Classic Cottage

| East Hampton, NY

A traditional East Hampton cottage is given new life through expressive color, natural materials and a mix of tailored furnishings and vintage finds—preserving its sense of familiarity while making it distinctly personal.

A charming two-story house with weathered gray wooden shingle siding, red front door, and multiple large white-framed windows, surrounded by lush green foliage and a well-maintained lawn with a stone pathway.

Tradition, Color and the Character of Things Found

Tucked into the woodlands of Settlers Landing, the house called for an approach that embraced its cottage character rather than erasing it. The renovation introduced greater clarity and comfort while retaining the warmth, scale and informality that made the home appealing in the first place.

Outside, cedar, stone, sage-toned trim and bronze fixtures reinforce the architecture's traditional roots, punctuated by a vivid red front door. Inside, wainscoting, painted beams and a layered palette bring definition to the rooms, while careful space planning makes the modest footprint feel purposeful and generous.

Material choices remain rooted in the familiar—Carrara marble, stone mosaics, subway tile, linen and reclaimed wood—but color gives the house its personality. Muted grays, earthy browns, greens, blues and terracotta move from room to room, creating variety within a cohesive whole.

A vintage red lantern with glass panels displaying three white candles on a reflective surface, a modern living room visible through the glass, and a cozy fireplace surrounded by books and decorative items.

The furnishings were approached as a collection rather than a matching set. New pieces sit alongside antiques and estate-sale discoveries, including a 19th-century workbench repurposed as a bar and a vintage pine dining table paired with a former ferry bench. The result feels assembled over time: comfortable, spirited and specific to the house.

Outdoors, layered landscaping, lawn and a generous mahogany deck extend that sense of relaxed hospitality into summer. It is a cottage designed for gathering—polished where it needs to be, but never at the expense of charm.

Collage of a cozy bedroom with a large window, blue curtains, a beige armchair, a bed with a beige quilt, a black side table with candles, a bookshelf, and a hallway leading to another room with a similar window and window treatments.