Summertime: "Home in the Hamptons"

Several years ago, Architectural Digest published a great old shingle-style house, photographed by Scott Frances, in the town of Wainscott, New York.  Though quieter than its immediate neighbor, East Hampton, make no mistake --   this is smack-dab in the middle of some very grand homes and very grand people.

But this family chose one of the most talented yet low key interior designers working today: Thad Hayes.  The writer of this article, Stephen Drucker, referred to Hayes as the "Jil Sander of interior design; his rooms are...of the highest quality, but the label never shows.

This is actually the side of the house, but true to the relaxed nature of the place it's used as the primary entrance.  The breezeway was added by architect Alan Wanzenberg, who also had the task of organizing the turn of the century floor plan into rooms that are more amenable to modern day living.

The main porch features comfortable wicker and a delightful rolling bar cart.

The front of the house has hardly changed in its 100-year history.

A 1950s Italian oak cabinet with a grid of carved seashells is a whimsical counterpoint to April Gornick's Equinox hanging above it. 

In one corner of the living room is a Terry Winters print, hanging above a German sofa from the early 20th century.  And clearly one of the stars here is this plaid carpet from Beauvais. The bobbin chair to the right is Victorian.

Another shot of the expansive living room shows the crisp blue and white color scheme.  Hayes wrestled with how to keep blue and white from becoming cute and precious.  His solution was to inject black into the mix; hence the 1860 French ebonized cupboard and bobbin chairs.  

 Other qualities that keep blue and white fresh and un-cliched are all the graphic elements in the room. 

Tailored slipcovers are perfect for comfortable seating.  Antique mercury glass lamps add a wonderfully reflective touch to the light-filled room.

The surprise in the dining room are the 19th century Windsor chairs, which are made of steel. 

In the library is another Beauvais carpet.  The red leather chairs provide an unexpected jolt of color.  The wonderful oak and rope low table was designed in 1942 by French modernists Adrien Audoux and 

Frida Minet.

In the master bedroom is a beautiful 19th century English carved four poster bed.  But the standout piece for sheer originality is the chest of drawers to the right.  Look closely and you'll see that it is an unlikely combination of old Hepplewhite drawers inserted into a contemporary lucite cabinet!

This is an all-American house for an all-American family.  Happy Fourth of July, and thanks for reading, everyone!