For this couple working in finance, getting their family of five away from the commotion of New York City life was a priority. They found a cute bungalow, built in 1970, that was right on the water in Mattituck, Long Island. It had been wrecked by Hurricane Sandy and had undergone a series of hodgepodge renovations. It had potential but at its current state – dated shell-shaped bathroom vanities and all – it needed work. The family hired, design firm Hyphen & Co do take over its transformation.

“They wanted the space to feel modern and did not want to lose the beach bungalow vibe,” explained Shelly Lynch-Sparks, Principal Designer and Founder of Hyphen & Co. “Making sure that the home was designed for family weekend shindigs was our main priority. We wanted everyone to feel like it was there home away from home.” With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, all that had to be renovated, there was space enough to accommodate a big group. They designed crisp white bunk beds for the growing number of children in the family plus their guests. A mud/laundry room was added, as well as a playroom right across from the kitchen that can easily convert into a guest room if needed. The master bedroom is the most stately room of the home, with high ceilings and expansive views, even a private deck.

To bring in the seaside vibes of North Fork life, Shelly and her team kept the home’s palette to soothing grays, blues, and whites. “We wanted to mix soft greys with saturated navys: modern and a little nautical with North Fork character,” she said. They retained the original cabinets in the kitchen but painted them white, and added a Corian countertop with a marble herringbone backsplash to continue the clean look. Both the guest room and the steps of the stairs were covered with graphic navy wallpaper to add an unexpected nautical touch.

“It took six months, but now, they are out on the North Fork almost every weekend, and love it!” Shelly shared.