ARCHITECTURE

Country Cottage, East Hampton

ARCHITECTURE

Country Cottage, East Hampton

A solid cedar framed cottage with breezeway and garage on a shy acre of land was acquired in Springs, for use as a New York weekend and summer get away. Despite facing light filled Accabonac Harbor Nature Preserve and Gardiners Bay, the land was somewhat overgrown with spruce trees, which are not indigenous to the area, leaving little space for lawn and light. The grounds did not reflect East End rural setting with open skies, beautiful beaches, and the wonderful light that has attracted artist and painters for generations.

To introduce more daylight on the property, and into the home interior, a clearing and clean-up process was undertaken. Spruce trees were removed to give space for the indigenous oak trees. Eventually the lawn flourished, and oak tree crowns once again had space to unfold their leafy green canopies.

The home interior was selectively renovated, and the existing oak floors, buried under layers of vinyl and heavy carpeting, were brought to life and refinished. The house was painted white on both the interior and exterior.

Ceiling lights were replaced with Danish vintage fixtures, and the kitchen renovated with French doors and cedar steps to the garden brick patio. The latter promoted further inside-outside relationship between house and garden. Extending an element already introduced with the breezeway, which serves as a functional transition space in the country. Collectible Danish furniture purchased from highly respected dealers in Denmark, was used to enhance the interiors.

A simple, light-filled and breathable beach cottage was resurrected from a dark wooded property, with drab interiors creating new enjoyment as a weekend country home.

Inspired by a method used in Denmark for stacking firewood, wood from the landscape clearing was stacked in a circular fashion creating “pine-cone” like sculptures. These beautiful structures dotted the garden, and made for an interesting habitat for some of the garden’s smaller creatures.

Location: Springs, Town of East Hampton, NY
Size: 1500 Sq. Ft. incl. Breezeway and Garage
Services: Architecture and interior Design
Photography: Chris Foster photographer and Eva Christine Jensen