With its blue and white colour scheme and breezy open feel, the Hamptons style was originally designed for coastal appeal, so how can you take the look inland?
This was the challenge facing mother of two, Wendy Robinson, when her family bought a two-acre block in rural New South Wales.
“I’ve loved the Hamptons look for about 10 years now and have keenly followed both Australian and American blogs and social media for inspiration,” she says. “It’s a part of the world that radiates a timeless charm that I knew I wanted to capture in my home.”
It’s clear to see the home has been built to capture the Hamptons look, while carefully balancing a more country style in keeping with the rural surroundings. The exterior’s defining feature is the full Linea Weatherboard wrap.
“I wanted the weatherboard look from day one, it’s a Hamptons must-have,” says Wendy. “The profile of the Linea Weatherboards stops the facade looking plain. I love how they cast shadows that change throughout the day, constantly giving the home a different look and feel.”
While Wendy loves the Hamptons colour palette, it had to suit the country setting, so she opted for a monochrome exterior, moving away from blues that mimic the coast. “The dark greys we’ve chosen for the roofs and our black front door with matching hardware give the house a subtle country twist that stops the house looking out of place.”
The white balustrades of the internal staircase make a big first impression, standing out against the dark timber floors, custom rounded treads, risers and railing. “Dark wood floors are often associated with the Hamptons, and we knew that a light timber would feel too beachy and a deeper tone would ground the colour scheme more so it felt cosier, especially in winter.”
In true Hamptons style, the layout is spacious and made for entertaining with a large dining area and shaker-style kitchen. “I really enjoy having a big group of friends and family over for dinner and so a big dining table was a must,” says Wendy. “It’s the first thing you see when you walk into the room and a great place to introduce some blue tones.”
Having transitioned from the country setting outside, the home reaches its Hamptons peak in the living areas with the introduction of the style’s hallmark blue tones.
“Blues are a basic tenant of the classic Hamptons look and tie back to the style’s seaside origins. We decided to gradually introduce a few of these tones as you walk through the home, to create a natural progression to our living area where we have beautiful blue patterned roman blinds, table setting and soft furnishings, all set on a background of crisp vivid white that creates a bright and breezy feel.”
A mixed look has been adapted in the second entertaining space, the Highland room. Visible through a glass barn door, the eye is instantly drawn to the recycled brick fireplace and chimney which runs the height of the pitched roof. Here the dark timber floorboards make way for a Travertine stone floor that extends out onto the alfresco rear porch via bi-fold doors.
“We spend a lot more time in the Highland room than we first thought, it seems to be the natural place to go after dinner, especially on summer days when the light pours in from outside and also in winter when the open log fire is roaring.”
The rear porch envelopes the house on three sides, partially shielding it from the seasonal elements of the rural location. “In a year we’ll experience high winds, heavy rains, frosty cold snaps and blazing sunshine, so we needed to build with materials that can stand up to the elements.”
“We plan to live in this house for a long time, so it was important that it showcased our style and lets us live the lifestyle we want.
“For us, that means Hamptons in the country, from entertaining in the kitchen and dining area at the heart of the home, to the look of the Linea Weatherboards on its facade, it’s a home that is uniquely our own.”