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Collection by Kelly Dawson

A Renovation Simplifies Life at a Wood Beach House in the Hamptons

A 4,130-square-foot vacation home finds harmony in a cohesive design.

When a 30-something couple with a baby on the way purchased an East Hampton vacation home in need of a renovation, the challenges they faced were enough to make them wonder if they'd made a big mistake. The property sprawled across its parcel of a quiet cul-de-sac in a series of lackluster additions, and its many rooms made for a disjointed design. Principal Robert Young and his eponymous firm wanted to streamline the complicated layout—a beach house is supposed to be laid back, after all—and he opted to do so without employing major construction. “The challenge was not to tear it down just because it was ugly,” he says. Instead, his team worked “to save and enhance the good parts while removing or de-emphasizing the bad.” A dull, overpowering exterior was traded for layered cedar and six bedrooms were opened to light. All it took was a little imagination, and a clever use of new elements, to steady the owners’ nerves.

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A series of “ad-hoc additions,” as Young refers to them, gave the original home a confusing layout. The renovation unified it with details like white oak flooring.
A series of “ad-hoc additions,” as Young refers to them, gave the original home a confusing layout. The renovation unified it with details like white oak flooring.
“[We wanted to] discover and leverage the latent potential hidden under all the unpleasantness,” Young says. “The living room had a nice scale to it. The orientation was set up with a good relationship to the sun and the yard.” A custom sofa and vintage chairs surround a Platner table.
“[We wanted to] discover and leverage the latent potential hidden under all the unpleasantness,” Young says. “The living room had a nice scale to it. The orientation was set up with a good relationship to the sun and the yard.” A custom sofa and vintage chairs surround a Platner table.
The kitchen’s stainless-steel range by Wolf matches the Tolix counter stool, which stands beside an island topped with Carrara marble.
The kitchen’s stainless-steel range by Wolf matches the Tolix counter stool, which stands beside an island topped with Carrara marble.
“We brought the cedar siding of the exterior inside strategically, both to blur inside and out and to give texture,” Young says. “Simple forms and clean lines, if done right, have a calming effect and nicely contrast the furnishings.” The master bedroom features the same western red cedar as the exterior, and lighting by David Weeks Studio.
“We brought the cedar siding of the exterior inside strategically, both to blur inside and out and to give texture,” Young says. “Simple forms and clean lines, if done right, have a calming effect and nicely contrast the furnishings.” The master bedroom features the same western red cedar as the exterior, and lighting by David Weeks Studio.
The master bathroom’s countertops are detailed with the same Carrara marble seen in the kitchen. The faucet and shower trims are by Kallista.
The master bathroom’s countertops are detailed with the same Carrara marble seen in the kitchen. The faucet and shower trims are by Kallista.
White oak flooring continues into a media room with furnishings by Knoll. The space has a sliding door that flows into the outdoor deck.
White oak flooring continues into a media room with furnishings by Knoll. The space has a sliding door that flows into the outdoor deck.
From outside, the home's Western red cedar facade harmonizes with the wooded site.
From outside, the home's Western red cedar facade harmonizes with the wooded site.
Fleetwood Windows & Doors gave the home ample access to sunlight. Matching CB2 lounge chairs face the pool.
Fleetwood Windows & Doors gave the home ample access to sunlight. Matching CB2 lounge chairs face the pool.