Interior designer Iris Dankner craved a relaxing escape for her family in the busyness of Manhattan life. So that the Holiday House NYC showcase founder worked with builder Joe Farrell to design a breezy, beach-inspired home that contrasts with the family’s sleek city apartment and placed a priority on entertaining.
“The benefit of designing my house is that I was able to make changes so that it felt just like my own,” she says. “You can experiment and try things which you may not feel comfortable doing with a customer.”
at a Glance
Who lives here: Iris and Jay Dankner and their brothers, Niki and Danielle
Location: Southampton, New York
Size: 7 bedrooms, 7 baths
Rikki Snyder
Dankner explains her design style as”classic, yet with a modern strategy.” She loves to blend traditional style with subtle hues and a modern mix of tasteful pieces.
When starting the design process for her family’s summer home, the first step was choosing a color palette. “The blue, brown and white gave me a fresh beach atmosphere,” she says. “I believed it was important that the rooms on the first degree all work together by maintaining the same color palette but treating each room differently.”
Rikki Snyder
“The living room area is actually just for hanging out,” says Dankner. “It is open to the kitchenso it is important that it was comfy but pretty.” Coffered ceilings give the room traditional appeal.
Daybed: custom, Avery Boardman; white seats: Crate & Barrel
Rikki Snyder
Dankner and her brothers can typically be found at the sunroom working on a puzzle. The designer acquired almost all the bits in this area from garage sales, including the salvaged table and birdcage. She loves to locate old bits, clean them up and give them a distinctive spot.
The doors open up to the back porch and yard, which makes this a great area for entertaining in the summer. The family often hosts smaller, intimate dinner parties in this area.
Window treatments: Joe’s Fabric Warehouse
Rikki Snyder
Dankner treated the bamboo flooring to a dusky blot (Jacobean out of Minwax), then based her palette around that, including touches of blue to make the decoration feel”perfectly beachy,” she says.
The island has been designed to face the outdoors for a pleasant view whilst cooking. “I wanted a large island and a large table which will seat 12 for breakfast,” she says. “At a beach house we always have lots of guests sleeping over — which means lots of foods.”
Some of her favorite features are the white granite countertops, the fitting cabinetry and the pot filler over the scope.
Rikki Snyder
Dankner’s office area is right beyond the kitchen, with a nice view of the backyard. Her favorite part about this distance is that the desk out of West Elm. “It looks good, along with the baskets hide all the clutter,” she says.
The picture over the desk was shot by daughter Niki Dankner.
2×2 Console Desk: West Elm
Rikki Snyder
A grand chandelier hangs over the dark oak table in the formal dining area. The blue and brown rug has been custom produced by Stark to coincide with the palette of the curtains and the hot brown paint.
The tables on every side of the space are often utilized as beverage stations once the couple entertains; the buffet also holds all their china.
Rikki Snyder
“Living in New York City as well as designing several apartments in New York City, I am more familiar with smaller spaces,” Dankner says. “The scale in an apartment is significantly different than at a large home.” To fill out the master bedroom, she included that a seating area in front of the fireplace. It was large enough to accommodate a couch and 2 chairs, which makes it a great area for lounging and watching TV.
Rikki Snyder
Dankner’s favorite features in the master bedroom and bathroom are the high ceilings. “They make the distance look even bigger and more spacious,” she says.
Rikki Snyder
French doors off the master bedroom open up to a deck. A cowhide rug and earthy neutrals create a relaxing area in which to kick back and enjoy the surrounding greenery.
Coffee table, lamp: Donghia
Rikki Snyder
The tropical style of the deck was inspired by a visit to Belize.
Outside furniture: Janus et Cie, Dedon, Crate & Barrel, Frontgate
Rikki Snyder
Daughter Niki’s bedroom has been indicated by a vibrant red-orange colour, inspired by a family visit to Guatemala. The wooden giraffe is a memento in the travel.
Rikki Snyder
Niki is a photographer and loves to paint. On the easel she is currently working on according to a picture of herself as well as her best friend.
Rikki Snyder
Daughter Danielle took another strategy in decorating her room, with soft neutrals and window treatments.
Window treatment fabric: Lee Jofa
Rikki Snyder
The den is situated just off the front entrance and is indicated by dark ebony walls. “People tried to talk me out of it,” says Dankner,”but I followed my gut, and it seems great.” The dark wood creates a cozy atmosphere, and the family unwinds here together to watch TV.
A collection of classic cameras is displayed over the monitor. The custom made built-in was stained to fit the floor.
Sectional: Bloomingdale’s; window treatments: Ralph Lauren; coffee table: Crate & Barrel
Rikki Snyder
When building the house, Dankner made certain to incorporate an outside area that felt like an extension of the interior. She spends a lot of her time around the covered porch, which she furnished with a ceiling fan and curtains. “The covered porch is everybody’s favorite, because I created an indoor space out,” she says. “It is comfy and a fantastic area to entertain [in].”
Outside furniture: Janus et Cie, Dedon, Crate & Barrel, Frontgate
Rikki Snyder
With seating nearby on the patio, guests can easily enjoy a meal right in the backyard. “I love entertaining and having fun in my home,” Dankner says. “Having the ability to have large groups of friends and family was my objective.”
Vibrant blue hydrangeas bordering the yard are consistent with the interior color palette. Dankner loves to come out in the morning and cut flowers to show throughout the house.
The patio also has a built-in grill and pub area.
Outside furniture: Janus et Cie, Dedon, Crate & Barrel, Frontgate
Rikki Snyder
Hamptons styling that is classic is boasted by the shingled home. The pool and patio are often employed for hosting large parties throughout the summer.
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