When designing residences by the water, Vicente Wolf almost always accentuates the aquatic landscape through color, mood or sometimes even both, as exemplified by his clients’ Hamptons property along Mecox Bay. A once mundane structure with overly compartmentalized rooms, Wolf updated the home by streamlining its floor plan, banishing unnecessary ornamentation and appointing the interior primarily in white, because “water always brings up feelings of lightness,” the designer notes. A desire for unimpeded views of the picturesque outdoor scenery also factored into his color choice, explaining, “Wherever you look from within a space, you should see the setting, and white is the best way to do that.”
Naturally, Wolf incorporated blue hues to emphasize the nearby bay views, but he concentrated on a multitude of shades ranging from light to dark. “When you’re by the water, you only see the surface, but it’s the depth below that gives it bravado,” he says, a sentiment echoed in the inky blue wallcovering he employed to envelop the home’s study. The living room’s pale grayish-blue ottoman and lightly shaded rug, on the other hand, reflect the bay’s shimmering surface.
Color selections aside, the home’s relaxed atmosphere might be most indicative of its waterside perch. “It’s what a beach house should be. It’s about casual living,” Wolf says, pointing to the abundance of upholstered seating as well as the kitchen’s easy-to-access open shelving as evidence. “If you have guests staying with you, you want everyone to feel like it’s their home, too.”
Designer Vicente Wolf.