Case Study - Before and After: A family that owns a home in the Hamptons and uses the home for themselves and their family, but also rents it out as a vacation rental. It is located on a beautiful tidal cove off the bay and has a sweeping lawn with a pool. The ranch-style home has good bones and features... high ceilings, large sliding glass doors overlooking the water, a fireplace and plenty of bedrooms for a large family. The home had not been updated since the late 1980's and had dark, worn furnishings and an outdated fireplace design with faded peachy-tan walls that made the rooms feel dreary.
After getting to know the owners and talking to them about the updating of their home, they hired us to make their home the dream vacation retreat that they always hoped it would be. They wanted a place that still feels like their home, but also appeals to vacationers. We believe that not only do vacationers want a beautiful home with luxurious furnishings, but they also want a home that has character. A home that incorporates elements that reflect the homes location ... a quiet historical coastal town, rich in maritime history. So, when the homeowner's wanted to include some of their antiques, such as an old spinning wheel, an antique sewing table, an old wood sailor's trunk, an antique map of the area and their collection of classic books, we were more than happy to make use of it all. It is the perfect way to make the home look collected over time and thrill visitors with interesting history. (Afterall, vacationers could get a clean, modern cookie-cutter room at a hotel.) A home is much more than that. It is a chance to live in the local history, a place that brings the nostalgia of years gone bye and a home to make new memories with their children.
The first thing we did, was to focus on the beautiful features of the home to update and complement them. We recommended that all the walls in the living area be painted, Benjamin Moore's Simply White. This instantly brightened the rooms and let the water views stand out. We redid the fireplace and removed the old stucco. We then gave the fireplace dimension by building out the wall and facing it with shiplap going from floor to ceiling. We added a stacked stone facade around the fireplace opening and an old weathered wood mantle with a new flagstone hearth. We incorporated nautical lantern sconces on either side of the fireplace. We had a large screen tv mounted over the fireplace for a clean look, rather than have it sitting on a chest on the floor. We recommended weathered wood style plank floors that are water resistant and extremely durable to replace the outdated wood and tile floor.
We created a furniture layout that best utilized the space and gave much more seating for friends and family. We included a large slipcovered sectional with a chaise lounge that is perfect for a rental because the slipcovers can be removed and easily cleaned. We added an additional slipcover in a light gray performance fabric so that they always have a clean slipcover to use while the other is being cleaned. We placed large club chairs with ottomans and a rattan accent chair for even more seating. We brought natural tones in with a seagrass table, weathered wood end tables and rope lamps. All materials were selected for ease of care and durability, including the beautiful blue indoor/outdoor rug. We incorporated the clients antiques throughout the home and updated the bedrooms and dining room with new paint, high quality mattresses, luxury bedding and mixed new furniture with some of their existing furnishings to keep them on budget. We recommended an update on outdoor furnishings that extends the living space to the outdoors and their spectacular water view. Last, but not least, a hammock to take a nap or read a book in the summer breeze.
The homeowners were ecstatic with the end results. Their home is now in high demand to rent and they are getting a much higher rate. The only thing they now have difficulty with is giving it up for rent instead of using it themselves, but they manage to do both.
