Photograph by Max Kim Bee, courtesy of Ellen Hamilton.
Not long ago, we wrote about a modest beach cottage on Martha’s Vineyard that went from “Bad Seventies” to “Good Seventies,” thanks to New York interior designer Ellen Hamilton, who brought it more in line with the tastes of the homeowner, who has “a real affection for anything Scandinavian,” she says.
Because it serves as the guest cottage to a much larger house next door, this space didn’t require much in the way of storage—there’s a walk-in closet in the bedroom and a small basement with kayaks and beach gear—but a functional entryway for guests, who come in and out of the cottage all day long, was a must.
The simple entryway, located on the ground floor of the cottage, has a bench for tying shoes, a seagrass basket to store towels, and a series of Danish wood hooks to hold accoutrements.
The Gym Hook, by Swedish designer Staffan Holm for Danish company Hay, is the storage star of this space. Here, it holds a bag and sun hat, but the circular shape makes it ideal for hooking umbrellas, dog leashes, or even towels.
A Woven Seagrass Basket with Handles stores hammam-style striped beach towels in the entryway of this home (the beach is only a short walk away).
Serena & Lily’s Capri Fouta Beach Towel comes in an array of colors (pictured is Midnight) and features jacquard-woven stripes on one side and white cotton terry on the other; $48.
Finnish designer Alvar Aalto’s classic birch Bench needs no introduction.
The Hasami Large Round Bowl measures 8.5 inches across; $48 at La Garconne.
The entryway is subtly lit with a Mini Dome light from Allied Maker, designed by Parsons grad Ryden Rizzo and made in New York. It’s available in several finishes; Hamilton chose a version with a blackened brass plate and opal glass dome; $695.
Hamilton picked hardy slate stone floors for this high-traffic space, which welcomes both sandy toes (post beach) and wet soles (post outdoor shower).
The homeowner selected the color for the cottage’s interior: All White from UK paint purveyor Farrow & Ball. It’s also one of our Architects’ 10 Favorite White Paint picks.