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    Sunny, Sandy and Serene—Vanessa Alexander unfurls the beauty of the beach in this Montauk beach house

    NOV 25, 2021 | By Twinkle Tolani
    A vintage Mario Bellini Camaleonda sofa from Morentz Gallery takes center stage in the living area, along with a custom Axel Vervoordt coffee table; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    A custom Woven Accents rug pulls the sofa and coffee table together in the living room; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    For a Bohemian touch, vintage pieces were mixed with new, custom furniture in a pale, sun-bleached palette; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    Floating above the outdoor pool is the suite-like primary bedroom of the house; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    The vistas and furniture pieces compete for the place of most picturesque element in the living area; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    The courtyard faunts a pair of Luteca’s woven Tule chairs and ottomans, plus a custom outdoor sectional and chair covered in Janus et Cie fabric; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    A Blackman Cruz hanging chair adds on to the neutral simplicity of the space; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    All in all, the living area exudes a calm and peaceful vibe, aiding in enjoying the view of the beach; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    In the kitchen, bleached white oak cabinets obscures all appliances against plaster walls, ceiling, and countertops; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    The wicker pendant in the dining area from Atelier Vime steals the show and creates the perfect vacation mood; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    An Ed Ruscha print and draperies in custom de Le Cuona fabric along with a bed designed by Alexander Design paint a picture of purity. Beddings from Society Limonta linens, a Libeco throw, and custom pillow by Alexandra Kohl complete the look; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    The house has the perfect location. It is secluded from main area, but amenities are at a walkable distance; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    The house is like a huge box. With its large doors and windows, it feels non-intimidating and tempting to walk-through; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    Woven Charlotte Perriand chairs with a custom Michele Quan side table and an Extrasoft sofa feature in the family room; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    Much-used chaises and a sofa from RH’s Maldives collection sit around a fire pit in the ‘bluff’; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

    Located in Montauk along the beach, this pristine and neutral 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom home is secluded, yet included in its surroundings. Designed by Vanessa Alexander, the premise is a summer home for the founder, Julie Rice, of SoulCycle, a fitness company with its headquarters in New York.

    The entrepreneurial, married duo of SoulCycle always had an affinity for the seaside. It can be attributed to their courtship period during which they resided near the Malibu coastline or the calming confluence of the sky and sand—either way there’s a romance to be blamed.

    Although, unlike a romance, the design of the house was not deliberate upon in a frenzy. The family of four, spent two summers before kicking off the renovations. In the meantime, the family got confident about what they wanted in their home.

    A custom live-edge white oak slab dining table by Alexander Design is surrounded by Stahl + Band custom undyed hide and white oak Campaign chairs in the dining area adjuncting the kitchen; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

     

    Works by Adam Pendleton wrap the family room and blend with sofa from Extrasoft; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

    Soon enough, they exchanged thoughts with Alexander and the space began to take shape. The house, when acquired, looked like an art patron’s pad. The challenge for Alexander was to transform into a nest suitable for a young family.

    With the couple’s love for the beach, there was no doubt that connectivity had to be obvious, and hence, it was as plain as day—the outside had to be brought inside.

    A quaint corner in the living area sports a Blackman Cruz hanging chair allowing for quality quiet time; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

     

    Large windows and plenty outdoor spaces blurs boundaries between the outside and inside; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

     

    In this Montauk beach house by Alexander, holidays must feel like a jiffy; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

    To blur the boundaries, architectural interventions like designing an outdoor kitchen, introducing a generous courtyard and employing floor-to-ceiling glass did the trick. 

    For the interiors, in the living room for example, layers have been deployed. Although Julie is averse to clutter and likes things organised, on account of living in a ‘white cube’ in the city, she was willing to put a bohemian spin on their vacation home.

    The most dynamic spot in the house, the primary bedroom sports Rice’s favorite piece of decor—ceramic and woven pendants by Harriet Goodall; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

     

    Other bedrooms follow suit in the neutral palette, although the mood and texture varies in every room; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

     

    Neutrality is fun in this kid’s bedroom in the Montauk beach house by Vanessa Alexander; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

    Juxtaposing the serene, glass-clad view of the beach and outdoor pool is the chunky and vintage Mario Bellini Camaleonda sofa from Morentz Gallery in the living area making a statement. A custom Axel Vervoordt coffee table paired with custom Woven Accents rug, and a Blackman Cruz hanging chair add on to the neutral, yet undaunted narrative.

    Bathrooms of the vacation home are well-lit and resplendent in textural play; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

     

     

    The vanities of the primary bathroom are custom-designed by Alexander Design in bleached walnut with sandblasted titanium travertine, made by Vaselli and Cooritalia, with matte black plumbing by Vola and custom Cam Crawford mirror; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

    Next, the primary bedroom ‘floating’ above the outdoor pool make-up for Rice’s favourite space all thanks to Alexander. With a dedicated closet space, downstairs pool access and a deck with a fireplace for 360-degree water views, the room feels like a personalised hotel suite.

    With bathrooms in abundance, it seems silly to fight over a bathroom until you lay eyes on the well-lit, primary bathroom of this home. The glass-topped primary shower replicates the effects of showering in the open. The vanities are custom-designed by Vanessa Alexander Design, and are in bleached walnut.

    Soft finishes and straight lines frame a picture of simplicity and serenity in the entire house; Photographs by Chris Mottalini
    Colours of nature bring out a beautiful contrast against the monochromatic palette of the built-mass; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

    On balmy summer days, the family spends a large chunk of their time on ‘the bluff’, a little outdoor seating area that looks over the ocean. Much-used chaises and a sofa from RH’s Maldives collection sit around their second fire pit.

    Design interventions by Alexander facilitate appreciating outdoors from inside and vice versa; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

     

    Picturesque views stun at every nook and corner of the house, making it an ideal holiday home; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

     

    A little modernity spills in the outdoor spaces of the beach house bringing the inside and outside in line with each other; Photographs by Chris Mottalini

    Overall, materiality was significant in accomplishing the mood and vibe. The introduction of unexpected materials to this modern space by Vanessa Alexander composes lazy dramatics in an otherwise very clean and soft palette.  Layering successfully materials produced a play of tactility and light.

    If the tour of this beach house transported you to dreams, you must check out the splendid rendition of vintage Plantation style homes by Houseof9design