garden along a central axis, off of which lies an apple orchard and a series of outdoor rooms, each with a distinct function. An infinity-edge pool helps link the spaces visually.
Lear + Mahoney’s expertly delineated spaces include an entrance courtyard, multiple terraces, a sitting garden with a fountain, a pool and spa, a variety of fruit, herb, and vegetable gardens, and a butterfly garden.
Landscape elements include a reflecting pool that serves as a water source and cascades over a retaining wall.
Judge Jennifer Post says “is like an extension of the home—a stellar example of a minimal, modern garden.”
Judge Jennifer Post says “is like an extension of the home—a stellar example of a minimal, modern garden.”
A sunken courtyard with a moss- and fern-covered wall, and an entrancing labyrinth.
Landscape architect Edmund Hollander brought together the home’s architect, stonemason, and his client to collaborate on the design.
Landscape architect Edmund Hollander brought together the home’s architect, stonemason, and his client to collaborate on the design.
LaGuardia provides balance with a precise modernist landscape, including tight architectural grass slopes set with minimalist cast-concrete steps, a striking arbor, and a black-mirror pool.
“The spaces seem gallery-like—clean, light, and roomy,”
— Mario Nievera
The yield: a thicket of eastern red cedar, black cherry, bayberry, little bluestem, and switchgrass.
The yield: a thicket of eastern red cedar, black cherry, bayberry, little bluestem, and switchgrass.
Sustainably designed—it’s planted with mostly native and adapted species—the garden doubles as a bio-retention area, capturing rainwater and directing it through a bioswale, nearly eliminating runoff.
“Every inch of the property is used to its fullest advantage.” — JUDGE MARA MILLER
“Every inch of the property is used to its fullest advantage. ” — JUDGE MARA MILLER
“the simple, unrestrained landscape complements the structures” — — JUDGE ROGER FERRIS
A joint collaboration between interior designer Rebecca Robertson and architect John Berg, this East Hampton home features a predominantly black-and-white color scheme paired with bleached- and limed-wood flooring, wall paneling, and ceilings. Select patterns, including graphic prints and floral accents, inject life into the neutral space.
“[They use a] beautiful mix of mid-20th-century-modern and contemporary pieces.”
— Dan Scotti
As a way to honor the integrity of a family’s charming 1964 cottage in East Hampton, Sag Harbor–based designer Farrin Cary envisioned a laid-back design scheme that allows the architecture to shine. The decor—meant to marry the homeowners’ traditional and modern tastes—incorporates a wide range of soft and sophisticated furnishings.
New York City–based decorator Erica Millar opted for hand-woven textiles, rough-hewn wood accents, and a neutral color palette to complement the surrounding landscape and unobstructed views of Georgica Pond from this contemporary new build by Bates Masi + Architects.
“A feeling of ordered calm pervades the house.” — Christopher LaGuardia
“A feeling of ordered calm pervades the house. ” — Christopher LaGuardia
The dramatic pop against the mostly neutral interiors “is the best feature of the house,” notes judge Janice Parker, while judge Timothy Brown admires the “mix of furnishings with the home’s historic architecture.”
She responded by creating a mostly gray palette that judge Michael Haverland describes as “soothing and consistent.”
“striking, handsome materials and textures.”
— Matthew Patrick
A serene palette is cleverly accented with graphic textiles, strategically positioned artworks, oiled walnut cabinetry, and linear-cut travertine expanses.
The Sag Harbor home features existing antiques that the client brought from her previous shingle-style home.
The Sag Harbor home features existing antiques that the client brought from her previous shingle-style home.
The prevailing hues are multiple shades of white, which reference the cladding on the exterior while maintaining the pure aesthetic. The designers seamlessly incorporated the furniture—some of it belonging to the client—so the wraparound water views are never compromised.
“A calm, cool color scheme makes for a cohesive and beautiful interior,” — says judge Jesse Carrier of this 8,000-square-foot Bridgehampton retreat, designed for a New York–based client.
Originally slated for a small face-lift, this project in Southampton quickly turned into a full-on gut renovation.
Following the recent expansion of a Quogue kitchen by project architect Oscar Giraldo, Deane, Inc.’s Gianna Santoro capitalized on the new layout by incorporating a 13-foot quartzite-topped island, one side of which abuts a vinyl-covered banquette that’s paired with two custom tables and bistro chairs. A light color scheme of gray and white further complements the waterside setting.
For this North Haven kitchen, Angela Inzerillo conceived a monochromatic scheme that jibes with the home’s minimalist interiors, yet doesn’t compete with its 270-degree views of Noyack Bay. Caesarstone quartz countertops mimicking the look of concrete extend to a wall punctuated by open shelving, where the homeowner’s own wood and found-object artworks are displayed.
