Creative Coastal Design

Hillary Stamm explains why thinking out of the box yields unique results.

Hillary Stamm, founder of HMS Interiors, designed each room and outdoor space with a distinct décor rather than following one overall look and feel throughout the home. This gave each area a special meaning and purpose for the family.

“All the departures from the classic beach house—from the butler’s pantry to the cigar room to the powder bath—still remain true to the core vision of the house to be the perfect bungalow beach hotel,” Hillary says. “The departures from classic white elevate it to a modern, yet still classic, home with that ‘wow’ factor.”

• The yacht club space reflects the homeowners’ love of

travel and water sports.

• The cigar room reminds the family of European travel and a moody, glamorous hotel bar, complete with all the curated custom pieces of a magical night that you’ll always remember.

“These special spaces truly make the house a home,” Hillary says.

“We wanted the house to feel as if you’re walking into a beach bungalow hotel at sunset.”

STYLING THE ROOMS

While every room design achieved the designer’s goal, Hillary says the kitchen’s outcome is her favorite. “The kitchen is one of the showstoppers of the home,” she says. “With its double custom slab islands, custom lighting, and all the bells and whistles of a curated kitchen, this is really the anchor of the home.”

By creating an eating nook, pantry, special lighting and a farmhouse sink that looks out to the ocean, there’s plenty of space to lounge, laugh, cook and clean.

The addition of six fireplaces creates a cozy ambience in the large home. Bifold doors that open to a breathtaking view of the ocean add a special touch to the living room,

The front exterior’s gas lamps, coupled with the textured, white brick, textured limestone and custom shingle color, give it spectacular curb appeal.

The primary bedroom’s details, including sliding doors that look out to the walk street to see the activity, as well as a custom barn door from the bedroom to the bath, create a primary suite that feels like its own beach suite.

“This cottage is such a special space. We ended up designing more than a home; we designed an experience.”

Hillary explains, “We used custom slab throughout the primary bath, including a fully mirrored slab in the oversized steam shower adjacent to a large, freestanding tub, to make it extra luxurious. The custom work includes mixed metals. We wanted to bring the brass and silver together and tied it in with the silver and gold, creating our custom lighting by pulling two pieces apart and making our own,” she explains. “I love these extra touches that elevate the home.”

“This cottage is such a special space,” Hillary says. “We ended up designing more than a home; we designed an experience!”

ALL ABOARD. For the “yacht club” room, Hillary curated pieces from the British Virgin Islands, Hawaii and Maine. The vintage buoys from Maine were gifts from the builder. Bold colors give the family space a fun departure from the rest of the home.

RAISING THE BEACH BAR. This view of the “yacht club” room features custom draperies against limestone floors that evoke a beach bar. Hillary brought in coffee table books of beach hotels around the world. Cream and gold chairs create a comfy space for family movie nights.

BRING YOUR FLIP-FLOPS. For the full “beach club” experience, the “beach room” is equipped with LED lighting to create an evening ambience. It also includes a dishwasher and a wine cellar.

|ABOVE| SECRET SPACE. Hidden behind a secret panel off the kitchen is the ”cigar room,” designed as a fun, after-dinner space. Vintage family heirlooms make it cozy and warm. |RIGHT| The pantry off the kitchen is a gorgeous prep space that features Calacatta marble. Wallpaper in a gold floral print makes the pantry a bold departure from the rest of the house.

|TOP| SWEET DREAMS. The bunk room includes custom lighting for nighttime reading and is great for sleepovers. |ABOVE, LEFT| SMALL, BUT STYLISH. The powder room sports a dresser from Wayfair that was repurposed as a vanity. |ABOVE, RIGHT| BATHING BEAUTY. The primary bath features custom lighting and Calacatta marble slabs in the shower. Gold hardware contrasts with the white and marble elements.

SERENE SCENE. The primary bedroom is an elegant coastal space with a fireplace and cozy seating area. The artwork above the fireplace is by artist Mark Leibowitz.

ROOM TO GROW. The girl’s bedroom has warm, but glam, textured wallpaper and mirrored side tables that are not the least bit childish. Wallpaper gives the illusion of wood paneling. A tufted headboard on a custom bed adds vintage elegance that’s perfect for a young girl to grow into.

|ABOVE, LEFT| MAKING A SPLASH. Hillary developed a custom color for the girl’s bathroom. |ABOVE, RIGHT| The master bath was anchored with oversized Sierra Pacific windows, a custom tub and custom millwork. |RIGHT| The foyer is bold and inviting. A vintage family mirror, as well as paintings from local artists, decorates the space. The large mirror opens the small space, while a rattan basket adds a beachy vibe.