Amalia Graziani of New York’s Noor Property Group fell in love with this home in Amagansett, a former fisherman home. With dramatic water views, pitched ceilings, and ample space, she was excited to give it her own spin—bringing in oversize windows and a neutral palette of materials and furnishings. Then, the lockdowns began and the project came to a standstill. With a lot of patience, she waited until it was safe to resume construction, and chose to overhaul her material selection to work exclusively from local suppliers. It was a challenging situation, but with a beautiful end. She tells us more.  

Tell us a little about this home. Where is it located? How large is the space? In what condition was the property at the start of the project?
The home is located on the bay in Amagansett, NY. It’s perched right on the water, so the home showed years of hard wear and tear from the elements. It was clad in plastic siding, and the first floor had the punch-up ceilings used in office spaces. It wasn’t the most charming, but it did have an elegant roofline and an oversized great room. My task was to do a complete overhaul of the property while working within the constraints of the existing structure.  

What was the “jumping off point” for the design of the home? 
Waterfront homes in this area are subject to special scrutiny, so I was constrained by the existing frame. Thankfully I loved the dramatic pitched rooflines, which made the space feel like a barn on the beach. I chose to design the house around this silhouette. To keep things warm and subtly rustic, I opted for unfinished oak paneling on the great room walls and creamy textured plaster in the rest of the house. Rough reclaimed wood beams are carried throughout the house. To contrast the matte and very textural building materials, I chose sharp and modern furniture. I love the chrome and smooth angular pieces set against the raw structural details.

You paid homage to the area’s fishing community. What are some of the ways you honored past usages, while still bringing it up to present day?
Yes, the homes in this area were all historically occupied by the area’s once-vibrant fishing community. I wanted the home to keep a bit of that feeling. The decor brings in elements of the surrounding landscape, such as furniture made from local driftwood and native beach grasses in place of floral arrangements. For the exterior, I chose a traditional shingle siding but applied a light grey stain. The intent was to create something fresh and modern that also has a sense of place.