NEIGHBORHOODS
The Hamptons, the North Fork and beyond
Most of our Hamptons clients are renovating a summer house, finishing a new build, or turning a builder-spec home into one that feels like theirs.
RECENT WORK
Southampton Family Retreat
SOUTHAMPTON · FULL-HOME RENOVATION · FAMILY RESIDENCE
A full-home renovation for a family with three young children. The house started as a generic builder spec; the finished home is built around how the family actually lives, with dining for twelve, space for movie nights, and a saturated color palette in place of all-white. The project was featured in the July 2026 issue of Hamptons Magazine.
SERVICES
What we do in the Hamptons
Every Hamptons project is full service, from the first plan to the day you arrive for the season.
Full-home renovations
Complete interior design coordinated with your architect and builder: layouts, lighting plans, millwork, kitchens and baths, finishes and fixtures, through to installation.
Turnkey summer houses
For owners who want to arrive to a finished home: furniture, lighting, art, bedding, kitchen essentials and outdoor furniture, all in place before the season starts.
New construction and builder-spec homes
Design that starts while the plans are still open, or reworks a spec house so it stops looking like every other new build on the street.
Pool houses, guest houses and outdoor living
Pool houses, guest cottages, terraces and outdoor kitchens designed as part of the whole property, not as an afterthought.
DESIGNING FOR THE HAMPTONS
What a Hamptons home needs that a city apartment doesn't
A house that works for a crowd
Summer weekends bring guests, kids' friends and long dinners. Dining for ten or twelve, bunk rooms, extra storage for beach gear and a mudroom that can take sand and wet towels are planned from the start.
Indoor-outdoor living
Terraces, pool areas and outdoor kitchens get their own furniture plan, performance fabrics and storage, so cushions and umbrellas have somewhere to go at the end of the day.
Salt air and summer humidity
Hardware, lighting, fabrics and finishes are chosen to hold up near the ocean and the bays, especially for homes closed up part of the year.
Opening and closing the house
For homes used mainly in summer, we plan storage, linens and outdoor furniture so the house is quick to open in spring and simple to close in the fall.
Scheduling around the season
Most clients want the house ready by Memorial Day. For furnishing and lighter projects, design and ordering happen over the fall and winter so installation lands in spring. Renovations and new builds follow the construction schedule and need a longer runway, usually starting a year or more before the summer you want to be in.
HOW IT WORKS
How a Hamptons project runs
Consultation
01
A 2-hour working session, in person at the house or virtual, that defines the scope, direction and budget.
Design
02
Floor plans, lighting, millwork, finishes and furnishings, presented for approval.
Procurement
03
Every piece ordered, tracked and received at a warehouse, where it is checked before delivery.
Installation
04
Furniture placed, art hung and the house styled and cleaned, so it is ready the day you arrive.
A turnkey home with quick-ship furnishings takes about 12 weeks. A full design with custom pieces takes 6 to 10 months, and renovations follow the construction schedule. Design fees start at $100,000 for design and furnishing, $140,000 for renovations and $350,000 for full-gut houses and new construction.
QUESTIONS
Working with Studio Kestrel in the Hamptons
Does Studio Kestrel take on projects in the Hamptons?
Yes. The Hamptons are one of Studio Kestrel's three primary markets, alongside New York City and Miami. Recent work includes the Southampton Family Retreat, a full-home renovation featured in Hamptons Magazine.
Do you work on the North Fork too?
Yes. Studio Kestrel works across the North Fork, including Mattituck, Cutchogue, Southold, Greenport and Orient, as well as Shelter Island and the Brookhaven area.
When should I start if I want the house ready for summer?
For furnishing a house without major construction, start in the fall. Custom furniture commonly runs 14 to 24 weeks, so starting by October or November gives the best chance of installing in spring. A turnkey home with quick-ship furnishings needs at least 12 weeks. For a renovation or new build, start a year or more ahead, since the schedule follows construction.
Can you turn a builder-spec house into something more personal?
Yes. Many new Hamptons houses are built to a generic spec. We rework the lighting, millwork, finishes and furnishings so the house fits how your family uses it, as we did at the Southampton Family Retreat.
What does a full-service interior designer cost in the Hamptons?
Studio Kestrel charges a fixed design fee based on the scope of work, starting at $100,000 for design and furnishing, $140,000 for renovations and $350,000 for full-gut houses and new construction. Furniture and furnishings are sold at retail.