Historic Homes With Modern Lines

Beach Barn

This beach house fits in yet stands apart.

The hamlet of Montauk, located in the town of East Hampton, N.Y., sits on the eastern tip of Long Island and is a well-known beach town and resort destination. When a property located next door to Montauk resident Robert Young became available, he decided to buy the lot and build a spec house to sell as a second home.

“I wanted to make sure someone else didn’t buy it and put up something unattractive,” the principal of Robert Young Architecture and Interiors in New York City says. “I wanted it to be a good house that responded to the sun and the breezes and one that offered privacy for me and the buyers.”

The home is located in a typical suburban neighborhood, made up of ranches and Cape Cods with pitched roofs, cedar siding, and painted trim. Young used a simple form with similar elements such as wood, white paint, and a large barn door. “I seriously considered doing a modern house with a flat roof, but I decided this house would be a better fit for the neighborhood and offer better market appeal for buyers.”

The home’s interior is modern and barn-like with high ceilings and an open plan. “That’s the fun,” Young says, of being able to mix contemporary and traditional design.

The 2,600-square-foot home features a neutral palette and large openings that make the space feel expansive. White-painted millwork helps make the space appear even bigger.

Young is pleased with the results. When he looks out his window, he no longer sees a vacant lot. His view now is of a well-designed house with both warmth and edge.