As seen in the Summer 2022 issue of RUE: Purchased as a safe haven from the city, this Sag Harbor home is a lesson in thoughtful material choices for healthy living.

“I would describe my process and philosophy as materialist: highly textural, using palettes of neutral tones, and a mix of natural fabrics, stone, wood, and metals,” designer Tamara Magel tells us. Her viewpoint shines bright in this newly constructed Sag Harbor home, which features eight bedrooms, twelve bathrooms, and sits on nearly an acre of land—including a private beach.

“The home was fully finished and sold as a spec home,” she recalls. “The client hired us, and we worked with them to do a light renovation and add a few personal touches. We added new tiles, marble, and lighting to the kitchen to jazz it up! We also added a bedroom and bathroom for the client’s young boys. The project started at the height of the pandemic, with a three-month timeline for move-in, so it was fast-moving.”

The family has a keen interest in healthy, organic living and wellness, which aligned well with the designer’s own philosophies. “I love to incorporate natural, organic materials and finishes to give grand spaces a homey, calm, and airy feel—the little details that give a home character,” she says. It goes beyond looks too: She created a custom color from Echo Paints, which is a low VOC paint line. “It emphasizes the family’s attention to a more natural lifestyle,” she says.

The high-end home is natural and organic, but still a chic, classic-modern design. “It’s elegant with a European flare,” Tamara smiles. Add in the double-height, floor-to-ceiling walls of glass that encase the rear of the home on all three levels, expansive terraces and decking, and an in-ground, heated mirror-top infinity pool and spa, it’s certainly the idyllic haven the family hoped for.