There are moments in life when one sees something and in an instant knows it’s right. That is what happened when a couple with three children was shown a North Haven property overlooking the sea. The location could not have been more perfect for their family, and as they arrived at the top of the driveway, a spectacular view appeared. But no project comes without its challenges and the owners, along with their architect, Blaze Makoid, faced a significant one: Local regulations limited the footprint of a house on the water. With room for family and friends a top priority, the couple needed plenty of space for their children and a plethora of guests. “Blaze really listened to me when I said, ‘This is our family dynamic. This is the way we live,’ ” says the wife. “He just understood what we wanted out of a summer home.”
Indeed, Makoid went to work right away to create a home conducive to his clients’ way of life. “Their weekends revolve around socializing,” says the architect. “Their kids have friends over. Their friends come over with their kids. Their parents come out quite a bit. It’s not uncommon for there to be 20 people there for breakfast on a Saturday morning.” In response, Makoid proposed creating an indoor/outdoor space that would serve as one giant living area. To achieve this natural flow, one of the most important aspects the architect considered was materials—beginning with glass walls with 14-foot sliders on either side of the living room. “The thought was when you walk toward the house, it opens up into an outdoor courtyard, then the living room, and then the back property,” he explains. “When they’re entertaining, they can open up the glass and create one continuous very large space.” Upstairs in the master suite, Makoid upped the ante of this concept, designing a room with glass walls that also open up in two directions. “Because of the cantilever, you feel like you’re floating,” says the architect. “You don’t see the ground below you. All your views are to the distance.”
The interior and landscape designs also served as important factors in the transitional space, so Makoid brought interior designer David Scott and landscape architect Edmund Hollander to the team, along with general contractor Joseph Kelley. “When Blaze came to me, he had a strong concept of the sculpture of the house,” says Scott. “It was clear that we were going to have this wonderful collaboration.” The designer found inspiration for the décor in an aerial photograph he had taken when he was flying over Patagonia. “I looked down and saw a beige and golden landscape with this incredibly aqua river flowing through it,” he says. “It embodied the feeling of the house.” To this end, Scott used a white-and-beige palette throughout the home and then injected hints of a strong blue, such as in the living room, where he contrasted a stunning teal-glass-topped cocktail table against the neutral sofa, chairs and rug.
Hollander took his cues from Makoid and Scott. “This was a collaboration, where Blaze’s architecture, David’s furniture and our landscape had to seem as it was three hands attached to one arm,” says Hollander. “Because of the transparency, it is the quintessentially perfect Hamptons house. So much of the living in the houses of this area takes place in semi-indoor, semi-outdoor areas, in places where you smell the sea breezes, where you hear the birds, but you’re also protected from the hot sun.” The seaside location wasn’t just a factor in the aesthetics of the structure, however. Hollander also took it into consideration when choosing the foliage, planting native species, such as swamp maples and bluestem grass, that could withstand its effects.
The final result is a home that feels twice as big as its actual square footage. And although the house has an easy, laid-back vibe, it is still sophisticated enough for the couple to host spectacular parties, such as fund-raising events and a Fourth of July soiree with a perfect view of the fireworks in Sag Harbor.
–Shannon Sharpe
