Texture And Light Define A Masculine Beach Retreat

When it comes to interiors, designer Jenny Wolf loves a blank canvas. “Starting a project from scratch is exciting, because you can go anywhere with it,” she explains. This was the ideal scenario when a client asked her to design his Bridgehampton Shingle-style vacation home “from soup to nuts–everything from the serving dishes and cutlery to the finishes, furniture and accessories,” Wolf says.

The homeowner, a real estate executive, worked with builder Greg Konner and architects Mehran Talai and Siyu Liu to tweak the plans to allow for as much natural light as possible. He enlisted Wolf because he was drawn to her casual, eclectic aesthetic, which fit into his vision. “I wanted the house to be light, bright and airy,” the homeowner says. “I was going for a beachy chic yet sophisticated design, and I wanted the residence to easily transition from me as a single executive to where I am now–married and planning to eventually have a family.”

To this end, the family room was an important space for the homeowner, who wanted large groups to be able to easily gather in a casual but sophisticated setting. “He really wanted there to be a seamless transition from the inside out,” Konner says. “So we added floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors leading out to the outdoor living space and pool.”

When it came to decor, Wolf saw the home’s clean, modern architectural details and oversize windows overlooking the natural landscape as the perfect starting point. “This project was all about texture,” she says. “We used a lot of natural materials such as sisal, reclaimed wood, and soft linens and alpaca in neutral hues while complementing with bold black and blue accents to give a bit more edge.”

The first step for Wolf was assisting the homeowner with finding pieces he was drawn to. “I go into each project helping the client find what they love, because they’ll be living with it for a long time,” she explains. “I start with the furniture the client loves and then layer with fabrics and textures.” In lieu of a traditional coffee table in the living room, for instance, Wolf added a stunning Balinese teak-tree root, which anchors the space and is one of the home’s most eclectic items. “Everyone asks me about that piece,” the client says. “It’s so unique, and I love that.” The all-white space is warmed via a corner chair Wolf found in a vintage store in Los Angeles that was reupholstered in an ultra-soft alpaca bouclé. Nearby, throw pillows in woven fabrics are versatile and edgy atop a cloud sofa.

The nearby dining room boasts more of Wolf’s adage of “choose what you love.” The table, for instance, is the compilation of two live-edge oak trees. “It’s a very cool, custom design,” the owner says. “It’s one of my favorite pieces in the home.” To inject warmth, Wolf introduced hand-stitched cognac leather chairs sourced from South America and textured wallpaper in a sea-glass blue, “which almost has a hand-painted feel to it,” she says. Balancing the earthy pieces, the room’s chandelier provides a dose of modernity with sleek lines and a metal framework. “The homeowner truly wanted the residence to be easy for him to maintain and live in, so organic, durable pieces and textures like the wood tables and alpaca fabrics were ideal,” the designer explains.

Wolf and Konner took the same approach in the kitchen with a simple yet organic look with floor-to-ceiling white subway tiles and minimally detailed cabinetry. The designer then layered in the breakfast area with accents such as a wool rug boasting leather stitching and neutral chairs with strappy leather armrests. Just as she’d done in the dining room, Wolf wanted to bring in a modern touch to the space, and lighting was yet again the ideal inspiration. Two vintage Hungarian factory navy blue pendant lights feel industrial and edgy opposite the room’s more natural elements, serving as yet another anecdotal backstory for the client to tell guests.

Although the house began as a blank canvas, Wolf wove together pieces from around the world that bring together organic with modern in a way that feels comfortable and easy–much like her entire experience working with the homeowner. “He had trust and faith,” Wolf says.