Jesse designed the Cotswold Beach House for a prestigious lot in the Hamptons as an adaptation of his North American Cotswold vernacular, capturing the effortlessly relaxing and storied environment that so many generations of New Yorkers have sought after when leaving the city behind. His intention was to design the perfect beach house, so secluded and stylistically immersive within its grounds that it feels like a total escape.

The proportions he developed take advantage of the expansive width of the lot while feeling natural within the stunning coastal setting. The inclusion of cedar shake roofing speaks to his intention of offering a nod to these surroundings, straying from the classic slate that is a core characteristic of this design style, and using his landscape design plans to surround the structure and amenities with tall grasses that contribute to the seamless connection to the local environment.

The proportions take advantage of the expansive width of the lot while feeling nestled into the environment without standing out. Instead, Jesse sought to design the rear facade in such a way that it captures the effortless Hamptons summer style in both form and materiality. Utilizing a cedar shake roofing material was a tribute to the coastal location, straying away from the classic slate roofing that is a core characteristic of this design style, while tall grasses seamlessly surround the structure and outdoor amenities.

The interior composition directly benefits from the North American Cotswold design vernacular that Jesse adapted to this unique setting. Because of the rambling wing approach, almost every area was structurally designed to feature vaulted ceilings with exposed wood structural beams. As a result, the interior proportions themselves are notably intentional and highly curated even before considering finishes. When you are in the living room, the beachfront and harbour are front and centre. Everything else was designed to blend together, evoking feelings of relaxation while allowing the ocean view to remain the star of the show.

To complement these proportions, Jesse created a unique palette of hard finishes, exposed wood structural components, and a range of unique textures and fabrics incorporated through the furnishing plan. White oak envelops each space, with the floors, cabinetry, and ceiling featuring large-scale installations of this material to create a monochromatic but highly organic feel. In keeping with this sentiment, he drew on the use of natural travertine to add solidity through key elements in each room, including the kitchen hood vent, the island, and centrepiece furnishing anchors like the coffee table. A great example of this is the living room fireplace, which features a highly unique form that visually communicates Jesse’s commitment to using noble materials. It adds a sense of solidity through a textural difference without sticking out among a sea of white oak.

Through this careful layering, the form of every element appears highly curated despite the monochromatic palette. The interior design plan becomes a relaxing environment that offers natural texture in colour without relying on one standout contrasting element. This low-stimulation space allows you to fully appreciate the views of the water. During the evening hours, the interior lighting plan is designed to highlight the natural hue of these materials, using large-scale integrated lighting that washes the vaulted ceilings, stone feature walls, and art pieces throughout.

Where the front of the home is defined by dense border planting and a highly inviting motorcourt and front courtyard that feels intentional and secluded as an environment, the rear opens up entirely. Jesse kept the landscaping here deliberately lighter and more naturalistic, allowing the architecture and the harbor beyond it to be the star of the environment.

The pool deck and harbor appear as an extension of the living room and kitchen, reinforcing the indoor-outdoor connection that Jesse developed through the sprawling composition of the floor plan. The result is that the water feels less like a view and more like a permanent fixture of the space, visible from almost every room along the rear of the home.

The result is a natural environment enhanced by architecture and amenity layouts, relaxed landscaping, and noble materials that feel intentional in their application yet so natural in their setting that it feels as though this summer home has always been there. This is the exact environment that Jesse was after when adapting his vernacular to the storied Hamptons setting.