Top tips for creating the Hamptons look

Trends may come and go but one thing’s for sure, the popularity of effortless Hamptons-style houses will stay put forever. First originating in Long Island, New York – where elaborate beachside homes remain a chic playground for affluent A-listers and celebrities alike – the Hamptons look in Australia is much more pared-back.

When you think of Hamptons style homes in Australia you think of textured weatherboard cladding, large, sun-drenched verandahs, light-filled interiors styled with colour accents in duck egg blue, and contrasting white window trims.

Given our sunburnt country’s love of the great outdoors, indoor-outdoor living reigns supreme in a Hamptons style home. As a result, much of the design and styling choices of a Hamptons home in Australia are centred around a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors.

Alongside Modern Coastal houses, contemporary Hamptons style is one of the jewels of quintessential Australian coastal homes. The best bit? You don’t need to live by the sea in order to create a dreamy Hamptons home.

What is Hamptons style?

Contemporary Hamptons style in Australia is timeless and understated, sophisticated yet laid-back. It is all about weatherboard cladding, natural textures, classic interiors styled with jute rugs and indoor plants, and an open-plan design that celebrates family connection.

A Hamptons style house will typically feature design elements such as big bay windows, abundant natural light, window trims which perfectly complement exterior weatherboards, and bi-fold doors that invite the outside in.

While a brand new two storey Hamptons style house is common in Australia, so too are single-storey coastal cottages that have been lovingly renovated or restored into a Hamptons home.

Three types of Hamptons looks in Australia

There are three types of Hamptons looks in Australia, including:

The Australian Hamptons look: Think a neutral colour palette with pops of grey, simple details and a stylish yet pared-back exterior and interior.

The traditional Hamptons look: This is the most luxe look of the three Hamptons style homes, with elegant and imposing details a feature of the home.

The contemporary Hamptons look: This look favours clean lines over decorative details and focuses on a bold gable roof line.

How to create the Australian Hamptons look

The Australian Hamptons look nods to classic Queenslander homes and is best achieved with:

Weatherboard cladding: A Hamptons style exterior in Australia will typically feature weatherboard cladding. The clean horizontal lines of Linea™ Weatherboard have become an unmistakable and much-loved feature of Hamptons homes. Natalee Bowen of Indah Island renovated her 20-year-old home using Linea™ Weatherboards. Easy to install over existing brick and easy to paint, it was the ideal choice to bring Natalee’s Hamptons vision to life.

Easy entertaining areas: Alfresco dining and summer entertaining are what Hamptons style homes in Australia are made for. The kitchen is often the sprawling heart of the home as are outdoor alfresco areas with table settings by the pool, in a courtyard or overlooking a lush lawn.

How to create the traditional Hamptons look

Want to achieve a luxurious Hamptons look that exudes the classic charm of holiday homes on Long Island? Here’s how.

Neutral colour palette: This look is all about keeping it simple and refined, and that all begins with your Australian Hamptons style facade. Neutral Linea™ Weatherboard cladding with its clean, horizontal lines will deliver the street appeal your classic Hamptons exterior is worthy of. For your interiors, opt to use greys and whites as your base and accentuate with pops of duck egg blue and navy tones.

Contrasting white window trims: For additional wow-factor, accentuate your Hamptons style exterior in Australia with luxe details like Hardie™ Axent™ Trim. Made from Hardie™ fibre cement, Hardie™ Axent™ Trim can be used around your window and door frames or in board and batten design and is resistant to shrinking, swelling and warping.

How to create the contemporary Hamptons look

Otherwise known as modern Hamptons style, contemporary Hamptons style is chic and effortless and can best be achieved by considering:

Timber-look cladding: Hamptons style is typically characterised by weatherboard cladding. Linea™ Weatherboard is durable, fire-resistant and low-maintenance, making it one ideal material to clad a Hamptons style home. Another option is Axon™ Cladding, which is a range of vertically grooved timber-look panels that feature a stepped shiplap joint on the long edges for easy installation.

Indoor-outdoor living: Verandahs, balconies, terraces… you name it, the contemporary Hamptons look is all about a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors. Take cues from Bonnie Hindmarsh’s Modern Coastal Barn renovation which uses the classic style of Linea™ Weatherboards to bring the look to life.

What is the difference between Hamptons vs coastal style?

The lines between a Hamptons style house and a Modern Coastal house are certainly blurry, however, there are key differences between the two home design trends.

The most important difference between a Hamptons style home and a Modern Coastal house is that Hamptons style houses tend to lean much more into tradition. A traditional Hamptons home in Australia plays homage to the grandeur and sprawling estates that are dotted along New York’s Long Island. Meanwhile, Coastal style homes in Australia can be more flexible and fun.

The colour palette of a Hamptons home is also another obvious point of difference. Hamptons homes in Australia focus on neutral colour palettes with pops of grey, cream and blues; while Modern Coastal houses can be more fluid with pops of colour a highlight such as green and turquoise, and styling elements such as rattan and white-washed wood a popular feature.