A QUOGUE New Build

This home, in Quogue, NY is one of the most exciting projects we've done to date because we were involved throughout the ground-up build of the house. We were engaged with the clients, their designers, and contractor after the architect had finalized planning, but before walls were even built. Why? So we could have a say in where art would go, what that art would be, and how it would work together with the furnishings, lighting, and fixtures throughout the home. The result is an incredibly cohesive, beautiful space, and one that was DONE on move-in day. The clients steered clear for the final week for installation and walked into a home that was balanced, complete, and distinctly theirs. 

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THE CHALLENGE:

This project had a lot of moving parts and was large-scale. The home is a ~6,000 square-foot shingle with fireplaces, natural materials, a ton of light, and a unique layout that allows for family-friendly spaces and guest privacy alike. 

The art needed to highlight the distinct function and energy of each room - playful, welcoming, formal, and more - while still feeling cohesive. It needed to create a feeling of comfort while marrying well with the refined design palate. Most importantly, it needed to feel special to the clients because they were building their dream getaway.  

THE SOLUTION:

We started by identifying key art walls to ensure proper lighting and clearance of those spaces. AV panels and light switches in the middle of large signature walls are something to avoid, and we ensured the contractor team was on board with this rule. Next, we assigned locations for all works from the clients' existing collection.  Included was a series of meaningful family watercolors that were stylistically quite different from the house, but absolutely needed a home.  

Next, we sourced for the many remaining walls, focusing on works from local artists and galleries, as well as pieces that incorporated colors from the local Quogue landscape. A Mike Solomon watercolor mixed with resin is a cornerstone for the entry behind the Dutch Door, inspired by the reflections and ephemerality of nature. Paige Folmann's work adds a playful touch to the Primary Suite and Eugene Healy's mixed-media collaged abstract landscapes add texture and warmth to the stairwell balcony and guest suite.  

As with any project big or small, there's a clear budget and we advise on ways to save and splurge. Accordingly, we were creative about making kid and guest spaces feel homey and personalized in affordable ways. The kid rooms have bright wallpaper prints that speak to each child’s interests ( a favorite is the Loboloup boat wallpaper) and a guest bath has a dramatic St. Frank geometric wallpaper that feels beachy, yet polished. We incorporated a pair of llama photos, a Mary Mattingly swim painting, and a Serge Hamad sunset diptych heading into the powder room. For the client’s collection of watercolors, we framed in a whitewashed maple and installed them salon-style all over the walls of the cozy office-nook. This part of the project wasn't photographed (for privacy reasons) but importantly it highlights how each space has its own meaningful character, and the home truly feels functional, versatile, and easy. 

At one point in the process we had artwork up and down the east coast, in frame shops across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Hamptons, and taking over Mason Lane HQ. On the (very busy) install day, our team carpooled out east and installed ~40 pieces throughout the home. Props to Maddie and Melissa for their love of spreadsheets to track it all, and to our favorite trucker, Alex, for not damaging a THING amongst a lot of construction movement. Maddie even brought an on-brand paintbrush pen on install day to update her reports on-site while Lisse took video footage and shuffled around installers giving instructions on heights and hardware. It was an AWESOME day for our team, the entire project crew for the house, and definitely, the clients who came over circa 5 pm for the big reveal.  

Thanks to everyone who watched this project evolve. We documented some of the early stages here, shared the llama drama here, and obviously have highlights on IG to show it all from soup to nuts. 

Photos by Sean Litchfield