Long Island has long been a favorite escape for New Yorkers—a place to unwind, take in the coastal beauty, and stroll along Cooper’s Beach, a pristine stretch of white sand that seems to go on forever. It was in this idyllic setting that designer Matt McKay worked with a Manhattan family—a couple with two grown children—to reimagine their second home in Wainscott.

Their vision was clear: move away from the typical seasonal beach house aesthetic and create a residence that felt equally inviting year-round. The goal was to maximize outdoor living in the warmer months while ensuring the interior remained warm, comfortable, and welcoming during the colder, darker seasons. To achieve this, McKay embraced a refined yet organic design, blending warm, earthy tones with natural textures to bring new life to this 15-year-old home.

Reinterpreting the classic Hamptons aesthetic, McKay’s team infused the space with the family’s personal collection of art and design. The main living room, the heart of the home, balances vintage and custom pieces, creating a layered and deeply personal environment. A bespoke corner sofa, handcrafted in the U.S. and upholstered in Holland & Sherry fabric, anchors the space alongside a pair of suede-wrapped Esfera lounge chairs by Espasso, an Emmanuel Babled coffee table, and a set of Aulanko armchairs in sheepskin by Marta Blomstedt. Beneath it all, a striking custom silk rug by Sacco features a “passerelle” motif that seamlessly weaves the furnishings together. “We wanted the living room to feel more inclusive,” McKay tells Architectural Digest. “Rather than centering everything around the fireplace, we created a salon-style arrangement that encourages conversation.”

A secondary seating area invites relaxation with a plush, artisan-crafted sofa upholstered in Angela Brown fabric. Nearby, a pair of elegant Francesco Perini coffee tables from the Fumi gallery—featuring black marble inlays and rich wood detailing—serve as a refined backdrop for sculptural pieces, including a Georges Jouve dish and a Gaetano Pesce artwork. Overhead, ceramic sconces by Pierre Yovanovitch add both warmth and personality, enhancing the room’s distinctive character.

By seamlessly blending timeless design with a contemporary, lived-in feel, McKay has created a home that transcends the seasons—one that feels just as effortless in the peak of summer as it does on a crisp winter evening.

© Photos William Jess Laird