East Hampton Elegance: Jennifer Hunter's Visionary Design

The entryway greets guests with an open floor plan, fit with a stunning RH console, vibrant lampshades, an eye-catching mirror and much, much more.

Through masterfully executed architecture, natural design elements and bold bursts of color, Jennifer Hunter Design reimagines a Hamptons hideaway.

The dining room is print-positive, marrying green Scalamandré Raphael wallpaper with a Serena & Lily tablecloth and more.

The living room showcases an oh, so natural (and neutral) aesthetic with Natural Sealer flooring, wooden accents and shades of soft whites

The Client

When Hamptonites Joshua Kogan and Samantha Hirsch set out to build their long-lasting family home in the East End, it was a natural decision to join forces with local interior design firm Jennifer Hunter Design (jenniferhunterdesign.com). “The family and I were in talks about a Hamptons home for two years, and I actually worked on their Manhattan apartment in the interim before they landed on this house,” shares Hunter. “It was a long time in the making and we were so excited to complete it.” Nestled nicely in East Hampton, the 2,600-square-foot space comes to life with five bedrooms and four baths— perfect for the pair’s two young boys to run about and relax all summer long. “Since this is the family’s second home, they wanted it to feel comfortable and livable. They love their Manhattan apartment and wanted to replicate the same aesthetic, but for a beach, with space to host and entertain.”

hues of green from the surrounding landscape peek through the windows, illuminating the Burke Decor breakfast table.

The Priority

Having previously worked with the family on their Manhattan apartment, Hunter was already privy to the homeowners’ unique sense of style. “The main priority was to create a sophisticated beach house with lots of entertaining spaces and rooms to host their guests,” she shares. “There are three guest bedrooms, including the bunk room, which itself has four beds. The client wanted fun surprises—which are showcased through pops of colors, wallpaper and a mix of natural textures.”

The bunk room’s neon sign reads “The Bubby Bed Breakfast”

the nursery is complete with a standout chandelier from Sazerac Stitches, playfully patterned wallpaper and car art done by Leslee Mitchell

The Process

With the clock counting down to the summer season, the home quickly came to life with a smorgasbord of semicustom and ready-made pieces. “We worked with our trusted vendors who were able to turn around made-to-order pieces quickly,” she explains. Take, for example, the ultrachic Maiden Home sofa found in the expansive living area.“While we were able to select our own fabric, style and size, it was not a fully custom piece and thus they were able to fabricate it on our short timeline.” Paired with two accent chairs from Anthropologie (which were already upholstered in a complementary coastal cotton stripe), the duo effortlessly brings a luxe, custom look to the room while staying true to the timeline. “We took a similar approach in the bunk room,” she adds. “The two fully upholstered beds are from Serena & Lily in one of their traditional fabrics; however, for the built- in bunks, we purchased additional fabric by the yard and had our workroom create upholstered headboards that mounted to the walls. The combination of semicustom and ready-made pieces with custom furnishings really elevates the space, creating a standout design.”

a Juliska x Veronica Beard sits pretty among the colorful table setting by Il Buco Vita.

The Details

Rife with rich hues and playful patterns, the home sports an open floor plan, seamlessly flowing from room to room. “The home began as a traditional floor plan and we helped the client make it feel more airy and open by knocking down multiple walls,” explains Hunter. “We started with light renovations of the kitchen and baths and then opened up the entire floor plan on the first floor. The entryway now leads to the living room, sitting room, breakfast room and kitchen.” Equally impressive and distinctly characteristic on its own, each room is a unique offering fit for someone looking to immerse themselves in the Hamptons lifestyle. “While the home reads beach, there is a bit of a sophisticated, edgy vibe that runs through it with unexpected use of color and materials,” she tells. This is perfectly displayed in the dining room: a space adorned with organic elements (think caning, tree wallpaper and natural oak floors), complementing the vibrant color palette and playful trinkets that fill the area.

feast your eyes on the bunk room, a space filled gorgeous vine wallpaper, gingham bed frames, a star-inspired ceiling fixture and much more

never shying away from the bold, the Crate & Barrel chair and ottoman (paired with a Serena & Lily pillow) steal the show in the abode’s guest room

