OUTSIDE IN
Discover how East Coast seaside views inspired this modern beach cottage in Southampton, New York.
Most properties in a place with as much natural beauty as the charming village of Quogue in the Southampton area of New York are designed with the surroundings in mind. But John Bjørnen of Bjørnen Design went a step further with a recent project there by “allowing nature to inform the colors inside” as well. It’s an approach to design that resulted in a beautifully updated modern home that naturally fits in with its environment.
FIRST-CLASS HISTORY
According to the neighbors, the original property was owned by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the house and the one next to it were the first cottages on the beach. The main house includes a family/living room, open dining area and adjacent kitchen, two lower guest bedrooms, a master bedroom and bath and guest baths. The cottage has a sitting room and two more guest bedrooms.
As for the history of the property, John points out that the “main house was updated over the years and the owners had plans to renovate and expand the house, but [it turned out] the house was unstable and had to be demolished.” However, the village permitted them to rebuild the house, as long as it replicated the original house as much as possible. “The property was updated in every way … [we were] sensitive to the waterfront location and all existing conditions,” John says.
CRITICAL REMODELS
The project did present a few challenges, including the guest cottage that was once a two-car garage. John explains: “It was structurally unsound and the foundation was sinking. The village allowed my clients to build a new foundation and re-install the existing cottage.” A previously filled-in pool between the main house and the cottage was replaced with a new heated Gunite pool and a mahogany deck that meets the cottage.
“The property was updated in every way … [we were] sensitive to the waterfront location and all existing conditions.”
The architectural firm of Austin Patterson Disston Architects took care of the physical updates to this oceanfront and bayfront home. Part of the collaboration with APD included modernizing the interiors and adding a wood V-groove throughout on the walls and ceilings. Water exposure on both sides of the property allows for access to plenty of natural light, an asset John took full advantage of when choosing interior design elements.
NAUTICAL NOTES
A nautical theme dominates throughout the home, reflected in the abundance of white and blue. John stained both the main house and cottage white to “create a crisp, timeless and more modern aesthetic.” The color palette in the main house is grounded in white with soft shades of sand and sky blue.
In the main house, John “thoughtfully designed new kitchens and baths that were tailored and streamlined” to maximize the existing space, while creating modern luxuries and accessible hi-tech elements.
The whitewashed wood-plank porcelain tile on the floors in the cottage inspired the stained-wood floors in the main house.
The whitewashed wood-plank porcelain tile on the floors in the cottage inspired the stained-wood floors in the main house.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY STRATEGY
The furniture was selected to be as user-friendly as possible for the couple’s grandkids and pets. This was accomplished with carpets and upholstery fabrics designed for durability and to maintain color fastness since the home is regularly bathed in natural light. In order to maintain the view and influx of light, window treatments throughout the home are either classic white wood interior shutters or motorized solar shades.
John made wise use of space by combining storage options in subtle ways. An example of this is in the two guest bedrooms in the cottage. One has a custom Sunbrella bed and the other has twin beds and storage solutions from Room and Board.
The cottage is peppered with white V-groove and white porcelain oak flooring. The space was updated with a newly appointed kitchen and
bath in white oak millwork, white Caesarstone, stainless steel fittings and Fisher Paykel appliances. The color palette in the cottage is also based in white, and John created a “young, fun interior” since it doubles as a pool house.
Completed by Joseph W Tyree Landscape Design, the landscape incorporates a mix of mostly indigenous plants.
John describes results that include structures nestled in beach grass and bayberry as having a natural elegance that “makes the property seem perched timelessly on the site.”The area between the main house and the cottage is a patch of green grass used by the homeowners as a place for the grandchildren to play poolside. Shine Design provided the landscape lighting.
Bjørnen Design has a reputation for balancing coastal elegance with modern flair. Yet each home is a reflection of the owner’s personal style and lifestyle. Look no further than this home in the village of Quogue for proof of John Bjørnen’s creative knack for seamlessly blending nature and modern design into a home space that’s warm and inviting.