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Bringing the Hamptons into your Home
Bringing the Hamptons into your Home
Hamptons decorating is made up of many elements coming together to create a crisp yet relaxed, coastal yet classic style. Defined by cool, sophisticated designs that combine rustic, casual beach vibes, Hamptons styling features chic blues, off-whites, panelled walls and timber flooring designed to make your home feel like a resort.
A hugely popular interior decorating style in Australia, the classic Hamptons style embraces a fresh, airy palette and natural textures inspired by the architecture and decorating of holiday homes and buildings in the luxury seaside communities along the eastern beaches of upstate New York's neighbouring Long Island.
Hamptons styling can be applied to all rooms inside and out, from your selection of foundation finishes such as floors, ceilings, and cabinetry, through your furniture and decorator elements that truly make your space unique. This article explores how you can introduce Hamptons decorating throughout your home.
KITCHEN
Hamptons kitchens feature white kitchen cabinetry, with open shelving or glass-front doors in a Shaker profile. Marble or light-coloured engineered stone is typically the leading choice for benchtops.
The island bench is always the centre of attention in a Hamptons kitchen. A generous oven is a must as a freestanding masterpiece that is not only for cooking but for centralising the cabinetry design. A beautiful range hood with glass cabinetry on either side will showcase your tableware, such as glasses and crockery.
CEILINGS & STAIRCASES
Coffered ceilings are perfect for a luxury Hamptons-inspired home. Coffered ceilings are an architectural detail consisting of beams arranged in evenly spaced grid patterns that add a lovely dimension to a ceiling and create a remarkable illusion of height.
The staircase is often a crowning jewel in a Hamptons home, and details like a bold newel post with carefully designed spindles can be carried throughout the home, making the spaces cohesive. Black steps with white risers and a bold handrail are also classic Hamptons take on staircase design.
WONDERFUL WAINSCOTING
To add Hamptons flair, introduce east-coast style with timber moulding along hallways and staircases. Wainscoting is like icing on the cake for walls in a Hamptons home. Wainscoting can be used anywhere in the home, too - no matter the space size. If you layer intricate mouldings, they can become a significant design element of any wall and will masterfully blend with skirting, cornices and architraves, allowing your colour palette to shine.
NATURAL TEXTURES & COLOURS
Warm up plain white walls and timber floors with sisal rugs, wicker furniture, classic works of art and carefully curated homewares in signature colourways such as soft green, teal, blue, whites and creams.
WINDOW SEATS
Hamptons homes are tailor-made for relaxing, making window seats a common feature. Ideally, include storage underneath, and be sure to pick an indoor/outdoor fabric for your cushion covers with a mix and match of patterned or textured fabrics.
LIGHTING
In any interior, lighting plays a key role in a space's form and function and can pepper your home with an extra design layer. Hamptons-inspired lighting is elegant with hanging chandeliers of crystal and brass and beautiful table lamps that bring ambience and interest to your home.
FURNITURE
Furniture is where you can inject some personality bringing your Hamptons dream home to life. Hamptons styling often focuses on a blue-and-white palette, but you should include floral and oak tones for depth, which translates to a more traditional style.
Outdoor spaces are equally crucial as indoors, as they fully encapsulate your lifestyle. Create a seamless flow between indoors and out by keeping the design and colour choices consistent – your outdoor furniture should be the same style and colours as your interior. Wicker settings with white, blue or grey cushions are a classic option.
BLUE & WHITE FINISHING TOUCHES
The colour combination of blue & white can transform your space into a seaside haven, bringing with it all those relaxed, calm, coastal vibes the Hamptons style is known for.
This perfect pairing has been around for centuries, from Chinese porcelain to Delftware, ticking stripes to the timeless classic of Wedgwood, known for its ability to compliment almost any decorated style home.
Cushions are a wonderful way to inject pattern, texture and personality into your living areas. Mixing and matching patterns in shades of blue, white and even a pop of green elevates your decorating and adds interest to more neutral Hamptons styling.
At Pieces of Joy, we stock a wide range of furniture and decorator items perfectly suited to Hamptons-style decorating. Click here to visit our recent article on the Top 10 Hamptons-inspired Pieces of Joy, visit our store in Ballarat or browse through our website piecesofjoy.com.au - we know we'll find some treasures to help make your house a home.
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