This tired property has been transformed into a Scandinavianinspired holiday home, with a cool and breezy aesthetic

This light-filled getaway in the Hamptons has a pure aesthetic that is brilliant in more ways than one

interior designers Jessica Helgerson and Chelsie Lee, based in Portland, Oregon, happened to be at a meeting in New York City when the owner of a house in the Hamptons contacted them, saying she had just seen the work of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design online. The three women had coffee, the chemistry was immediate and a commission was agreed.

The brief was to turn a tired 30-year-old property into a light, fresh, Scandi-inspired home that could be a weekend and holiday retreat for the owners, Suzy and Chris, and their three children. The couple had long dreamt about having a refuge in the Hamptons, a chic seaside area where New Yorkers go to escape city life. Located in the small beach town of Amagansett and spread over two floors, this 279-square-metre home, which has a peaceful backyard and backs up to hiking trails, offers the owners exactly that escape. To turn this vision into a reality, however, the property needed to undergo a huge transformation.

‘The clients’ lighthearted approach to life set the tone for our whole team,’ says Jessica. ‘From the very outset it was clear the owners were going to be fun to work with.’ The couple purchased the house for its exceptional location and for its privacy, but the 1990s aesthetic was clearly in need of an update. ‘The biggest challenge was getting the exterior to be more attractive,’ says Jessica. ‘To be frank, this house was not an architectural gem in any way. But – and this is in large thanks to TBD Architecture + Design Studio – by repainting it all white, adding a porch and changing some windows, we were able to get it to a better place.’

Inside, original oak floors were retained and bleached, while wooden beams were added to the ceilings to bring more character to the interiors. ‘One of our objectives with this project was to create a layout with a lot of space for reading and relaxing,’ says Chelsie. The new kitchen-diner now occupies what was the old porch and the staircase was opened up, while two bedrooms, a bathroom and two inviting areas on each floor, with comfortable built-in sofas, were added. Because the light-filled house serves as a serene getaway, the palette is restrained yet warm, with pale natural timber, whitepainted wood, white tiling, neutral leathers, nubby wools, marble and brass throughout.

‘The house itself was very Scandinavian in style and we took our cues for furnishings from our stylish clients, incorporating Danish pieces with some more modern touches,’ says Jessica. Some elements, such as the kitchen island and desk, were custom designed, then made in Jessica’s hometown of Portland and sent to the East Coast.

‘My favourite thing about this project is the radical transformation the property underwent,’ says Chelsie. ‘It’s the most extreme before-and-after of my career and that is incredibly rewarding.’

With a mix of timeless furniture and lighting combined with textures and artwork, the interiors are welcoming, calm, comfortable and subtly sophisticated. Here, every member of the family takes time to do the things they love, at their own pace and with no rush, while also sharing joyful moments together in their home away from home. ‘This house reflects the personality of its inhabitants,’ says Jessica. ‘It is refined yet it doesn’t take itself too seriously.’