East Coast Escape

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Designer Eden Wright infuses a Hamptons home with California sophistication

In the formal living room, a pair of ottomans covered in fabric by Alexa Hampton for Kravet face a pair of sofas from RH. Photos by Josh Goetz. Styled by Eliza Karlson.
Artwork was sourced from Dolby Chadwick. Photos by Josh Goetz. Styled by Eliza Karlson.

Sausalito-based designer Eden Wright just finished the design inside a San Francisco home for her clients when they decided to sell the house and relocate to New York to embark on a new career and be closer to family. “I’ve lived in California for more than half of my life now, but working on this project immediately took me back home,” says Wright. “It was like working with someone you knew growing up. New York will always be my magnet and the center of the universe, even though California is home.”

A John Pomp chandelier from De Sousa Hughes hangs in the dining room.
Photos by Josh Goetz. Styled by Eliza Karlson.
An armchair by Palecek faces an RH sectional in the sunroom.
Photos by Josh Goetz. Styled by Eliza Karlson.

They were so impressed with Wright’s work out West, that they enlisted her to apply her sophisticated approach inside their new Hamptons home. Originally built in 1890 by Alonzo Reed, the 9,500-square-foot historical, waterfront estate that was formerly a hunting lodge and private residence, needed to be stripped of the dated fixtures and finishes. “It was a fast-paced, all-hands-on-deck project,” says Wright. “They purchased the house in March with a private offer and didn’t close until the end of April and wanted the house move-in ready by May for Memorial Day weekend for guests. No pressure! We ended up having most of the project designed before they closed.”

Photos by Josh Goetz. Styled by Eliza Karlson.
Photos by Josh Goetz. Styled by Eliza Karlson.

The client’s wanted the retreat to feel more casual and relaxed without too much fuss, but still equipped with top amenities. “We removed the heavy 90s reds, yellows and bold prints and brought in light, airy fabrics and finishes to give it a more serene vibe,” she says. “We also stripped older heavy grass cloths and added lighter blues, greens and more natural tones, while keeping the architectural details in tact.”

With a swift deadline, Wright and her team installed a mixture of in-stock furniture and custom pieces. “The sofas and beds were delivered within a few weeks from RH and Serena & Lily as well as the outdoor furniture from Gloster, so that everyone had a place to sleep and sit for Memorial Day weekend,” she says. “We then brought in custom creations including rugs from Elizabeth Eakins, a hand-blown glass and metal console from John Pomp, lighting from Studio Bel Vetro and custom upholstery throughout the house that we designed and had made by Belmar Company.” 

The outdoor dining room features a table and chairs by Gloster, purchased from Dunkirk. Photos by Josh Goetz. Styled by Eliza Karlson.
Photos by Josh Goetz. Styled by Eliza Karlson.

After living in the house for sometime, the couple decided to shift the floor plan and hired architect Austin Patterson Disston to relocate the kitchen, dining room and master bathroom in order to expand the water views. “As a family, they gratefully sheltered in place here for much of 2020 enjoying the natural surroundings.”