Sagaponack House, Sagaponack, N.Y.

Paul Masi often designs new houses for stunning sites like this piece of land tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and a freshwater pond near the east end of Long Island. His usual response is to create architecture that enhances the scenery by blending with the place’s colors, textures, contours, and moods. This kitchen does all that in addition to accommodating a family of six plus frequent house guests.

“The design was for a family gathering space where they could simultaneously cook and entertain,” Masi explains. “There is a seamless connection between the indoor and outdoor, and because the focus was on entertaining, there is a pantry where the dirty kitchen functions are hidden away.”

The overall design concept was to connect the pond on one side of the property to the ocean on the other. “A series of parallel rooms with glass to the north and the south ... create a visual connection between the two bodies of water,” Masi says. Long bands of operable windows face disappearing glass walls that allow the kitchen to read like a pavilion. The island, kitchen table, partition wall, and ceiling are all finished in reclaimed wood planks, in subdued hues of sand and sea grasses. Polished concrete floors easily withstand heavy traffic and salty sea air. “Our goal was to select materials that reflected this [setting’s] beauty and utilize them in a more refined way,” Masi says.

The sophisticated application of natural materials harmonizing with the surroundings spoke to our jurors. They applauded the design team for “using all the best ideas of where we are right now” and creating a space that “doesn’t disturb the view.” One panelist noted this kitchen “could be filled with people or stuff and you still wouldn’t be distracted,” exactly as Masi intended. 

Project Credits

Learn more about markets featured in this article: New York, NY.