See How High-End Designers Turn a Virtual Hamptons Showhouse Into a Beachy, Modern, Cozy Mix

This luxe virtual showhouse, the Holiday House Hamptons 2020 Virtual Showhouse has it all, from high-profile designers trotting out their fanciest looks to achievable design ideas you can try out in your own home for a fresh update.

September 25, 2020

By: Felicia Feaster

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Go With the Flow

The annual Holiday House Hamptons 2020 Virtual Showhouse is an occasion to highlight some of the best designers in the industry. But this year because of COVID-19, the showhouse had to go virtual. So instead of designing actual rooms in one home, designers offered up their favorite projects and highlighted their best work in this fantasy home. As showhouse founder and creative director Iris Dankner notes, "this 'dream house' of ours has two large kitchens, multiple living rooms and ample entertaining spaces."

One of America's most renowned designers, Vicente Wolf, contributed a stunning new take on traditional in this virtual Hamptons Showhouse room.

Transforming a series of small, compartmentalized rooms, for this space Wolf and his design team reinvented the interior to support a more modern, integrated lifestyle, opening the rooms on the main floor into one contiguous space. Sleek, Nano accordion doors were installed, ceilings were lacquered, and the small, mullioned windows were replaced by single glass panes to emphasize stunning views of the real home's location on Bridgehampton's Mecox Bay.

A Modern Main Bedroom

The actual home that designer Vicente Wolf re-envisioned for the virtual Hamptons Showhouse is a weekend home overlooking Mecox Bay in Watermill, Long Island. Wolf reinvented the interior of this late 1970s home to create a modern, open space in keeping with the lifestyle of a young family who love entertaining and spending time together.

Chic With an Edge

An edgy artwork gives this main bedroom sitting area, created by designer and Holiday House Hamptons 2020 Virtual Showhouse founder and creative director Iris Dankner, a sense of fun.

A Perfect Green Idyll

Landscape design company Unlimited Earth Care owner Frederico Azevedo wanted to create what he calls a "narrative" moment in a large green lawn with "a curving floral border." The celebrated landscape designer says, "I carefully curated the colors and textures that I used to make the border feel natural and intentional in equal parts — to get that romantic atmosphere just right, the flowers have to feel a little free, uncontrolled, which actually takes careful planning."

The International Language of Great Design

"We loved this idea of creating a space that incorporated many periods and places instead of sticking with a theme," says designer Alyssa Kapito. "The ceiling fixture is midcentury Italian, the chairs are Danish, the rug is French and the table is contemporary American. Together I think they become quite new and fresh," says Alyssa Kapito of Alyssa Kapito Interiors.

A Little Romance

Barbara Ostrom Associates created this charming, romantic room to turn an outdoor space with a flagstone floor into a usable indoor-outdoor room. Ostrom, who has been dubbed the "queen of showhouses" by fellow designer Mario Buatta ("the prince of chintz") notes that for practicality, "all of the fabrics and furniture can be fully exposed to the weather." But what really captured the designer's imagination was to evoke a mood that, for the client, captured F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby. "We added a Chinese Chippendale fretwork to give depth and a sense of being in a gazebo. Fresh flowers, candles within glass lanterns and music filling the room invite everyone who enters to relax in the hammock or curl up in a chair to read a good book."

Welcome In

The designer-architect team of Jolie Korek and Dan Michels brought the outside in and the inside out in this living space by using high ceilings, electronic windows, skylights and full-scale sliding doors that allow natural light to fill the house.

Kitchen #2

Korek and Michels used reclaimed 19th century plank floors and beams combined with plaster walls and dramatic quartzite counters to give this modern high-tech home an organic vibe.

Wonder Wall

"The inspiration in my dining room started with creating a feeling of warm lightness," says designer Elsa Soyars. "This particular dining space is set in a very clean and fresh home and the clients love the idea of the wine wall. I decided to create layers to support the idea and feeling," says Soyars. The wine wall is set against an Italian plaster finish. The space includes a handmade custom dining table and chandelier set off with modern, playful dining chairs for an interesting contrast.

