An elegant beach house in the Hamptons gently refreshed by Augusta Hoffman
There can be few more challenging projects for an interior designer than being asked to redecorate a fellow interior designer’s house for its new owners. How much do you change? How far are you going to be influenced by the way the previous occupant did things? These were the questions that New York-based Augusta Hoffman faced when taking on this elegant Hamptons house for her clients.
Previously the longtime home of the well-known designer Robert Stilin, and designed by him in conjunction with Frank Greenwald Architects, the house has a lovely setting near Georgica Pond, the coastal lagoon at the border of East Hampton. Lovers of interior design, especially in the US, may be familiar with it already: Robert lived there for 18 years and it featured in his book, before he eventually moved on to another house nearby.
It is generous in size and layout, the main house and then a separate wing affectionately called ‘the barn.’ “It is very much not a barn!” laughs Augusta. The main house contains the drawing room, dining room and kitchen, along with three bedrooms and an inviting library, whilst the barn contains a den and a large guest suite with its own sitting room. Augusta’s project was to redecorate the house in a style that suited its new owners. “They are a young couple, known to throw a lively party,” she explains, “so the space was designed for entertaining year round. We conceived of each room as a casual and comfortable hotel suite, perfect for weekend guests. All of the pieces are meant for relaxation, rest and fun – no stress about red wine spills here.”
Knowing the previous incarnation of the house as well as she did, it was a challenge for Augusta to change things up. “The challenge of the project was truly honouring Robert Stilin’s meticulous aesthetic, while making the home personal and practical for its new owners,” she explains. Much of Stilin’s clean, graceful backdrop remains the same, including the lovely tongue and groove panelling that features in many of the rooms, giving them a subtly beachy aesthetic. The contents, however, have changed considerably, creating a more intimate and moody atmosphere.
“While this is a beach house, we were not going for a classic East Hampton look.The clients love a very tailored and minimal look that leans quite masculine,” Augusta notes, while Stilin’s style had erred more on the side of maximalism. “In every room, it was hard for us not to reference Robert’s layers of edgy antiques as inspiration, but the clients’ style leans much more streamlined and minimal.” In the end, they retained some of Robert’s pieces for the new interiors, including the beds, the sofa in the drawing room and the sofa in the entryway, and then added in a fresh blend of characterful antiques and bespoke pieces. Special favourites of Augusta’s include the beautiful custom colored mohair rugs throughout, a custom parchment and cerused oak table and an early 18th-century Italian ebonized mirror in the drawing room, along with a 19th-century Welsh schoolhouse sideboard in the dining room.
The house makes for an excellent backdrop to art, having originally been designed by Stilin to showcase his own collection of contemporary pieces. The new owners were just as keen to incorporate some showstopping works, and brought on art advisor Anne Bruder to help. “Our clients grew up around art,” she explains, “so they had a clear vision for their own collection.” Once they had briefed Anne on their interests (colour field painting as well as works on paper and botanical drawings), she set about building an array of pieces that would highlight their own taste while also working well in the space. “We wanted to bring a diverse group of voices in,” says Anne, who started things off with “an incredible work by the Japanese artist Kikuo Saito from the 1980s.” She also highlights “an amazing work by Maki Na Kamura, which also connects to color field painting and abstract approaches to artmaking, and an abstract landscape by Brazilian artist Patricia Leite. These artists all come from disparate backgrounds, but are united in their reference to this period of painting.”
As a space for entertaining, the house has undoubtedly been a success, and Augusta is uniquely well-placed to see the results of her work. “These clients are actually friends of mine, which is not typically the case,” she explains. “And so I've been to the house for parties, and it's so lovely to see how they use the space.” Of course being the perfect hosts with the perfect weekend house can have its downsides.”I think the only problem for them is that people have figured this out, so there is never a weekend in the summer when they don’t have guests.” A small price to pay for such an inviting interior.
Tim Lenz1/13In the entrance hall, mid-century verdigris buffet lamps with whipstitch shades stand under an antique Belgian mirror.
Tim Lenz2/13Augusta added a Turkish Oushak runner to the existing kitchen.
Tim Lenz3/13In the dining room, a Welsh sideboard stands under Richard Misrach's Sea #4, 2020. An art deco easy chair brightens up the corner.
Tim Lenz4/13A set of Osvaldo Borsani dining chairs stands under a ‘Francesco’ chandelier from Visual Comfort.
Tim Lenz5/13A 1970s chinoiserie bamboo sofa, reupholstered in Zak+Fox's ‘Poncho 05’, stands in the window of the dining room.
Tim Lenz6/13The main bedroom is a tranquil space, with a Stark ‘Desta’ handwoven jute rug, and 18th-century English oak side table lending an organic feel. The pillows are made up in Schuyler Samperton's ‘Benghal Stripe’ in marigold. Maki Na Kamura's Camp II, 2022, hangs to the right.
Tim Lenz7/13A pair of art deco lounge chairs stand at the end of the bed. The ‘Wayne’ wallcovering by Leo's Luxe Linens from Phillip Jeffries provides a serene backdrop.
Tim Lenz8/13The adjoining bathroom has a grassweave blind by Hartmann & Forbes. A stool by Guillerme et Chambron stool has been reupholstered in ‘Very Terry’ in blanca by Perennials.
Tim Lenz9/13This space off the main bedroom has a custom sofa by Augusta Hoffman, upholstered in Pierre Frey's ‘Menerbes’ fabric in ardoise. Suite off the primary bedroom. The ottoman was also a bespoke design, and is covered in Holland & Sherry's ‘Modern Gent’ fabric in cognac. A floor lamp by Visual Comfort creates an inviting reading nook.
Tim Lenz10/13A guest bedroom features a bedspread by Ruemmler and a ‘Fenn’ blanket by Jayson Home. Oak, leather and iron nightstands in the manner of Jean Michel Frank stand on an ‘Amble’ rug by Beni Rugs.
Tim Lenz11/13A bedroom in ‘the barn’ has a ‘Prisha’ lumbar pillow by The Citizenry and a striking artwork by Claire Oswalt.
Tim Lenz12/13Milo Baughman Scoop chairs add mid-century flair in the barn's sitting room. Mimi Lauter's Erect No Monument, 2019, hangs over the sofa.
Tim Lenz13/13Also in the barn, a bespoke sofa in George Spencer's ‘Herringbone Stripe’ in cricket with vintage sari pillows from Carol Piper and a vintage Moroccan rug creates a cosy space.