The Outcome

When I ask Hunter about her favorite part of the project, her answer is quick: “The bunk room!” she exclaims. “The homeowner wanted this room to feel like a bed-and-breakfast-meets-treehouse. We were able to infuse both by using vine wallpaper by Ottoline from Temple Studio and mixing it with classic country gingham. For an edgy twist, we created the gingham in black and added a neon sign that reads ‘The Bubby Bed and Breakfast.’” With endless creativity and some breakthrough solutions for each room, Hunter and her team masterfully executed a stunning (and serene) home away from home that welcomes you in and asks you to stay awhile. It’s a true Hamptons haven through and through.

The guest bedroom is cozy with Ballard Designs bedding and a Crate & Barrel bed

the kitchen is complete with clean lines, lush accents and state-of-the- art appliances.

In the primary bedroom, muted tones are brought to life with gold accents and plush, patterned finds.

DESIGN DETAILS

HOME TYPE Single-family

LOCATION East Hampton

INTERIOR DESIGN Jennifer Hunter Designjenniferhunterdesign.com

RESOURCES

Benjamin Moore Paint throughout,benjaminmoore.com

The Shade Store Curtains and blinds throughout,theshadestore.com

CB2 Poufs, vase and mirror, entryway; chairs and buffer, living room, cb2.com

Serena & Lily Bed and pillows, bunk room; accent pillow, guest room; ladder, sitting room; coffee table and top rug, living room; tablecloth, dining room,serenaandlily.com

Crate & Barrel Bed, chair and ottoman, guest room; dresser, mirror, baskets and crib, nursery; lamp, bunk room,crateandbarrel.com

RH Console, entryway; table, dining room; sofa table, living room, rh.com

Visual Comfort Light fixture, entryway; light fixture, dining room; ceiling fixture and sconces, bunk room, visualcomfort.com

Photography by: PHOTOGRAPHED BY KIRSTEN FRANCIS

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The kitchen touts a colorful mix of patterns, bold textiles and fancy fixtures.

Entertaining and quality time were key factors in creating this young family’s forever home.

The living room features a collection of china plates hung as a gallery wall.

The buffet holds sentimental value as it is a family heirloom.

“The aesthetic of this project can be described as a riff on the traditional—some vintage pieces mixed with classic, contemporary fixtures, and a muted but happy color palette that all evokes a relaxed, family-centric home,” shares Jennifer Hunter (jenniferhunterdesign.com), who was tapped to help this young family of four create their dream home. “While the clients have two young boys, we wanted the spaces to feel warm with a little feminine flair to represent the wife’s sensibility.” Having originally met as sorority sisters at the University of Texas Austin, Hunter was already privy to her friend’s sense of style, yet the homeowners offered Hunter free rein as it pertained to design. “This was a dream client that gave me full creative freedom. Those clients are truly a gift because they trust you implicitly and the outcome is just magic,” shares Hunter. One key request that rang as music to Hunter’s ears was that they wanted wallpaper for almost every room. Ensconced in the West University area of Houston, the house sits pretty at 4,700 square feet, featuring four bedrooms and 3 ½ baths. Form and function were top of mind as the homeowners love to roll out the warmest of welcomes—offering guests the perfect spot to enjoy conversation, toast cocktails alfresco or share a meal with friends. “My two favorite spaces are the dining room and family room,” notes Hunter. “There is this boldness yet subtleness about each of them. You have these wow moments, but with just the right amount of softness that makes the rooms feel approachable and comfortable. You can really imagine and see the family living in these spaces on the day to day.” Wanting the space to exude a classic Southern charm yet be equally relaxed at the same time, Hunter weaved in traditional elements such as family heirloom pieces like the buffet in the dining room—which was the client’s grandmother’s—and a treasure trove of antiques mixed with pops of color and contemporary flair, which included the selection of commissioned art, including a piece from Florida-based artist Caleb Mahoney. Every nook and corner of this home was meticulously thought through—ultimately creating the perfect balance for the family to enjoy.