Immersive Escape – East Hampton Farmhouse by Carlyle Designs

Inspired by the lush forests and beaches nearby, East Hampton Farmhouse has been renovated to become an extension of its owners and a retreat from New York City. Jordan Carlyle of Carlyle Designs reworks an existing structure into a sanctuary for him and his husband.

The Hamptons have long been a destination where New Yorkers head during the summer months. Emphasising the luxury that having a residence in such a location represents, Jordanwanted to overlay moments of tradition among opulent textures and finishes. East Hampton Farmhouse combines a European sensibility with a pared-back and carefully restrained neutral palette. Both connected to the surrounding natural elements and reinforced as a place of reprieve, the home connects to people and place.

East Hampton Farmhouse combines a European sensibility with a pared-back and carefully restrained neutral palette.

Being his own home, Jordan approached the spaces through a personal lens. “The design brief was to transform a faded Georgian Colonial home into a peaceful and calming refuge for the couple,” describes Jordan. “The goal was to preserve the charming character of the original house,” he adds, “while also modernising the interior and creating a home that was both stylish and comfortable.” The front door and pine wood flooring therefore set the foundation – paying homage to the past – while a mix of newly acquired and vintage furniture, lighting and artwork provide additional depth and interest to the spaces.

To preserve the original charm of the home, the new elements needed to be complementary and avoid distracting from the core character. After superfluous detailing that did not align with the origins of the home was removed, the spaces could be assigned their function with an open flow between each. The result sees, “a marriage of old and new,” says Jordan, “where traditional and contemporary design elements coexist in harmony.” He adds, “the house has a peaceful and calming atmosphere that serves as a refuge from the frenetic pace of the city,” which can be felt in the soft lighting, composition of elements within each space and the overall neutral feel.

“The goal was to preserve the charming character of the original house,” he adds, “while also modernising the interior and creating a home that was both stylish and comfortable.”

With key reminders of the past in place, East Hampton Farmhouse retains a connection to those who originally designed and built the home. In bringing his personal interpretation of what an idea retreat is, Jordan heightens the feeling of immersion and disconnect once inside.