Completed in 1962 for Rudolph and Ethel Johnson, this impressive Modernist home was one of only a handful of residences designed by George Nelson and architect Gordon Chadwick, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1989, the Johnsons’ son, Richard, learned that his childhood home was up for sale to owners who wouldn’t keep the original design, so he built a near-perfect replica (minus the breezeway) on an adjacent lot, using Chadwick’s drawings and specs. He later sold the home to architectural designer Lauren Rotett in 2012.

“I was house hunting in the Hamptons when I came across the listing,” she recalls. “Once I saw the house, I fell in love with it. The way it’s sited makes you feel like you’re in a tree house and the views are multilayered. I’m super claustrophobic, but in this house every single room looks into another, and past into open vistas.”

Today, the nearly 3,000-square-foot Montauk residence has been immaculately restored, with some additional modern touches, of course. Its wood-clad walls, stone exterior, and oversized windows lay the foundation for striking interiors. There are hexagonal rooms with wooden ceilings, original flagstone flooring, and a master bath with patinated mirrors—a detail Rottet loves.

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To begin the lengthy renovation, she first replaced the shingles on the interior columns and roof, landscaped the yard, and added a saltwater pool. And inside, she made revisions to nearly every room, which included transforming the front boiler and mechanical room into a bedroom.

“I buried the gas tank and added a bathroom,” she says. “The tricky part was figuring out how to fit a bathroom in a room with all angles. I drew 30 plans trying to fit it in.”

In the kitchen, Rottet replaced every appliance, except for the stove, with black Electrolux pieces.

“Electrolux was popular back in that time, and I researched to make sure everything I bought looked as [historically accurate] as possible,” she says.

Rottet’s art collection, pieces from her own furniture line, and vintage finds bring character to the interiors. Some of her most cherished items include the Franco Albini wicker chairs she bought in Sag Harbor, a Float dining table with acrylic base, and a credenza by Paul McCobb.

One of Rottet’s favorite aspects of the home is the fact that is has forced her to think outside the box, and challenged her design choices.

“You don't have to live in a rectangle or square,” she says. “This house makes me live differently.”

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: George Nelson and Gordon Chadwick

Landcape, Lighting and Interior Design: Lauren Rottet / @rottetstudio

Cabinetry Design: George Nelson

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Designer Lauren Rottet Thinks Outside the Box to Renovate Her Montauk Retreat