Architectural Digest Italy: August 2024
This detached garden villa reflects the essence of the Hamptons with a contemporary twist.
BY LUDOVICA STEVAN | PHOTOGRAPHS BY READ MCKENDREE
The owners are a young family who found their home in Sag Harbor, the American village that became famous for being mentioned in the pages of Herman Melville's Moby Dick: a detached villa with a garden suitable for daily life with two small children and a large dog.
By optimising space and introducing functional elements such as the large white oak staircase, this project explores the creation of a contemporary home where a young couple has managed to integrate the modern with the traditional.
A young American family opens the doors of their new detached villa with garden, a project that reflects the essence of the Hamptons by combining tradition and modernity.
In the large living room, the real star is the spectacular internal staircase, characterized by an elegant white oak lattice screen. “An element that is functional and of great aesthetic value,” comments Alicia. This structure not only provides the necessary privacy from the street, but also allows natural light to filter inside, creating fascinating shadow plays that animate the space with an artistic and sophisticated touch.
“The essence of designing and building in a place like Sag Harbor,” Alicia explains, “is the delicacy of balancing the past and the present.” Here, in fact, every corner tells a story of tradition and evolution, of how respect for architectural heritage marries the need for innovation and modern comforts.
The story of a family looking for their home
In the charming neighborhood of Sag Harbor - the village in the United States that became famous for being mentioned in the pages of Herman Melville's Moby Dick - lives a young couple with their two daughters and their beloved dog of 45 kg (they are keen to point out smiling). The family, after having lived in this area for a long time, recently finally found, right here in Sag Harbor, the house of their dreams: a detached villa with a garden, along Glover Street, which is none other than the street where they lived for 10 long years. As they say: sometimes destiny is just around the corner.
And so, after having commissioned Craft + Modern , a duo of architects who are friends of the couple, for the design part, the house began to take shape. But it was with the arrival of interior designer Alicia Murphy , founder of the studio Alicia Murphy Design, that the furnishing part also began to come to life. "This was not our first collaboration," explains Murphy, "but the first time one of us became a client. This detail made the project even more special and personal."
The realization of this project presented several challenges, the most significant of which was to maximize the use of the available space, creating common, private and efficient areas. The kitchen, in particular, represents a focal point of this challenge: an open and bright environment, designed to be functional and welcoming. At the center of it all is an island with a marble top, next to which, a large rectangular table takes up the theme of the white oak of the stairs, harmoniously integrating materials and styles.
The contemporary charm of the new construction
The very essence of designing and building in a place like Sag Harbor would seem to lie in the delicacy of balancing the past with the present. In the heart of the village, in fact, this new villa represents a turning point for the entire neighborhood, being the first contemperary construction to rise on this street . The area in question has in fact always been famous for its historic homes and its picturesque charm, which offers a landscape rich in history and character. "The design challenge was thus to maintain the historical integrity of the neighborhood, at the same time introducing a touch of modernity, that je ne sais quoi, that could coexist harmoniously with the surrounding environment."
From the very beginning, the project called for the creation of a modern , year-round home for a young family. These were the starting points. The main goal: "to blend contemporary aesthetics with the traditional language of Sag Harbor ," continues Alicia , "every detail had to be durable and suitable for daily life with two small children and a large dog, without compromising the elegance and visual appeal of the house." The result is a welcoming, functional and aesthetically striking home.
“The goal was to blend a contemporary aesthetic with the traditional language of Sag Harbor,” Alicia explains, “every detail had to be durable and suitable for daily living with two small children and a large dog, without compromising the elegance and visual appeal of the home.”
The design challenges and the final result
Not all interventions go smoothly, indeed, some can hide various pitfalls. And perhaps, this is precisely the case. The realization of this project would seem to have presented several challenges: «we had to optimize the use of the available space, creating common, private and efficient areas. One of the most creative solutions, for example, was the design of a large room with bunk beds for the two daughters. A room with an open space that overlooks the landing, also offering a versatile area for playing and meeting».
In the master bedroom, as in the rest of the house, the atmosphere is wrapped in a palette of neutral and light colors, which evoke a feeling of tranquility and comfort. Earth tones dominate, creating an ideal environment for rest. To complete the whole, a carpet always light, which adds softness and warmth to the floor.
Another distinctive detail of the house seems to have been the construction of the grand staircase , through a lattice screen in white oak, "an element that is both functional and of great aesthetic value", comments Alicia. This structure was designed to offer privacy from the street, without sacrificing internal brightness and to create fascinating shadows. "Furthermore", adds the designer, "the wall of windows on the front facade is tempered by these oak slats, which add an artistic touch to the functionality". And here is the result: a residence that reflects the essence of the Hamptons with its traditional materiality, while maintaining clean and minimal lines.
One of the most creative solutions in this project was the creation of a spacious room dedicated to the two daughters, complete with bunk beds. This space is not only functional, but also designed to stimulate creativity and encourage interaction. Here, the opening to the landing adds a touch of dynamism and connection to the spaces, allowing them to play freely and gather in a welcoming and well-thought-out environment.
Even in the bathroom, light plays a starring role, almost stealing the scene. The space was designed to maximize natural and artificial lighting, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.
Builder: Nick DeMarco, DeMarco Development. Architect: Craft + Modern. Stylist: Frances Bailey. Designer: Alicia Murphy, Alicia Murphy Design. Photographer: Read McKendree.
