Interior Designer Sterling McDavid Reinvents Her Bridgehampton Home

By Chloe Konrad By Chloe Konrad | April 21, 2022 | Home & Real Estate Home & Real Estate Feature Home & Real Estate

Interior designer Sterling McDavid reinvents a Bridgehampton home for her family.

Patio furniture comes from RH Modern, while custom Sunbrella fabric cushions are by Upholstery of the Hamptons.

THE CLIENT

Interior designer Sterling McDavid of Sterling McDavid Design and Element Solutions Inc. CFO Carey Dorman spent months looking for their perfect Hamptons home. The couple had strong connections to the area—it served as an escape for both of them from their teenage years into adulthood.

Sterling McDavid PHOTOGRAPHED BY MANU RODRIGUEZ
Sterling McDavid

When they came across a single-family abode in Bridgehampton with an address matching Sterling’s grandfather’s lucky number, they knew they found the one (and promptly named it Poppy House after her grandfather). As two young, successful individuals who love to entertain, McDavid had her work cut out for her as she set out to personalize their new Hamptons oasis.

Many pieces throughout are vintage finds from local estate sales and antique stores

THE PRIORITY

“The primary goal with this home was to create a serene, inviting home,” McDavid says. “From day one, we knew we wanted a home where friends and family feel welcome to come by anytime for a meal, a swim or a weekend stay.” She and Dorman find themselves hosting meals and parties often, especially given the couple’s shared philanthropic interests. As well, indoor-outdoor living became a priority while designing the space. “I wanted to create a place where we and our guests don’t want or need to leave,” McDavid adds.

McDavid’s favorite part of the project was transforming the backyard.

THE CHALLENGE

The project went on without a hiccup—until the pandemic hit in 2020. The couple had purchased and began renovations in 2019, but it wasn’t until 2021 that the project was completed. McDavid experienced some of the same interruptions that many architects and designers did throughout the pandemic. “Supply chain constraints and delays were not ideal, but fortunately we were able to work through it to finalize the home,” McDavid says.

The kitchen features Thermador appliances and custom cabinets by BJC Custom Builders

“From day one, we knew we wanted a home where friends and family feel welcome to come by anytime for a meal, a swim or a weekend stay.”–STERLING MCDAVID

McDavid has a love for florals and often puts together arrangements with hydrangeas grown in the backyard.

THE OUTSIDE

One of McDavid’s main goals was making sure the outdoor areas were perfect. “My favorite part of transforming this home over other projects was the backyard,” she says. “Working on landscaping, the pool and the gazebo with a fire pit was such a joy! It is not something I get to do often with New York City projects.” McDavid loves florals and says being able to have hydrangeas growing in her backyard has been a dream for a long time. Not only did she want the outside to be a beautiful living space, she brought the surrounding Hamptons nature into consideration when designing the rest of the house. “I am all about embracing the surrounding environment with my projects,” McDavid says. “So a few things I took into account when designing Poppy House included the Hamptons’ natural lighting, the tree farm across the street from the property and, of course, a focus on the outdoor spaces including outdoor dining on the patio, the lounge area with a fire pit and landscaping elements.”

The living room’s coffee table was sourced from Interlude Home.

“I am all about embracing the surrounding environment with my projects.”–STERLING MCDAVID

The dining room features a moody Benjamin Moore Ashland Slate 1608 hue.

THE DETAILS

“As art enthusiasts, both as collectors and art museum supporters including involvement with the Parrish Art Museum, [we] wanted to incorporate a variety of art,” McDavid says. She made sure the home’s collection was unique with an in-depth search of local areas. “Many decor items in the home are vintage pieces [I] found at local Hamptons estate sales and antique [and] vintage stores,” she says. Behind those pieces of art is a neutral, calming color scheme. McDavid says of her color choices, “I am known for my neutral palettes, so the palette at Poppy House is, not surprisingly, neutral including white, grays and blues.”

Eclectic finds add unique character to the home throughout

THE OUTCOME

After close to two years of designing through a pandemic, the Poppy House was finished. The couple and their son, Quinn, have found the house to be the perfect place to relax and entertain. They’ve even established an open-invitation lunch every Sunday during the summer for any of their friends and family who want to stop by. According to McDavid, it has become a go-to spot for them and their friends year-round. “We never even have to leave the house,” she says. “But who would want to anyway?”

Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White adorns the foyer, halls, kitchen, great room and guest room.