This Shingle-style Colonial in East Hampton, New York, you see, has exhaled all uptightness into the gentle sea breeze and embraced a playfully patterned, color-happy, just-a-bit-bohemian life. And it’s all courtesy of designer Thom Filicia. “It’s a historic house, and I wanted to celebrate its architecture—have it visible—but at the same time, I wanted it to feel young and fresh,” Filicia says. “While being respectful of the environment of the Hamptons, I needed to be true to this family, a young couple and their two kids. They wanted relaxed, easy, and fun. They love color, pattern, and texture. That became my inspiration for the house.” “It’s brave use of color in a subtle way to make rooms feel alive,” Filicia says. “I mixed color and pattern to get an organic, natural vibe that doesn’t feel anonymous. It’s fresh, light, and crisp with layers of personality that are specific to this family.” For ultimate functionality, Filicia paired an oversize island with a lively assortment of seating: a bench, curved-back chairs, and stools. “There’s an outdoor dining table, so we didn’t need a big dining table here,” he says. “Instead, I created seating that’s more like a café lounge. It’s more malleable, easier. It’s fun and flexible for kids and friends.” The designer called on a textural mix of organic-form furnishings, including woven chairs and rope side tables, to furnish the outdoor room. “They’re classic-inspired pieces that at the same time feel clean and modern,” Filicia says. “They connect with the architecture and the land.” The primary bedroom offers an expanse of architecture—to-the-ceiling wainscoting painted the same crisp white that covers the wood floors. It becomes a calm canvas for Filicia’s mix of colorful patterns: ethnic prints, geometrics, stripes, and medallions in warm, earthy hues. “Great color and texture make the room feel inviting,” he says. “It’s about creating a wonderful balance—a classic backdrop set against a fun, fresh, collected, little-bit-bohemian Hamptons vibe.” “Nothing is too precious,” Filicia says. “It’s young and fresh without trying too hard. My whole idea in this house was to let the architecture play to the traditional and historic, while the rest of the design feels younger and fresher yet is rooted in classic design. It’s approachable, but it’s also just really pretty.”
