With a livable Hamptons chic design and blissfully bucolic surroundings, this is a house built for spoiling oneself... and others.
interiors: Keith Baltimore, Baltimore Design Group, Port Washington, NY
photos: Ric Marder Imagery
My friend Keith Baltimore, a fabulous NY-based designer and the owner of Baltimore Design Group, who I'm pleased to say is now doing incredible projects here in South Florida not far from where I live, has designed this gorgeous home for a Long Island couple that loves to have fun, entertain, and of course, escape to the Hamptons!
Situated on a beautiful bluff in Westhampton, with spectacular bucolic views, the home speaks "Hamptons" in a fresh language of understated chic. Nothing screams "beach house," nothing is too precious for everyday use, and everything is tasteful and elegant.
"During the pandemic, clients would come to me and say 'The kids are driving me crazy, my husband is driving me crazy, the dogs are driving me crazy, and I hate the wallpaper," says the happily and gratefully busy Baltimore. "So I'd tell them: 'Everything else you gotta deal with. The wallpaper, I got you covered.'"
The desired organic feel is achieved right at the get-go, as the entry features a strung set of woven globe lights from Cuff Studio, a live-edge wood bench, and a stylish dried floral arrangement from Afloral atop a tactile black pedestal from Texture Imports. The kilim pouf is the clients' own.
In keeping with the newfound appreciation for nature, family, and slowing down the pace we've all experienced in the past year, Baltimore created an environment with a sense of whimsy that's conducive to both entertaining and intimate family gatherings. "Look, don't touch? Nope, that just doesn't happen anymore," he says, explaining the thought process behind design choices for a home that's meant for living, instead of merely showcasing.
The home is filled with moments Keith refers to as a "virtual hug," where one can curl up and watch TV, read a book, enjoy a glass of wine, or drift into an afternoon nap.
And just like the kind of relationship where you somehow know in your heart that it's right, it all happened organically. "I think the house just rose from the ground, organically, with the homeowners in mind," recalls Baltimore. "It was that programming of letting it evolve into something that feels natural, where nothing jumps out at you and it all blends harmoniously with the surroundings." He worked in a neutral palette of warm whites and gentle grays, with an occasional infusion of black for dramatic effect. "I often say, let the people in the house be the color," he remarks.
But that is not to say there's no sense of daring. "One thing that's especially interesting in the interior is the bar, where I fused pieces of glass and suspended them from the ceiling with metal rods." The end result: visual interest and functionality rolled into one... without obstructing the magical bucolic views whatsoever.
A honed black absolute granite fireplace surround complements the floating bar's black steel suspension rods. "Exchange" Counter Stools from Palacek. Sofas and cocktail tables from LEE Industries.
Exposed beams of saw kerf pine add a rustic feel in the kitchen and subtly contrast the white recessed paneled cabinetry by East End Kitchens of Westhampton.
Norman Copenhagen bell lamps hang over the island. Keith used a table from Restoration Hardware for the breakfast area, plus the client's own chairs and a bench reupholstered in a Ralph Lauren patchwork fabric for varietal seating.
An impressive cellar encased in glass houses the oenophile homeowners' extensive wine collection.
Functional barn doors dressed with a pole, bracket, and door handles from Delaney Hardware allow for privacy and quiet in the den when desired.
For the husband who works from home, Keith created an office "that doesn't look like an office." It features a stunning built-in of painted black cerused oak and satin grey cabinetry, Phillip Jeffries' handsome herringbone wallpaper, and - just like many of the other rooms in the home - glorious views.
Baltimore periodically incorporates dark tones, adding drama to spaces such as this powder room. Additional chic touches include a rope-hung mirror from RH, the "Cleo" Sconce by Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort, and an eye-catching floor tile: ARTO's "Kaleidoscope" pattern.
In the relaxed master bedroom, a Calacatta marble-clad fireplace adds a touch of elegance. Sheer draperies constructed with "Hideaway" by JF Fabrics give way to views of the grasslands. Palacek's "Duvel" Chair flanks one side of the bed; the other, a leather recliner from Lee Industries.
A freestanding DXV tub with Kalista bath fixture is the centerpiece of a luxe master bath, where hexagonal Cararra marble tile covers the floors, and 6" x 12" rectangular tiles, also Cararra, climb the shower walls. A trio of saw kerf pine columns, a textural pattern wallpaper from Wallquest, and a pair of architectural chairs from Phillips Collection round out the sophisticated design.
Baltimore's fresh, young approach makes this Westhampton vacation home a place its owners can enjoy without a care in the world. "It's very smart and very chic, but also very livable... and that's what a Hamptons house is supposed to be," he says.
PRESS PLAY TO VIEW MY ZOOM CHAT WITH THE DESIGNER HIMSELF!
For further information or inquiries, visit: baltimoredesigncenter.com
