THIS 4,600 SQUARE-FOOT, THREE LEVEL HOUSE, LOCATED IN WATERMILL, NEW YORK, WAS DESIGNED BY STELLE LOMONT ROUHANI ARCHITECTS IN 2010. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, MR’S DECOR TEAM WAS HIRED BY A RETURNING CLIENT WHO HAD PURCHASED IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THE CHALLENGE WAS TO RE-INVENT THE HOME TO ACCOMODATE THE FUNCTIONAL AND AESTHETIC OBJECTIVES OF THE GROWING FAMILY OF FIVE.

THE KEY FEATURE OF THE HOUSE IS ITS FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS, WHICH PROVIDE STUNNING VIEWS OF THE OCEAN AND MECOX BAY. IT WAS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR MR THAT THEY RESPECT THE EXISTING ARCHITECTURE AND SURROUNDING LAND AND SEASCAPES. THIS, ALONG WITH THE LAYOUT OF THE HOUSE AND THE ABUNDANT LIGHT, AND THE FACT THAT THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WOULD MEAN SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC AND A CERTAIN LEVEL OF WEAR AND TEAR, ALL HELPED FORM MR’S DESIGN DECISIONS.

THE MAIN LIVING AND ENTERTAINING AREAS ARE LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR WHERE THERE ARE FEW WALLS DIVIDING THE SPACES, ALLOWING LIGHT TO ENTER FROM ALL DIRECTIONS. THE CLIENT EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN A NEUTRAL PALETTE AND CONTROLLED POPS OF COLOR. WITH THE IDEA OF CASUAL SOPHISTICATION IN MIND, MR GATHERED A THOUGHTFUL DECOR COLLECTION THAT WOULD NOT ONLY COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING ARCHITECTURE, BUT ALSO BE EASY TO MAINTAIN. OFF-WHITE TEXTILES WERE USED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE, INCLUDING A LIGHTWEIGHT LINEN FOR DRAPERIES AND SHADES AND A HEAVIER LINEN FOR UPHOLSTERED PIECES. PALE WOOD WAS THE CHOSEN FINISH FOR FURNITURE, OFFSETTING THE MID-RANGE WOOD CEILING, AND BRIGHTER BLUES AND RED-ORANGES WERE USED FOR THROW BLANKETS AND PILLOWS. PARTICULAR ATTENTION WAS PAID TO THE LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOMS, BOTH OF WHICH OPEN UP TO A TERRACE SO THAT THE FAMILY CAN ENJOY INDOOR-OUTDOOR LIVING. MR’S CAREFUL ATTENTION TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CLIENT’S DESIRES RESULTED IN A TASTEFUL HOME ENVIRONMENT WITH A REFINED, YET CASUAL BEACH VIBE.

PHOTOS: ERIC PIASECKI