After Eddie Lee’s future clients had visited a summer home that he had designed for their friends, the couple called upon the celebrated designer to devise a unique challenge for themselves: to create a guest house in Water Mill for not only their grown children, friends, and extended family, but also a space that would seamlessly house their classic car collection. Although their modes of transportation are as covetable as a painting on the wall or a sculpture atop a pedestal, they are not static objects, nor too precious to put into use on Route 27.
“The cool thing,” says Lee, “is that they use all of the cars.” Weekend outings and Sunday drives ensure that one vehicle or another is in regular rotation. And when not in use, they’re sure-fire conversation starters for guests and friends.
A pendant by Apparatus Studio and custom sconces by designer Eddie Lee, and Tracy Glover Studio add industrial flair to the living room. The rug is by JD Staron.
Designer Eddie Lee
Another Apparatus Studio fixture hangs above a table from Lepere. The kitchen that Lee designed was fabricated by DCL Furniture. Quartzite counters are from ABC Stone.
The home’s garage houses the owners’ remarkable collection of automobiles, which includes a 1970 Fiat 600 Jolly by Ghia. Lee designed the bar, and the vintage Italian iron and bamboo chair is from Laurin Copen Antiques.
Fontana Arte pendants from Lumens illuminate the garage, which houses everything from a blue 1956 BMW Isetta and green 1973 Porsche 911S, to a gray 1967 Aston Martin DB6 coupe and a red 1971 Mercedes Benz 280 SL, among others.
A guest room is upholstered in Hines & Co.’s Havana Stripe fabric. The chair, circa 1980, is by Terje Ekstrom.
Although the new residence features a traditional shingle-style façade that echoes the main house next door, the interiors differ. The primary home is more classic in style, while Lee was called upon to create something more au courant, melding an open-concept floor plan with a decidedly more contemporary mix of interior detailing and bespoke furnishings. Architect John Laffey was Lee’s collaborator on the project, and was integral to the home’s overall design, as well. “I wanted it to be a nod to the machine age and to industrial design without it being too in your face,” says Lee of the references to the adjacent, enviable automobiles. “It’s a refined aesthetic.”
The homeowners also love to host a party, and the guest house is a beacon of hospitality; those who gather can effortlessly flow from one dining, entertaining, and lounging space to the next. The floor plan combines these spaces into one vast room, while textural and organic materials keep everything grounded. With a canape in one hand, they can peruse a variety of cars — from coupes to convertibles, and beyond.
“One of the main drivers of this project was making the design fun, as well as creating spaces that are worry-free when entertaining,” says Lee. “I incorporated a number of tailored upholstered pieces that don’t require constant fluffing, but it’s an informal, relaxed atmosphere that still feels chic.” As for the entire collaboration, when Lee is in the driver’s seat of intuitive design for his clients, it’s zero to 60 in terms of creating high style—all the while at ease.
