Watermill Summer House, NY, Phase I

Encompassing 7,500 square feet, this Water Mill residence represents the first phase of a two-part renovation of an existing 1980s shingle-style home. Set within a sensitive waterfront landscape, the project reimagines the house as a modern coastal sanctuary while preserving the scale, character, and quiet presence of the original structure.

Phase 1 focused on a partial renovation that clarified the home’s architectural identity and strengthened its relationship to the surrounding landscape. A new contemporary addition introduces clean horizontal lines, expansive glass, warm wood cladding, and deep overhangs, creating a measured contrast with the traditional shingle volumes. Rather than compete with the existing house, the intervention establishes a dialogue between old and new; one rooted in restraint, proportion, and material warmth.

Inside, the renovation replaces dated and compartmentalized rooms with open, light-filled spaces oriented toward the water. Large expanses of glass frame views of the bay, while sliding doors extend the living experience outward to terraces, gardens, and the pool. Natural materials, including wood wall cladding and wide-plank flooring, bring warmth to the otherwise minimal interiors and reinforce the home’s connection to its coastal setting.

The design prioritizes clarity, openness, and ease of living. Interior spaces are simplified to allow light, landscape, and view to become the primary architectural elements. Dining, lounging, and bedroom areas are composed around transparency and connection, creating a relaxed but refined environment that feels both expansive and intimate.