By Elisabeth Brigham By Elisabeth Brigham | June 5, 2024 | Home & Real Estate, Home & Real Estate Feature, Home & Real Estate,
Interior designer Hilary Matt adds thoughtful layers of character and warmth to this personal home project for her family of four.
“The architecture of the home was existing,” says Matt. “We painted the windows black and stained the color of the home to give it a very Scandinavian yet modern feel. I focused on adding rich textures inside, with natural elements like rattan to marry with the textural elements of the wood siding.”
THE PROJECT
“Rarely, as a designer, do you get the opportunity to treat yourself as the client, especially in a space as raw and opportunity-driven as this house was when we purchased it,” says renowned interior designer Hilary Matt of her recently renovated Wainscott abode. Spearheading her eponymous design firm, it’s no secret that Matt has a serious knack for creating personality-packed spaces that transcend their square footage (think Upper East Side apartments, Chicago townhomes and more), but here, she embarked on her most personal project yet. She—alongside her husband, David, and two sons, Jones and Miller—set out to create a home snug enough for long, lazy summers while pushing the boundaries of her interior abilities. “I wanted this home to be a living embodiment of the Hilary Matt Interiors portfolio, a space where I could show clients different design elements in person, a place that was a culmination of all my favorite materials, artisans and brands.”
Employing Matt’s signature brand of laid-back luxury, touchable textures, soft lines, and a flood of natural light creates a warm, inviting space ideal for entertaining.
THE PRIORITY
“This is the first home I’ve owned with my husband, and we truly wanted to make it feel like our own,” she shares. Paying homage to the East End’s ethos, the redesign and reno was rooted in carefully curating a comfortable and inviting—yet elevated and artful—space that invokes the spirit of being on a holiday. “This is, first and foremost, a family home. I didn’t want anything to feel too precious that our boys and their friends couldn’t run around and have fun.” Although, on the other side of the coin, Matt confesses design was also top of mind. “On a more literal level, I wanted the aesthetic to be light and bright and have a Southern California-meets-Hamptons flair. Marrying form and function meant that I needed to use a ton of performance fabrics and durable materials that could withstand wear.”
“One of my favorite pieces is in the upstairs den, where I commissioned Porter Teleo to make me a custom wallpaper for the room,” she explains. “I was able to custom design a pattern with them, and they brought it to life beautifully. It’s such a fun pop and a nice and whimsical surprise that still plays into the calm and monochromatic nature of the home.”
THE CHALLENGE
One of the hardest parts of the project? Time. As unbelievable as it sounds, the family purchased the home in the spring and moved in for the summer just six months later. “My contractor wanted to kill me,” she jokes, “but he was amazing, and we got what we needed done. We ended up doing it in two phases so that we could use it by summer, focusing on the outdoor spaces and some quicker indoor projects first and then doing the larger full renovations, like the kitchen, after Labor Day weekend and into the fall.”
As a nod to the family’s playful personality, you’ll find a one-of-a-kind art piece by Lucy Sparrow, showcasing six bags of chips
THE STRATEGY
While the transformation may have only taken six months, Matt had been carefully curating her dream home long before the construction began. “Some areas I had been thinking about long before I knew that we would be buying this house. As a designer, you are always thinking, ‘If I had my own house, I would do X, Y, Z,’ so it was so exciting to be able to actually tap into those thoughts,” she shares. “I’ve been collecting vintage pieces from shopping trips in hopes that I would get to use them for my own home in the future. I had acquired pieces from Round Top, Texas, and other antique markets that acted as the starting point for the design.” The result? A smorgasbord of well-loved items that had slowly accumulated over the years—towing along distinctive memories and personal touches sprinkled throughout the space.
In the kitchen, custom camouflage marble countertops complement the wooden cabinets and elaborate light fixture.
THE DESIGN
Staying true to her East-meets-West Coast vision, Matt leaned into the property’s original charm (take, for example, its historic exterior cedar shingles) while infusing edgy artwork and modern details that speak to the family of four’s playful persona. Moving throughout the 3,600-square-foot manse—which encompasses five bedrooms and five baths—you’ll find yourself immersed in soft yet surprising spaces, boasting a mélange of touchable textures, custom prints and eccentric finds that, together, make up an abode that is both abstract and approachable. “This home is my family’s escape from the city, so I wanted a stark contrast from how I would design a NYC apartment home,” she explains. “Apart from the architecture, there are no harsh lines throughout the home and no harsh colors; instead, you have a bright and tranquil space that allows the outdoors to be the star of the show.”
“I had my work cut out for me with this project. Not only was the timeline close to impossible, but I didn’t realize my husband would be the most difficult client I’ve ever had,” jokes Matt. “Our kitchen, especially, became a saga with him. From choosing the marble to the finishing touches, he had opinions and wasn’t scared to share them, but in the end, collaborating with him made for a space that we both really contributed to and love.”
THE DETAILS
The entire home is unique, but certain moments stand out as favorites for Matt. “I think the gem of our home is the kitchen,” she gushes. “Our NYC apartment has very real limitations like many in the city do, so the idea that we could have a proper full-size kitchen designed specifically for our needs was one of the things my husband and I were looking forward to the most.” Creating a dramatic contrast to the rest of the home’s neutral color palette, the kitchen is bathed in dark, camouflage marble stone that envelops the space—while simultaneously complementing the wooden custom cabinetry from Ciuffo Cabinetry (which was, we might add, cut individually so that each panel would be perfectly book-matched and seamlessly flow from one wood grain to another). “Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, our kitchen is a functional space, and we wanted to include all of the appliances that our NYC apartment couldn’t fit.” The dinner party-ready room sets a spectacularly high bar, showcasing Sub-Zero under-counter wine storage, a Wolf warming drawer and an enviable Wolf range. “The incredible quality and iconic design of the appliances makes this a dream kitchen for hosting and gathering all year long.”
Hidden from the hustle and bustle of the East End, the outdoor amenities include an expansive pool area, a full outdoor kitchen (complete with a Sub-Zero under-counter fridge and Wolf grill), a fire pit for s’mores, a large dining area and ample space to lounge around.
THE OUTCOME
“We’ve already made so many memories in this home, and I really think the result of this project goes beyond the design,” she shares. Beyond its masterfully executed architecture and opulent furnishings, traces of the family, alongside endless creativity and innovation, allow its innate character to shine through. “When I work on a project normally, I don’t get to see the homeowners use the spaces that I’ve designed. Getting to see my family and guests enjoy this home in different ways is such a rewarding experience. I’m excited to see this home evolve around our family and continue to be our oasis retreat here in the Hamptons.”
“Our boys live outside, always playing soccer, swimming or on the playset, so we wanted a comfortable place for adults to lounge and watch the kids at the same time.”
TYPE
Single-family home
LOCATION
Wainscott
INTERIOR DESIGN
Hilary Matt Interiors
CONTRACTOR
Mercer Built
RESOURCES
Pierre Frey
Living room sofa and chair fabric and primary bedroom bed fabric
Art and Loom
Living room rug
Doug Johnston
Living room light fixture
Porter Teleo
Den wallpaper
Verellen
Den sofa
Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove
Indoor and outdoor kitchen appliances
Harbour
Outdoor sofa and coffee table
Photography by: PHOTOGRAPHED BY RIKKI SNYDER