Hamptons home Case Study – Dalkeith

As is often the case with custom design, the brief for this Hamptons home in Dalkeith was nothing if not varied. With entertaining, music and a healthy lifestyle on the list, our team once again rose to the challenge.

Featuring a sumptuous master suite, a teenage wing with an activity/music room, a home office, wine cellar, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a classic Hamptons-style kitchen with a scullery and a cool room, this home is warm, inviting and perfect for the busy family who live here.

The clients and their two sons had spent six years living in the tired house that originally stood on their 709sqm block, but they dreamed of a beautiful bespoke Hamptons home with thoughtful zoning and space for everyone.

So in came the bulldozers, along with the team from Oswald ready to turn their vision into reality.

Room for entertaining inside and out was a priority, along with a pool and landscaped gardens with outdoor ‘rooms’. The indoor/outdoor areas of their Hamptons home were especially important, as were the design and the fit-out of the kitchen. Plenty of storage for fresh produce was a must, along with a kitchen garden. With family celebrations and annual events such as Christmas and Halloween in mind, the family also asked for a big entry hallway that could be decorated according to the season.

“Hamptons was the only style we agreed on,” one of the owners told us. “But there was a twist. What we wanted was a little softer; a bit more than just elegant coastal. It’s a style we call ‘Hamptons luxe’.”

Working closely with Danielle Ellery, Oswald’s in-house interior designer, along with the team from Orno Interiors, the owners went for more detailed elements to amp up the glam factor without making it too showy.

“We had lots of ideas for our new home and designer Brook Leber and the team at Oswald brought them to life for us,” the owner said. “Marek Rodkiewicz, our sales consultant, knew exactly what we wanted. He was so lovely and friendly, and not at all pushy. And Danielle was amazing. All her suggestions worked out just the way she said they would.”

With north to the front of the block, our design team pushed the new house into the far corner of the site. This enabled us to make the most of the north-facing front gardens. The new pool and outdoor living area are kept private from the street by an existing limestone wall that works well with the character of the house and the French Provincial-style gardens.

For a large home on a relatively compact block, the home feels open and free-flowing thanks to its indoor/outdoor connection, as well as the inclusion of voids, galleried spaces and raking ceilings.

Here are some of the other features of this Hamptons home:

Music/activity room: The boys have their own space for study, music, video games and chilling’ with mates.

Juliet balcony: The French doors in the upstairs master suite can be opened up to let in beautiful afternoon breezes.

Garden views: Rooms on the ground floor enjoy views out to the front gardens with their pretty pergolas and arbours, flagstone paving and aromatic herb garden.

French doors: The living area and kitchen both open onto the alfresco, pool deck and gardens.

American White Oak floors: Featuring a rich brown stain, the timber floors are the perfect partner for fresh white-painted joinery and a palette of soft blue-greys.

Feature fireplace: A focal point of the living area, the fireplace keeps the open-plan area feeling snug and cosy in winter.

Storage: Purpose-built storage solutions include a cupboard for the boys’ sports kit and school bags.

Wine room: The cellar-style hideaway is kitted out for sampling a fine wine or two.

With its 3.7m-long walk-through shower, arched window, freestanding two-person claw-foot bath, individual vanities, antique-style pendant light, high raking timber-lined ceiling and extensive use of Silver Pearl natural limestone, the ensuite off the master bedroom is a prime example of the home’s bespoke style. There’s the sophisticated luxury we associate with a Hamptons home, but with a softer, slightly more decorative appeal. It’s understated opulence; glamour without too much glitz.

The ensuite has not only become an indulgent space to enjoy, but it also makes a high-impact statement thanks to the claw-foot bath. This gorgeous two-person tub has become a sculptural showpiece and is the only element that can be seen when looking from the bedroom through to the bathroom.

Boasting white Shaker-style cabinetry and Caesarstone Statuario Maximus marble-inspired benchtops with a decorative edging, the kitchen is the hardworking hub of the home. Perfect for entertaining, it’s a perfect fit for the family’s healthy lifestyle. Features include a reverse-osmosis water filtration system linked to a pot-filler above the freestanding oven and a butler’s sink with a commercial-style veggie-washing tap. The cool room stores large supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables.

See more Custom Homes.