How A Hamptons Farmhouse Became The Ultimate Year-Round Retreat
Architect Stephen Potters designed floor-to-ceiling windows and designer Brittany Bromley coated the frames in Farrow & Ball’s Railings to showcase both sunny and snowy days. Thanks to raised custom sofas and an expandable corner antique table, the room transforms easily into a fun dining space. Pattern play through armchairs upholstered in a Fermoie fabric and Hodsoll McKenzie-covered poufs add a bit of whimsy.
Summers in the Hamptons are what dreams are made of—sunlit days relaxing by the water that segue into evening gatherings lasting late into the night. It’s a true escape for many New Yorkers, including finance professional Raleigh Nuckols and interventional radiologist Cash Horn. But this pair wanted more than just a summer house. They desired a respite to enjoy all year-round, be it the glory days of the high season or the bleakest stretches of Manhattan winter. So, upon their purchase of a rambling farmhouse in Sagaponack, they turned to designer Brittany Bromley to create something “warm and comfortable and different from our neutral city apartment,” says Raleigh.
That’s not to say they sought a classically Hamptons look. “They wanted to have colors that felt like you would be just as happy there in January as you would be in July,” the designer explains. Texture and pattern play were similarly key to crafting an all-season ethos, especially in the double-height living area. “It was very difficult to imagine how it would ever feel cozy, because it’s such a cavernous room,” Bromley says. Her clever solution? To clad the walls in a soft yet dramatic faux bois wallcovering—a move that, admittedly, made Raleigh and Cash nervous at first. “We thought, “Oh my gosh! How are we going to have such massive amounts of wall covered in something patterned or textured?’ ” says Raleigh. “But Brittany was 100 percent right. That was the number one thing that warmed up the space.”
There and throughout, Bromley took to the walls to craft a homey, curated-over-the-years feel. A blue-and-cream patterned wallpaper greets guests upon arrival in the foyer, grass cloth lends a South Asian vibe in the main bedroom and a high-gloss green paint adds old-school romance to the library (a room where the couple loves to curl up and watch movies).
That Bromley had an artfully-conceived home to outfit is thanks to the efforts of now-retired architect Stephen Potters—along with his project team of Ruth Gyuse, Vanessa Ah-Chuen and Kathy Bahk, and general contractor Anthony Kasmarcik—who oversaw its top-to-bottom renovation, which included transforming the kitchen and bathrooms, overhauling flow from room to room throughout, and building out living quarters above the garage. That said intervention was meant to house a luxurious suite only underscores the fact that the couple sought a home to share with others. Consummate entertainers, they wanted their future procession of guests to feel comfortable and welcome. “They’re intrepid travelers and have tons of friends from all over the world. There are always interesting people over,” notes Bromley.
The lush backyard—a summertime hot spot—got a full blitz, too. “The house didn’t take advantage of the property that surrounds it,” says Raleigh. “We opened up the back, moved the pool so it was more proximate to the house and cleared some of the forest area.” Meanwhile, lending provenance off the rear, Potters “created a covered porch with a deck above, which brings the inside out. One of the main goals was to make the space feels as if it continues, both physically and visually,” explains the architect. A popular spot for lunches by the pool, Cash and Raleigh happily dub that back porch their “favorite place to be.”
Still, outside isn’t the only place to come together and enjoy the idyllic setting. Crafting an ambient indoor oasis, Potters winterized an all-season sun room, replacing one wall with floor-to-ceiling windows whose trim Bromley painted black to boldly frame the views. An airy lounge by day, by evening, the space transforms into a whimsical dining room thanks to a library table that expands with built-in leaves. “Brittany had the couches raised, so they’re the proper height for the table,” shares Raleigh. “We can pull them up like banquettes.”
“There are so many interesting moments in this house,” adds Bromley. “It feels to me like a home that was layered in over time, and that’s really my favorite kind of project.” But more than anything she credits the success of the design to the spirit of her clients. “A home feels warm and personal because the people who live there are warm and personal,” she says. “And that is Cash and Raleigh.”