This Los Angeles–based couple had been summering in Quogue for two decades, but the time recently came to upgrade to a newer, larger retreat within walking distance of their close friends’ homes. They found a three-year-old residence nearby that fit the bill, however they’d need some help to make it their own. A friend in Quogue had collaborated with Rebecca Goodman, founder of Lola Tucker Interiors, and as they say, the rest is history.
“The shingled spec house is quintessential Hamptons, but the inside was a white box,” explains Goodman. “We wanted to honor the home’s bones while putting our stamp on it and bringing some of the couple’s Los Angeles style to the Hamptons. The clients have college-age children, a dog, and they love to entertain, so nothing was to be overly precious. They wanted their home to feel welcoming, calming, and relaxed yet sophisticated. We took inspiration from nature and chose soft neutrals and sunwashed, beachy tones.”
As the homeowners are big entertainers who love to cook (their friends take turns hosting dinner parties and their outdoor dining table seats 16), it was imperative that the kitchen fulfill all their needs. “The kitchen is the only area of the house that required major construction,” says Goodman. “This room is challenging because it’s long and narrow and we wanted to work within the space we had. The former layout was small and choppy, with an area for a kitchen table.” They traded the eat-in kitchen for more storage, a spacious layout, and an island that’s double in size. “The wife wanted a soft, pretty kitchen that fades away,” notes Goodman. “She fell in love with the white quartzite countertops, although it’s not just a simple white kitchen. The Thassos tile backsplash lends visual interest, as well as the large pewter-and-glass pendants from Visual Comfort. A focal point is the walnut built-in bar between the dining room and entry, which has a blue glass-tile backsplash that recalls the beach.”
The bar cabinetry is custom by All County Millworks, and the backsplash is from Stonebridge Mosaics.
In the living room, sofas covered in a fabric from Kravet surround the coffee table. The window fabric is from Weitzner.
A wall covering by Phillip Jeffries envelops the den. A coffee table from Vanguard Furniture complements a sofa from J Redmond Designs.
Dining chairs from Precedent surround a table from Abner Henry in the dining room. The ceiling fixture is from Palecek.
The cabinetry in the kitchen is custom by All County Millworks. The hood and range are by Wolf, and the countertops are from Ultra Stones.
A design by Mirror Home hangs above a vanity from Kast in the powder room. The walls are covered in a Schumacher wall covering.
A handblown glass ceiling fixture from Eichholtz hangs in the double-height entryway.
In the primary bedroom, the lamp is from Visual Comfort; the bed covering fabric is from Brentano.
Blue is a constant theme throughout, from the chairs and pillows in the living area—which, along with the kitchen, forms the great room—to the powder room, where Goodman installed a blue custom concrete sink from England that was color matched to coordinate with the Schumacher wallpaper. “The clients had more of an appetite for something playful in this small space, which is located underneath a set of stairs, and therefore, fairly restrictive,” notes Goodman. “We ended up hanging the mirror from the ceiling, the faucet is mounted to the wall, and the sink is tiny, yet I think we managed to make it feel elevated.”
Blue accents also pop in the media room, which is enveloped in a sandy-hued, suede-like wall covering from Phillip Jeffries that not only feels luxurious but serves to absorb sound as well. “The wall covering provides texture and depth while being practical,” says the designer. Meanwhile, in the dining room, a woven blue-gray wall covering from Phillip Jeffries is paired with a woven abaca light fixture from Palecek that “adds a sense of warmth and sculptural interest,” she continues. It’s the subtle patterns and textures that enliven each space and help imbue the feeling that the couple was after. “The homeowners wanted this to be a comfortable haven for their friends,” says Goodman. “I feel so lucky to have helped them create a sanctuary to return to. I hope they feel a sigh of relief when they enter this house.”
