Expert Opinion: Hamptons Look Q&A with Natalee Bowen of Indah Island

We sat down with Hamptons designer, Natalee Bowen, to find out what she learned on her tour of some of the most luxurious Hamptons style homes.

Q)  HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE HAMPTONS LOOK?

Natalee: The style of housing in the Hamptons is architecturally magnificent, and the furnishings are made to match this sense of opulence.

To get the Hamptons look, it’s all about bringing the outdoors. Some tips for this include:

• Positioning the doors and windows so they maximise light
• Capturing the colours of the coast such as whites, blues, greens and creams
• Using panelling that flows from the weatherboard outside to the internal detailing like skirting and cornices

Oppulence and a sense of grandeur are key elements of the classic Hamptons look.

Q) THE HAMPTONS LOOK IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE COAST, BUT CAN IT WORK INLAND?

Natalee: Absolutely, the Hamptons style is not reserved exclusively for beachfront properties. The look is equally at home in the city or country. The best way to adapt the Hamptons look for a different setting is by understanding the requirements of your environment. For example, to create a Australian Hamptons home, I would recommend Linea™ Weatherboard. Linea™ Weatherboard allows you to achieve the classic weatherboard look without the maintenance of timber. It’s also resistant to termite and bushfire damage which is perfect for a rural setting.

Natalee recommends Linea™ Weatherboards for the facade of your Hamptons home. It creates the look of traditional weatherboard minus the maintenance.

Q) THE HAMPTONS LOOK IS POPULAR IN AMERICA, SO HOW HAS IT BEEN ADAPTED TO SUIT THE AUSTRALIAN STYLE?

Natalee: The Modern Hamptons Style is renowned for its summer getaways over three months of the year, whereas Australia’s climate screams for open-plan living designs that are made for entertaining all-year round.

The Australian climate calls for open plan designs that blend the indoor/outdoor transition.

While Australian homes were once renowned for the colonial look with sweeping verandas and wooden mouldings, I think we now steer towards a more sophisticated and elegant style which is defined by clean weatherboard lines and a pared-back colour palette. I suggest consulting your builder or designer who will be able to suggest the right cladding materials for adapting the classic Hamptons look to your area.