Interior Marketing Group Crafts the Ultimate Southampton Abode

By Elisabeth Brigham By Elisabeth Brigham | June 25, 2024 | Home & Real Estate, Home & Real Estate Feature, Home & Real Estate,

A series of wraparound windows welcome inside picturesque views while a flood of natural light illuminates the space.

Through masterfully executed architecture, lustrous materials and natural design elements, Interior Marketing Group re-imagines this stunning Southampton hideaway.

In the kitchen, gorgeous gray marble adorns the center island, and with ease, the room seamlessly flows into the pristine dining and living rooms.

THE PROJECT:

For many, completely redesigning an outdated vacation home can be a daunting task, but for one homeowner and renowned broker, modernizing his 9,500-square-foot Southampton manse was an exhilarating feat—that required the right help, of course. Cue Interior Marketing Group (imgnyc.com), the nation’s largest real estate design firm specializing in interior marketing while seamlessly blending interior design services and awardwinning staging. Having previously worked together on several staging projects for his listings, it was a natural decision to join forces with IMG CEO and design powerhouse Cheryl Eisen and senior designer Amber Cicardo. With the bones already set on this seven-bed, 10-bath home, the duo leaned into the aesthetic, focusing on what the client yearned for most: a serene, hassle-free abode with ample space for gathering and entertaining.

A series of wraparound windows welcome inside picturesque views while a flood of natural light illuminates the space.

THE PRIORITY:

“This home lacked a specific identity,” shares Eisen. “It was a Tudor-style beach house with a darker interior that made it feel weighed down. We wanted to reinvent this home and still pay tribute to the beautiful historic elements that added so much charm throughout but were hidden underneath. We wanted the home to breathe.” The top priority? Flipping the color palette entirely—both inside and out. The team swapped out slate flooring with washed oak wood, added a light plaster to air out the Riverstone fireplace, opened walls to maximize natural light and repainted the wood trim. “We wanted to complement the fresh renovation with a tonal layering of curtains, artwork and furniture,” she explains. It’s a design aesthetic that runs throughout the home, perfectly complementing the calm, neutral color palette while paying homage to the natural beauty of the East End. “We added a ton of different textures, ranging from boucle to mohair to a chunky woven throw, and playing with natural elements by incorporating sand in our artwork, which helped bring the outdoors in.”

Standing out from the rest of the home’s soft color palette, the primary bath is rife with dark, earthy stone and dramatic flooring.

THE CHALLENGE:

When you ask an interior designer about the main challenge of a project, there’s a very good chance they’ll say time. For this particular home, the team began the redesign and reno in the fall and set their sights on a spring end date. “Th e project was such a fast turnaround that our contracting team actually stayed at the residence during the project,” shares Cicardo. Together, they embarked on an impressive journey to illuminate the home, resulting in an open-concept layout that beckons with a keen sense of discovery and precise definition of space—effortlessly fl owing from room to room. “The living room, by far, received the biggest transformation during this project. We moved the dining room next to the kitchen in front of the beautiful fireplace, which made it feel more cohesive and practical from an entertaining standpoint.” She continues, “By eliminating this wall, we were able to have a sprawling double living room with a cocktail area. We married the two spaces by adding one custom oversize viscose rug, utilizing different-shaped furniture pieces and staying consistent with the light wood accents.”

The primary bedroom has a relaxed yet sophisticated feel with touchable textures, romantic drapery and oversize artwork.

THE DETAILS

Walking around the home, you’ll notice a stunning yet subtle call to the Hamptons’ ethereal beauty. Whether it be nods to the ocean (think custom-curated artwork and a coffee table with bone tile inlay that is reminiscent of the shore) or earthy finishes, the abode exudes a warm persona, accompanied by green hues that peek through the windows. “One feature we purposely kept are the exposed beams in the sunroom and the bedrooms,” adds Cicardo. “We painted the beams in the primary bedroom, which also has incredible vaulted ceilings, to preserve them as an interesting architectural feature for the space without competing with the overall design of the room.”

THE OUTCOME:

In true IMG style, Eisen and Cicardo’s endless creativity and breakthrough solutions helped curate a luxurious home away from home—that welcomes you in and asks you to stay awhile. “We created lightness where there wasn’t any and maximized every nook we could while keeping the integrity of a family vacation home,” says Eisen. “Each room has a purpose, and overall, it helped establish its new identity. I can see the family enjoying this home for years to come.”

The sunroom beckons with exposed wooden beams, state-of-the-art appliances and ample space for lounging.