Beyond the Tour: How to create a Classic Coastal Hamptons Home Aesthetic in Singapore
By Shannon Osztonits -
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Defined by coastal seaside elegance: a sense of luxury whilst simultaneously maintaining a feeling of laid-back calm, the Hamptons design style soared to popularity at the start of the 2000s (especially in Australia). Thanks to its timeless aesthetic, it’s remained a highly admired interior design style.
What are the key Hamptons Design Style elements?
There are certain design elements that you will notice in every home in the Hamptons. These echo the coastal feelings of tranquillity, which is one of the most important themes in a Hamptons-inspired home.
In fact, the Hamptons style is very similar to the interior design you see in the South of France. Both are praised for sharing super similar aesthetics and lifestyles that influence the design choice for both seaside destinations. For example, both share a love for natural lighting, materials, and a colour palette that immediately reminds you of being close to the ocean.
Natural light
Many Hamptons homes are constructed from wood. Sitting on the seaside, or within a short distance of it, the use of this material, along with a coastal positioning, allows for homes to lap up a lot of natural lighting.
Home and Decor enjoyed a tour with homeowner, Amelia, who worked closely with her interior designer, Dominic of Homely Matters, to recreate a classic Hamptons-inspired home overlooking the Geylang River in the exclusive Tanjong Rhu area.
This is one of the most important factors of recreating a Hamptons-style home. Interior designers and architects work around manipulating a space to enhance the building’s natural lighting, from window placement to the strategic choice of colour palette and furniture settings.
Open spaces
Hamptons homes exude cosiness. There’s character, not minimalism, yet still a refrain from clutter. An open-plan concept is well-favoured, and the rooms feel spacious and inviting, never cramped. Often, the kitchen, dining area and living room flow seamlessly into one another, with no major wall structures obstructing the flow.
The foyer opens up to the dining area, and the open-concept kitchen is easily accessed a few meters from here.
With this type of open space floor plan, natural light easily filters through from one area to the next. An open-plan layout also invites conversation between visitors and house guests. There is no TV in Amelia’s condo, encouraging guests to mingle.
Warmer neutrals paired with blue hues and undertones
Shades of white, nautical blues and natural-looking colours are favoured in Hamptons homes. Generally, white is the primary colour, with blue accents and neutrals complementing it. These colour choices are carried out throughout every room and space, from the living room to the kitchen to the bedrooms.
The living room, dining area and foyer walls are painted ‘Simply White’ by Benjamin Moore. It lends a warm undertone. Simply White was Benjamin Moore's Colour of the Year 2016. All of the custom-built cabinets in Amelia’s house are finished in Designer White by Lamitak. Dominic suggested this for its combination of light grey and subtle yellow tinges, which are very soothing.
Crisp white walls are the go-to in any Hamptons home; however, not stark white. Throughout Amelia’s condo, elegant white walls are displayed, further enhancing the idea of open space.
In the master bedroom, the walls are done in ‘Morning Dew’ by Benjamin Moore. With slight grey and green undertones, it’s a rich, relaxing colour, perfect for a bedroom space.
Throughout the home, countertops are Marble Agente Sintered Stone by Aurastone. This includes the kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom.
She also brought in blue hues in the bathroom with wall paint (Lake Placid from Benjamin Moore), and vanity cabinet laminates done in Sky Grey.
Amelia played around with blue accents to accentuate the coastal atmosphere, from her choice of scatter bed cushions to sofa throws and the Castlery rug (a natural tone with a very light green-blue tint) in the living room.
The living room boasts warm wood furniture.
Wooden furniture sticks to light woods, for example, the round Castlery coffee table in the living room, in a lighter, very raw solid wood.
Gold finishes
Introducing a subtle splash of colour is done with finishes, for example, gold or brass taps, handles, and door and cabinet knobs.
Wainscoting
Turn to wainscoting to add character to white walls thanks to its textured appearance. It also adds a sophisticated feel to any room and is reminiscent of Parisian homes, tying in a French feel.
In the primary en suite, Dominic sourced a wainscoting-like tile: XS Sorico Bianco.
Amelia used wainscoting throughout the bottom half of the foyer, dining area and kitchen walls. In the master bedroom, the wainscoting design is opposite: from the ceiling to the middleway mark of the walls.
Shaker cabinets
Spot a shaker cabinet by looking for a frame outline known as a recessed panel. This type of cabinetry ties in beautifully with wainscoting and is a typical kitchen feature in Hamptons-esque homes.
Shaker cabinets house Amelia’s classy glassware.
Soft furnishings
You won’t spot any obtrusive patterns in a Hamptons-styled home, nor any hard, synthetic-looking fabrics. Instead, soft and wavy lines are favoured, mirroring the ocean’s ebb and flow. Linens and billowy cottons are favoured, as well as soft and rich textures.
Classical antiquity meets modern-day design
A Hamptons home favours the luxury of old-world design for certain design elements, like lighting fixtures, yet still maintains a contemporary feel.
One typical example is wall sconces for accent lighting and ambience, or large mirrors to add opulence.