Canadian-born designer Amanda Nisbet relied on bold colours when designing this beach house in the Hamptons.
"I wanted it to be sophisticated and cosy at the same time," says Amanda. So she did what she always does with colour: layer it with texture. "I used several tones of a single colour in a room," she says. "Think lavenders in rough linen, glossy enamel and smooth glass. Or celadon painted on metal, draped over a sofa or lacquered on a table." Texture is the way to experience one colour in many ways, she explains, because light dances differently on each surface. And the emotional responses vary, too. "The result is a house that doesn't just look good – it feels good," says Amanda. Even on a rainy day.
Entryway The two-storey entry needed to make a statement. To offset the volume and make the entry more welcoming, Amanda placed a custom hexagonal table at its centre. The blue pleated cloth suggests coral but doesn't scream "beach house". The glass tabletop reflects light and lends a watery, fresh feel to the room.