A Squared Away Bed

Designer Barbara Lewis's Lewis Design Group created this elegantly tailored bedroom for Holiday House 2020 Hamptons Virtual Showhouse. “I wanted to design a serene and inviting space because that is what we all need now and is exactly what a Hamptons guest room should be,” she says. The crisp bedroom gets its fresh look from a combination of Meg Braff wallpaper layered with contemporary art and on-trend wicker accents.

Casual Sophistication

Maureen Winter McDermott of Winter McDermott Design in Sag Harbor, New York, used organic textures and neutral tones to create what she calls "a casual yet sophisticated family room" that takes its cue from the white sandy beaches of the Hamptons. "We typically incorporate one-of-a-kind vintage or new pieces to provide additional layers and dimension," says McDermott.

A Clean Take

The client’s desire for a clean aesthetic drove the design choices of a simple grey and white palette in designer Kristen Farrell's design for this comfortably pared-back living space . "We wanted to infuse a Hamptons element and as such chose local artist Christine Matthai’s 'Blue Salt' to balance the room," says Farrell.

Inspired by the Sea and Sky

Colors inspired by the sea and sky inspired designer Amy Lau of Amy Lau Design in this vibrant, fun bedroom design. The blues of the nightstand drawers in this bedroom are suggestive of the ocean’s waves and blue sky. The moiré pattern on the headboard is reminiscent of swells lapping on a beach, notes Lau. The delicate striped pattern on the pillows and lampshade introduce a complementary shade to the room, while the grass cloth wallpaper, hand knotted wool rug and mohair throw add luxury to the space.

Modern Look Back

In designer Ariel Okin's combination guest bedroom and home office, the designer notes, "ticking stripes and grasscloth mix with rattan and crisp white linens for a modern take on traditional design."

A Restful Room Inspired by Nature

"I am always inspired by nature for the color palettes in my work. The cool, calming hues of the sky and sea are reflected in the relaxing respite of the guest bedroom and home office that I designed," says Ariel Orkin.

A Sleek Kitchen

Custom cabinetry expert Gary Ciuffo of Ciuffo Cabinetry designed this custom contemporary kitchen with two-tone slab cabinets of glossy white and stained plain sliced walnut, with polished metal detailing. Sleek cabinetry cloaks the refrigerator, freezer and range hood in keeping with this modern kitchen's streamlined aesthetic.

A Killer View

Designer Debra Geller found her inspiration for this Hamptons sunroom in the view. "This home has a beautiful horse farm in front of it ... so the views of the horse farm are an integral part of this house, and my inspiration for this room," says Geller, who also incorporated a large photograph of a horse to continue the equestrian theme. "I wanted this space to be warm and cozy, bringing the equestrian feel inside." But Geller also didn't want to lose sight of the requisite Hamptons beach vibe. "I custom-made a natural linen very modern sofa in an ivory stone color and paired it with a chunky ivory warm rug to create a ying yang feeling." The mix of black and white creates a unique look. "The result is a warm inviting room that still feels light, yet sophisticated and cozy."

A Glam Living Room

Designer Melanie Roy says in creating a comfortable — but stylish — home for a family "the main design challenge in the entry and living room was trying to make the grand scale of the space feel intimate." How did she achieve that goal? "The expansive living room is anchored with three seating areas to create intimacy for entertaining," says Roy. "The inspiration for the design started with a custom Stark carpet which had a subtle wave pattern with silver accents and reflects light in the living room like the ocean. The mixture of neutral fabrics with texture is a design trend. The soft palette allows the intricate architectural details inside and the lush landscape outside to remain the focus in the glamorous living room."

A Bespoke Game Room

A handmade Blatt Billiards pool table is the focal point of this Hamptons Showhouse game room. The pool table features walnut wood veneers, a hand-rubbed oil finish, custom sewn and dyed leather pockets, diamond mother of pearl rail sights, and is topped off with a powder blue worsted wool playing cloth.