August 15-31, 2008

FEATURES

A SIMPLE BEACH HOUSE BECOMES A NURTURING HOME

When a Westchester couple sought to renovate their oceanfront getaway in Amagansett, they were looking for relaxed elegance. It was the mindset befitting designer Kyle Timothy Blood, of Kyle Timothy Home, who had heard about this project from a local antiques dealer. Although his car was being serviced that day, he wasted no time: He strapped his portfolio to his back, hopped on his bicycle and rode over to introduce himself.

"When I got there, everybody was in a bathing suit. The mother was holding the baby, the younger girls were still wet from the beach and the father was poring over the plans. I said, 'Hi, I'm Kyle, and I'd like to help you with your project,'" recalls Blood, who was clad in a polo shirt and shorts. "'What you see is what you get. I check my ego at the door, and my job is to deliver your house, not mine. When I shut the door behind me at the end of the project, I'll know that I've been successful if you feel like you're living in your own home and not in a Kyle Timothy house.'"

The couple liked what they heard and hired Blood to help turn what had been a Sears kit home and garage into a three-level, 4,500-square-foot beach cottage for themselves, their three children and the dog. Today it's a tranquil place where the front door opens to reveal the warmth of the family within and the ocean expansive views beyond.

"I worked from the ground up, everything from the architect's plan to the sheets on the beds—concept to completion," explains Blood, noting that entering the project in its infancy allowed for a positive synergy between himself, noted builder Ben Krupinski and the project architect, the late Olman Sanabria of John Laffey Architects. In addition to researching and specifying many building materials within the house, Blood also served as project manager and the owners' advocate during the building process.

"When I met them on that first day and realized they were tried-and-true beach people, they told me they wanted their home to look like it had always been there in the dunes but with the modern conveniences of a new house. Since I grew up on the coast of Maine, I immediately understood the aesthetic and feel they sought to evoke."

Blood first developed a subtle yet intertwined color palette and then worked up a furniture plan for maximum comfort—and minimum pretense. Then he went shopping: "Nothing could be precious. At any given time I knew there could be from three to 10 kids, several couples and at least the family's dog about. It was always very clear that this house was going to be lived in, and the furnishings had to stand up to wear and tear while belying a certain quality."

Blood maintains that interior design is a service-oriented business. He says he went to great lengths to be certain that customized details were executed both in the construction of the home and its interiors. "I believe my job is to extract and implement the clients' vision, whether they know what it is or not. For example, many people would utilize the entire top floor as the master suite, but my clients wanted their master bedroom with ensuite bath to be cozy. To create this feeling, I wrapped the room in horizontal V-notch wood that was painted the husband's favorite blue to achieve an intimate feel. This color scheme was then extended to the master deck beyond and the adjacent guest suite."

Luxury, Blood points out, can be defined by accessible yet voluminous space and the highly-edited furnishings that sit within it. This is also evidenced by the overall proportions throughout the house, created by Laffey's team. The architect masterfully sited the house to take full advantage of the unobstructed ocean views rather than the surrounding houses. Krupinski's team dug 30 feet into the sand with steel beams to execute Laffey's plans.

"We designed the kitchen to have numerous, clutter-free work spaces and uninterrupted flow." According to Blood, space planning, especially in a second home, is all about creating areas where individuals can interrelate but not be on top of each other."

In the adjacent open dining area, the husband wanted an expansive table to serve as the hearth of the home. When Blood and his clients could find neither an antique nor a new piece, Blood designed a solid cherry table with a planed top and turned and tapered legs to fit the area.

"Everything about this house says solid and strong," reflects Blood. "They're raising a family here and creating many happy memories. When you first walk in, you realize you're in an extremely well-built structure; then, as you take in the view, sit down in a comfortable chair and talk to the owners, you immediately feel nurtured and relaxed."