Wanting a family-friendly summer getaway where one can entertain is a standard client request in the Hamptons, but this simple demand can prove tricky when the family in question includes five grown children, spouses, and a growing number of grandkids. After the Westchester-based clients contacted architect Craig Arm and designer Michelle Morgan Harrison, it quickly became obvious that the existing structure on the waterfront Quiogue property they had purchased wasn’t going to cut it for a large brood. Instead, the couple would need a much larger residence with enough public and private spaces for the entire family to convene comfortably, but also have access to quiet, separate areas when needed.
The result is a 15,000-square-foot, 11-bedroom shingle-style residence complete with a pool, a pool house, and a guest or caretaker’s suite above the garage. “It’s a classic Hamptons shingle-style house with timeless details, but a bit crisper and cleaner,” explains Arm. “The shape is wide and linear in order to maximize water views. We angled the house slightly and positioned the rooms so the primary living spaces as well as the first-floor primary suite and the five children’s rooms upstairs enjoy water exposures.” In fact, the children’s rooms are all luxurious junior suites with their own sitting rooms and baths. Also on the second floor is a family room with an adjoining balcony, a second laundry room, and five additional bedrooms for guests and grandchildren—including a bunk room.
In the living room, a custom daybed by MTC Studio Designs complements a sofa by Hickory Chair that’s upholstered in a Perennials fabric. The ottomans by Chaddock are covered in a Rogers & Goffigan textile.
Bespoke cabinetry by Highland Woodcraft is painted in a high-gloss shade called Normandy by Benjamin Moore. The wall covering is from Schumacher.
In the primary bedroom, the bed covering is from Legacy Linens, and the bench is from Kravet.
Bed coverings in the bunkroom are from Legacy Linens, and the bed frames are by Highland Woodcraft.
In the backyard, the chaise longues are from RH and the umbrellas are from ShadeScapes Americas. The chairs surrounding the firepit are from Sunset West.
Downstairs, a second family room, living room, office, and billiard’s room provide plenty of options for work and play. “The common spaces are sizable,” says Arm. “There are formal rooms, but they are balanced with lots of informal areas. This is a summer home after all.” And as such, indoor-outdoor living was a key piece of the puzzle. In addition to upper-level balconies overlooking the water, Arm incorporated 30-foot-wide pocketing doors in the family room that open onto a porch featuring screens that can be lowered to enclose the space. Beyond that sits the pool and adjoining pool house. “For the pool house, we wanted to design something that wouldn’t block views of the bay from inside,” says Arm. “With stone veneer and a flat green roof planted with moss and other low-maintenance species, it blends into the landscape. When you’re looking down on the building from upstairs, the green roof is much more pleasing to look at.” And when it came to the pool itself, the team decided to forgo a standard 20-foot-by-40-foot and opt for a larger 60-foot-by-24-foot version. “We wanted to keep everything in proportion with the house, and a standard pool would have looked tiny in comparison,” notes Arm.
Back inside, Morgan Harrison focused on creating streamlined interiors that are both family friendly and chic. “Because this is a place for people to come together, whether it’s family gatherings or entertaining friends, durability is critical,” says the designer, who upholstered the mostly custom furnishings in indoor-outdoor fabrics, incorporated wipeable surfaces, and made sure everything was user-friendly for the many visitors. Keeping those visitors top of mind was crucial while designing each space, from a kitchen with double islands, a breakfast area that seats 14, and a dining room that accommodates 18. On the screened porch, the solution for seating 16 is actually two tables positioned parallel to one another. “It was definitely a challenge to create seating for that many people,” notes Morgan Harrison.
The bunk room is perhaps the most fun solution to maximize space for overnight guests, with three double beds and three twin beds and a bath complete with a trough sink and stools so multiple little ones can be brushing teeth at the same time. Both upstairs and downstairs, blue is a common theme (and a mandate from the client).“We tried to find a nice balance of shades, using a medium tone in the office, a deeper, sultry shade in the billiard’s room, and high-gloss blue doors throughout,” explains Morgan Harrison. “The goal was to make each space feel layered and fresh and create something that feels livable and inviting.”
