How to build a Hamptons style home from the outside in

The short version

• A Hamptons exterior comes down to five things: a gabled roof, weatherboard walls, contrasting trim, a coastal colour palette and a proper outdoor living area.
• Timber weatherboard needs regular repainting. Fibre cement boards like James Hardie's Linea give you the same shadow line with a lot less upkeep, and YourHome says fibre cement systems can be rated up to BAL-FZ.
• Building on the urban fringe? Check whether the block is bush fire prone land before you settle on cladding.
• Inside, it's an open floor plan, timber panelling, Shaker cabinetry, layered lighting and natural fabrics.
• The classic colour recipe is a soft grey or white base with a contrasting trim. Flip it (dark base, white trim) if you want more drama.

Weatherboard façade, coastal-inspired colour palette – you don’t have to be an architect or design expert to know a Hamptons-style home when you see one.

 

This distinctive home design borrowed from the seaside holiday retreats of New York’s rich and famous remains one of the most popular styles of residential architecture in Australia, embraced for its relaxed elegance and celebration of indoor/outdoor living.

 

But creating an authentic Hamptons style home requires more than hanging a seaside landscape in the living room. It's about taking a holistic approach and embracing its trademark design elements on the exterior of your home as well as through interior design. Here’s how to embrace classic Hamptons style from the façade right through to the back gate.

Five essentials of a Hamptons exterior

 

1. Gabled roofline

   Achieving Hamptons kerb-side appeal starts at the top: with a standout roof. A pitched or gabled roof with wide eaves is an architectural hallmark of Hamptons style, allowing for decorative features such as windows and vents, as well as high ceilings to create light and airy interiors. Check out the Mayfield home design to see how multiple gables can create a grand street presence.

    

2. Weatherboard walls

   Traditional Hamptons-style homes are best known for their timber-cladded exteriors, either horizontal boards or shingles. But timber weatherboard needs regular repainting to stay looking the part, as the Australian Government's YourHome guide to cladding systems points out, while fibre cement is durable and low maintenance. That's why a fibre cement board such as James Hardie's Linea weatherboard is a great alternative. The Linea weatherboard resists flaking, warping or swelling and is resistant to fire and damage from termites and moisture, while still achieving those deep shadow lines that evoke classic East Coast sophistication. YourHome also notes that fibre cement cladding systems can be built to meet bushfire ratings all the way up to BAL-FZ, the highest level. If you're building a Hamptons home on the urban fringe, check whether your block is mapped as bush fire prone land first. The NSW Rural Fire Service explains how to check, and if it is, your build has to meet Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019, which will steer some of your cladding and window choices.

    

 

3. Contrasting trim

   True Hamptons style is all in the details – think accent trims, window and door frames, decorative fretwork, columns on the veranda and cladding on the garage door. Accentuate each of these elements with a contrasting colour to add depth and dimension to the exterior of your home, just like we did on the Winchester home design.

    

4. Coastal colour palette

   When choosing a colour scheme for your Hamptons-style home, look to the seaside for inspiration. Soft greys and neutrals work well as a base to make contrasting trims in white or cream pop, or opt for a bolder contrast of cool charcoal or dark grey as a base with white trim. Another popular combination is to reverse the monochromatic palette with a white base and dark trim.

    
5. Outdoor entertaining

Blur the lines between inside and out with a set of bifold doors that can be pushed to one side to turn your al fresco living area into another room of the house during the warmer months. Hamptons style is all about relaxed indoor/outdoor living so style your alfresco zone with plenty of comfortable furniture in crisp white or wicker and pile high with canvas cushions in ocean-inspired colours. A manicured lawn and lush planter boxes will create the perfect Hamptons outlook.

 

 

Five essentials of Hamptons interior design

 

1. Light, bright and open floorplan

   Traditional Hamptons interiors are spacious and generously proportioned, but that doesn’t mean you need a huge footprint, just some thoughtful planning. Keep the layout open and maximise the flow of one room to the next. Natural light is key, so position windows carefully to make the most of the house’s orientation and to promote air flow.

    

2. Timber panelling

   Once again, it’s all about the subtle details that exude a quiet elegance. Timber panelling and decorative architraves, fireplaces and balustrades will add depth and dimension to your interiors, particularly if you opt for the traditional all-white colour scheme. James Hardie’s HardieGroove lining can be used on a feature wall, staircase or even on the ceiling to inject a casual, coastal vibe with tongue-and-groove panelling.

    

    
3. Shaker-style cabinetry

   No Hamptons kitchen is complete without classic Shaker-style cabinetry. The Shaker profile features a recessed panel, which can be paired with a combination of open shelving and glass-panelled doors in the kitchen and living areas. Punctuate joinery with antique-style handles in black or bronze or aged gold for another layer of luxury. A big island bench is the perfect spot for friends and family to gather.

    

    
4. Layered lighting

   Aim for multiple light sources to create warmth and ambiance. Make sure overhead ambient lighting has a dimmer switch and use lantern-style pendant lights and a mixture of wall sconces, table and floor lamps to create an intimate setting in the evenings and highlight artwork.

    

5. Natural fabrics

Hamptons-style furniture is all about celebrating natural materials, from recycled timber dressers and cane armchairs to linen cushions and woven rugs in wool, jute or sisal. Take cues from the coastal colour palette and keep soft furnishings muted with ocean-inspired accent colours – think oversized sofas draped with woollen throw rugs – and add a built-in window seat to create the perfect spot to while away a lazy weekend.

Learn how you can bring Hamptons elegance to your new home by calling 1300 223 345 to speak with one of Rawson Homes’ design consultants.

 

 

Frequently asked questions

What cladding is used on Hamptons style homes in Australia?

Horizontal weatherboard is the signature look. The originals in New York used timber boards or shingles. In Australia a fibre cement weatherboard such as James Hardie's Linea is a good alternative: it gives the same deep shadow line, and according to YourHome it's durable and low maintenance where timber needs regular repainting.

Can you build a Hamptons style home in a bushfire zone?

Usually, yes, with the right materials. Start by checking whether the block is bush fire prone land through the NSW Rural Fire Service. If it is, the build has to meet Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019, and the site's bushfire attack level (BAL) affects which materials you can use. YourHome notes fibre cement cladding systems can be built up to BAL-FZ, so the weatherboard look is still on the table.

What colours are used on a Hamptons facade?

Look to the seaside for inspiration. The classic recipe is a soft grey or neutral base with crisp white or cream trim on the windows, columns and fretwork. For more contrast, go darker: cool charcoal or dark grey weatherboard with white trim, or flip it with a white base and dark trim.