Hamptons Style Done the Australian Way
Everyone is loving Hamptons style, the cool and clever beach-style reputed to have started in Maine, USA, in the beachside Hamptons area. There's much to love about Hamptons style even if you don't live by the beach.
Hamptons style is perfect for coastal areas, perhaps nowhere as much as in Queensland. The colour and style of classic Hamptons design can be showcased in suburbs with traditional character and heritage. However, the cool grey, crisp white and calming beige tones are more at home by the beach.
James Hardie Products used at Mindarie
New home builders are now embracing the charm of Hamptons style with clients more frequently asking for this type of design. Certainly in my work in interior design and renovation, I am often asked for a 'Hamptons with a Twist' aesthetic. Of course, one of the classic features of a Hamptons home is weatherboard cladding. Whilst it can be quite ornate in the USA, for the Australian market a more refined and less adorned cladding is required.
Australia's Own Hamptons Style
James Hardie has released cladding and decking perfectly designed for the Hamptons style with an Australian twist. Cladding is a staple of the Hamptons home. However, traditional weatherboard can be difficult to maintain and prone to degradation over time.
Image courtesy of James Hardie
The James Hardie Linea Weatherboards are easy to install, are resistant to warping, flaking and damage caused by moisture or fire. So in our Australian climate, these Hampton style approved weatherboards look better for longer and are easier to maintain. Constructed from thick fibre cement, this cladding creates a deep, defined shadow similar to the texture of traditional shingles used in the USA.
Hamptons Style Isn't Just About Cladding
To continue the Hamptons look, use Linea Weatherboards for other features such as planter boxes and feature walls. This creates a sense of continuity, which is important for any decor or design project.
Australians love their indoor-outdoor living so Hamptons style is perfect for this type of living. Many home owners are opening up the back of their homes with bi-fold and stacker doors leading to an al fresco area. Whether you have a pergola or pool area, HardieDeck creates a seamless floor out to the garden working in harmony with a Hamptons aesthetic.
Image courtesy of James Hardie
HardieDeck is an attractive decking option. It's also environmentally durable reducing the high maintenance often required by a traditional timber deck. The ideal choice for coastal living, HardieDeck is made from premium fibre cement making it resistant to most coastal elements.
Coastal Colours Give Hamptons Style A Calm Quality
Traditional Hamptons homes draw upon the colours of the environment - blue seas, cream foam, beige sands, white clouds - you get the picture. In my work, there are two dominating colour palettes - grey based or beige based. Add blues, greens, and whites to suit your taste. Plus a little black to toughen things up. Being beach side inspired, you'll see textures including jute, linen, cotton and wool plus trims in nautical inspired textures such as rope.
Image courtesy of James Hardie
Remember the exterior cladding? Well it can also be used for interior feature walls. Hamptons style evokes the beach. So interior feature walls in a weatherboard can mimic beach side fencing and railings. Use Linea Weatherboard for feature walls in virtually any room to create interest and inject texture.
Kitchens and bathrooms are also calm spaces often decorated in white with marble countertops and slim black accents. White areas are also perfect for chrome, brushed nickel, black or gold tapware or cabinet handles. Don't be afraid to mix metals. For example, black cabinet handles with gold-trimmed pendant lights. Or brushed nickel cabinet handles with black tapware.
Image courtesy of James Hardie
So whether you are building a new home or planning to renovate, the Hamptons style re-engineered for the Australian environment is a popular choice. If you live by the beach, add more blues. If you live in the hills, add more green. Create a calm sanctuary for you and your family. The Hamptons popularity will live on because it's classic and timeless... in your own way.