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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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