Key Features of a Traditional Hamptons Home
Nothing exudes relaxed luxury like a Hamptons home. Originating from ‘the Hamptons’, a string of seaside communities on the east coast of America, these spacious, breezy residences were once exclusive summer holiday homes for some of the country’s most affluent vacationers.
These days the Hamptons style is synonymous with laid-back and effortless luxury, perfectly complementing a lifestyle of relaxation and opulence. This is just one of the reasons the design has transcended borders to become an internationally sought-after everyday home style. On the temperate Sunshine Coast, the design is well suited to the coastal lifestyle and warm climate.
While the Hamptons home has evolved over the years, there are a few features that do define this style. Keep reading to find out the key elements you’ll need to integrate into your home to achieve a traditional Hamptons look and feel.
Weatherboard Cladding
From a distance, Hamptons home facades may appear simple, but up close you’ll notice intricate, textured detail. This is due to the use of weatherboard cladding. Traditionally Hamptons homes were built using timber or hardwood cladding, however in Australia, we usually use a cement composite cladding like Linea weatherboard, which is more suited to the harsher climate.
The horizontal lines of weatherboard cladding create gorgeous shadow lines on the facade and are reminiscence of the ocean. Not only do they give a Hamptons home a beautiful panelled facade, cladding also provides crucial insulation and protection from the weather.
Colour Palette
One of the most striking elements of a Hamptons home is certainly the colour scheme. Recalling the sand and sea, a cool colour scheme is drawn upon inside and out to create a luxurious feeling of calm.
While an abundance of white is used, particularly for walls, cabinetry and furniture, light timbers or tiles are often chosen for the floor, with soft pops of blues, green and grey used to add interest to the design.
Shaker-Style Cabinetry
One of the things that will help you immediately identify a Hamptons home is the use of shaker-style cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom. Shaker-style cabinets are timeless and simple, featuring a rectangular door with a frame around the edge and a recessed flat centre piece. Generally painted white, they’re a classic design and are found in Hamptons homes across the world.
Most Hamptons homes will feature kitchen cabinetry both above and below the bench, meaning plenty of space for crockery, appliances and other kitchen necessities. Shaker-style cabinetry is function and form at its best.
Indoor-Outdoor Living
As Hamptons residences were initially built as holiday homes, they should always feature spacious outdoor areas in which to relax, spend time in the sunshine and entertain friends and family. Usually these alfresco areas retain the charm and style of the interior of the home, with a white or neutral colour scheme, high ceilings, exposed beams and classic French doors.
It’s important that these areas are well connected to the inside, ensuring seamless indoor-outdoor living. Inside, this means plenty of large windows and doors that allow easy access to the alfresco area, as well as ensuring natural light can flow through and offer indoor residents spectacular views of the garden or beach.
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If you’re thinking of creating your own traditional Hamptons home on the Sunshine Coast, get in touch with the expert team at SX Constructions today!
