BEACH HOUSE

HOME
beside the sea
Built in the familiar Shingle style of New England, this
new East Hamptons house is already a much-loved home
where family traditions are quickly being established
WORDS JULIET BENNING PHOTO G RA P H S TREVOR TONDO

SEPTEMBER 2018 | H&G | 69

W
ith its leaded windows, gently undulating roofline, ENTRANCE HALL BREAKFAST AREA
white painted wood balconies and weathered Striking sconce candle fittings ‘We wanted the lantern
shingle façade, this fine house standing among sit above the console table. above the breakfast table
Interior designer Brad Ford to look dramatic and
the sand dunes of the East Hamptons might, be describes it as being nautical,’ says Brad.
one of a number of late 19th-century homes that ‘reminiscent of driftwood’. Large station light in statuary
help to make this part of the world such a highly desirable place to Bespoke mirror, bronze, $10,300, by Ann Morris,
live. The house is, in fact, a new structure completed in 2011. It’s the Bark Frameworks, annmorrislighting.com.
barkframeworks.com.
much-cherished summer home of the McCain family and was built
on the site of a house that they had bought some years earlier.

LAID-BACK LIVING
‘We were drawn to this neighbourhood because of its casual feel, and
strong sense of beach community,’ Melissa McCain explains, adding
that she and her husband, Sean, had decided to buy the run-down
Seventies property that originally stood here because of the fantastic
views and its situation, so close to the water. Finding a house to buy
in this area, she adds, is like finding hens’ teeth so it made sense to
buy and use the house as it was for several summers while they waited
for the planning permissions to come through.
The seaside cottages designed primarily by two architectural
practices (McKim, Mead & White and Peabody & Stearns) pepper the
likes of Newport, Rhode Island and the village of East Hampton on
the tip of Long Island. The houses, built in what is known as the

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KITCHEN
‘I wanted a white, classic
workhorse kitchen,’ says
Melissa. The social focal
point of the house is the
island which is topped in
stone that Melissa chose from
a quarry in Connecticut.
Boden counterstools, $2,480
each, Quintus at Dennis Miller
Associates, dennismiller.com.
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VERANDA
Bleached wood used for
both the ceiling and floor is
reminiscent of a ship’s deck.
A rope-clad side table also
plays into this theme.
Classic lounge chair in
weathered outdoor teak
by John Hutton $3,255
(plus fabric) at Sutherland,
sutherlandfurniture.com.

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FAMILY SITTING ROOM
‘We’ve gathered so many
curios on our travels and
we wanted somewhere to
display them,’ says Melissa
of the low-level shelves. A set
of Indonesian paddles (right)
are displayed on the wall.
Similar Guillerme and
Chambron high-back lounge
chairs; Carl Auböck X-Lamp
floor lamp, £2,585.05; both
1stdibs, 1stdibs.com.

STAIRCASE
The ceiling above the staircase
(below right) was designed to
resemble the hull of a boat.
‘It’s not the sort of house that
would have a chandelier,’
Melissa says, ‘so we chose this
light fitting covered in shells,
which rattle gently in the
breeze like wind chimes.’
cabinetry and pale worktop accented by four black stick-back
bar stools set around the island.
For the decorative scheme, Melissa settled on a look that is highly
functional and hardwearing, without sacrificing any sense of style.
The pale wood floorboards, for example, disguise the trails of sand
that are an inevitable part of time spent among the dunes and on the
beach. ‘I don’t respond well to a house that is too precious for you to
be able to put a glass of wine down,’ Melissa says.

CELEBRATING IMPERFECTION
Working with interior designer Brad Ford, and inspired by the
Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic that celebrates nature’s imperfections,
Melissa has created an interior that is filled with rough wooden
surfaces and flawed antiques. They sit alongside more refined and
elegant furnishings, contributing to a look that seamlessly combines
both old and new. The coastal-nautical theme pops up all around the
house, from the yacht-inspired light fittings, to the shipping charts
that adorn the walls of the cloakroom. All-over white walls give a
clean and fresh feel, while pops of colour come from the artworks.
Although only a few years old, the property is already establishing
itself as the setting for a growing number of family traditions. ‘The
day after Thanksgiving, we have a hog roast on the back lawn with
all our family,’ Melissa says. More such moments are sure to follow.

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MAIN BEDROOM
I wanted our bedroom to be
peaceful – a place for rest and
meditation,’ says Melissa. The
rough-hewn antique bench at
the end of the bed chimes in
with the wabi-sabi aesthetic.
Dogwood Blossom rug,
$186sq yd, Elizabeth Eakins,
elizabetheakins.com. Antique
chair, English Country Antiques,
ecantiques.com, upholstered in
Benaki Lavender Green, $162sq
yd, Carleton V, carletonvltd.com.
BATHROOM
‘This bathroom feels like a
sanctuary,’ says Melissa. The
sculptural curves of the
bathtub and the oversized
artwork draw the eye to the
centre of the room. The pale
colour scheme is broken up
by the earthy texture of
a rattan rug.
Photograph by James
Welling, jameswelling.net.
.25 freestanding oval bathtub,
$11,811, Waterworks,
waterworks.com.
GUEST BEDROOM
‘I bought these Balinese wood
temple doors without really
knowing where to put them,
but Brad suggested hanging
them as art,’ says Melissa.
Rug in denim pinstripe, $86sq
yd, Elizabeth Eakins, elizabeth
eakins.com. Interior design,
Brad Ford ID, bradfordid.com.