“A relief from the expected all-white kitchen.”
— Suzanne Slesin
While renovating a 1990s Sag Harbor kitchen, Sarah Rose Reilly strived to make the space feel more in keeping with the circa-1820s home. To do so, she sourced an antique soapstone sink from Massachusetts, installed an island made from reclaimed oak, and chose millwork consistent with the time period in which the home was built. Judge Peri Wolfman praises Reilly’s “blending of old and new,” and calls the black color palette “fresh.”
“I love the dark cabinetry against the white marble,” says judge Richard Keith Langham. “The use of colors and materials is great,” concurs judge Timothy Brown.
“I love the dark cabinetry against the white marble,” says judge Richard Keith Langham. “The use of colors and materials is great,” concurs judge Timothy Brown.
The pièce de résistance: a double-sided wood-fired stove that also acts as a fireplace. Judge Matthew Patrick Smyth says would “love to be invited to dinner.”
“waiting for the party”
— Ron Wendt
Fabricated in Peconic, this stationery and gift packaging is festooned with original artwork.
Originally designed for the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, this easy-to-assemble wood-and-metal doghouse by Blaze Makoid Architecture brings the firm’s signature contemporary style to the backyard.
Constructed of beechwood and blackened steel and upholstered in a Maharam hemp-linen blend, this bench provides both seating and backbend support during yoga practice.
This hand-crafted floating concrete sink disperses water across an expansive plane before it disappears via an invisible drain.
Temidra Willock’s latest collection of cotton-linen textiles features embroidered designs inspired by everything from medieval crosses to African mud cloth.
This acrylic table is punctuated by an interchangeable leather band, allowing for flexibility and customization.
At nearly 10 feet long, Erling Hope’s eye-catching credenza incorporates purkinje wood, walnut, silvered ash veneer, and custom brass pulls.
Michael Del Piero reenvisioned the traditional wing chair, conceiving a sculptural armless version with softer lines.
A circular disc wrapped in bronze and topped with smoked glass rotates 360 degrees on a zebrawood and bronze base, providing a larger surface area when necessary.
Hand-crafted in Bali, these speckled-porcelain tabletop accessories and stoneware vases and candleholders are dressed up with copper detailing.
A neglected garage on Sag Harbor’s Main Street—in such disrepair that it was nearing the point of collapse—was reimagined as this public art gallery and event space. The structure, which judge Peri Wolfman describes as “modern, yet traditional,” is clad in knotty-cedar board-and-batten and features a whitewashed interior, an elevated platform for performances, and an exterior deck with a slatted privacy screen.
“A clever renovation.”
— Suzanne Slesin
Situated beside a Japanese-inspired garden on this East Hampton property is a mahogany, glass, and aluminum structure designed to “invite contemplation,” says firm principal Nick Martin. Featuring screened sliding doors and a floating fireplace, the space is ideal for year-round lounging.
“A clean and elegant composition. The craftsmanship and detailing are exquisite.”
— Christopher LaGuardia
Upon relocating to the North Fork from New York City, decorator Rachel Rushforth-Worrell embarked on a gut renovation of an underused cottage (connected to a 19th-century barn) in order to turn it into a functioning living space.
She opted for pared-down materials, such as white oak and polished concrete, and installed vertical shiplap to give the appearance of added height.
“[It's] minimalist, without being bare.”
— Suzanne Slesin
She opted for pared-down materials, such as white oak and polished concrete, and installed vertical shiplap to give the appearance of added height.
“[It's] minimalist, without being bare. ”
— Suzanne Slesin
It also includes a private spa, bath, and novel surfboard storage area.
“The perfect summer pavilion.” — Matthew Patrick Smyth
“The perfect summer pavilion. ” — Matthew Patrick Smyth
The black-and-white decor and handsome cedar-clad exterior are “simplicity at its best,” says judge Russell Groves.
“successfully restrained and casually elegant.”
— Michael Haverland
Smyth is ready to move in, exclaiming, “This is my dream house—it’s all I need!”
“Shows respect for the generic Hamptons silhouette”
— Lee Mindel
The Scandinavian-inspired structure—which overlooks a pool in the front yard, the result of zoning restrictions—features both indoor and outdoor showers, a dry Swedish sauna, and a basement for storing pool equipment.
Envisioned as a space for hanging out, it incorporates a stucco retaining wall for screening outdoor movies and a covered portion that protects a ping-pong table. Additionally, a U-shaped sectional around the fire pit “encourages nighttime entertaining,” says judge Mara Miller.