House in the Lanes
Built for an owner with deep connections to Japan, this pared-back Hamptons home by Khanna Schultz is a serene retreat that sits lightly within its green surroundings.
The residence was carefully positioned to coexist with two established crepe myrtle trees, their twisted trunks providing a textural counterpoint to the sleek forms of the design. An existing swimming pool was retained, while native landscaping was added to attract bees and local wildlife. Clad in dark timber siding that recalls rural barn structures in Japan, the dwelling is wrapped in a subdued, singular material – one that offsets the light-filled interiors and allows the verdant landscape to take precedence.
Using the client’s collection of Japanese pottery as inspiration, the designer reveals the house in layers. The entry is signalled by a bridge over a void, beneath which a basement floor can be accessed via an external stair that draws natural light into the subterranean spaces. An arrival zone then provides room for shoes and coats before the living areas open to framed views of the pool and garden.
Inside, the palette is simple and finely detailed: pale bleached oak and white walls create the perfect backdrop for curated art and a handcrafted ceramic collection. Japanese-style screens filter light across the stair and upper floor, casting shadows and linear textures while offering privacy from neighbours. Also on the upper floor, a study nook is tucked behind the stair, while sliding doors open to a roof terrace framed by planter boxes.
Furniture was selected to be cohesive with the home’s serene palette, with an elegant dining suite by George Nakashima grounding the interior in its Japanese influences. Colour punctuates the calm through art and soft furnishings, including a maroon Sula chair and ottoman as well as a blue chaise lounger in the bedroom, both part of Good Colony’s Moving Mountains range, while a bright Marina Adams watercolour enlivens the upstairs landing.
Furthering its connection with nature, the home is designed to produce more energy than it consumes, with a solar array, geothermal heating and cooling, an energy-recovery ventilation system, as well as an electric car charger. In turn, the house treads lightly on the land, enabling the homeowner to live among the myrtle trees and ferns with their Japanese artefacts, evoking the sense of peace found during their travels.
Architecture and interior design by Khanna Schultz. Build by Flanzer Construction. Landscape design by Land Space. Artwork by Marina Adams.
