Hilary Matt Designs The Quintessential Hamptons Hideaway

By Chloe Konrad By Chloe Konrad | May 12, 2022 | Home & Real Estate, Feature, HBNY Home, HBNY Home Tours,

Hilary Matt designs the quintessential Hamptons hideaway.

The home’s exterior was manicured by Bay Area Landscaping.

THE PRIORITY

Hilary Matt, founder of Hilary Matt Interiors, was called on to create a summer oasis for her friends Alex and Michael Toccin, who design for their brands Toccin and LDT, in Water Mill.

The splashy kids playroom houses a custom table, chairs from Crate & Barrel and lighting from MENU.

“We wanted it to be different from their city home and reflect the location of the Hamptons without being too literal on the beachy front,” Matt says. Her goal was to get the job done quickly so the Toccins could enjoy it throughout the summer.

Homeowners Alex and Michael Toccin live a “no day is the same” lifestyle as parents and entrepreneurs.

THE PROCESS

Matt only had a few months to get the project—an eight-bedroom, seven-bathroom, two half-bath home—done. “We came onto the project in February-March and the client wanted to be able to enjoy the space by Memorial Day,” Matt says. “This meant that we started ordering furniture almost immediately.” As it would function as a second home for the family, Matt wanted to select a theme that would help induce relaxation. “I would say it is a neutral chic aesthetic that walks the line of being elegant yet inviting and livable for the owners and guests,” she says.

The airy, light-flooded breakfast nook with a Circa Lighting fixture, chairs from Uultis and a bespoke travertine table by Hilary Matt Interiors.

THE CHALLENGE

Throughout the project, Matt hit a few roadblocks. “This project was on a major time crunch straight from the start,” she says. “COVID and lead times continued to get worse throughout this project, which was very unexpected. But in the end we made it work, and I don’t think you can see any of those challenges reflected in the design.” With supply chain setbacks and a tight schedule of only four months, Matt says, “We made the impossible possible somehow with this project!”

In the formal living room, a sofa from RH, vintage chairs from South Loop Loft and a bespoke coffee table by Hilary Matt Interiors.

THE DETAILS

As a getaway from the city, the house needed to be calming and serene, for both the parents and the kids. “We wanted a very neutral space with very minimal color,” Matt says. “Instead of color, we wanted lots of textures and an overall ode to a beachy look.” In the main living areas, she stuck to whites, creams and some grays for the furniture. The walls are white throughout, with a pop of muted pink in one of the kids rooms and a gray-blue in the nursery. Artworks and table books liven up the spaces and allow the overall vibe to be extremely calm and cool. Light wood is used throughout on side tables and in eating areas, and smoky white, Arabescato and travertine marbles are found on the fireplace, dining area and smaller surfaces around the house.

The kids bed comes from RH and nightstands from Crate & Barrel, wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries and carpet from Country Carpet.

THE OUTCOME

In the end, Matt was able to create a picture-perfect escape for the Toccins. Bright furniture and decor make for a cheerful and soothing setting for summer days ahead. “The clients are very close friends of mine, so it was so fun to share this process with them,” Matt says. “They pushed me and I pushed them in the best ways, and the end result was better than I could have imagined. We wouldn’t let COVID stop them from a summer in their new beautiful home!”

An Eddie Martinez artwork above the console in the nursery

Furniture and artwork above the crib were sourced from RH, ceiling wallpaper from Porter Teleo and the lighting fixture from Bone Simple in the nursery.