A Hamptons kitchen captures a mood of upmarket elegance with a hint of coastal cool.
Channel the East Coast look
Classically beautiful, elegant and airy, a Hamptons kitchen will age gracefully and never go out of style.
It's an easy look to love and even easier to put together in your own home; when in doubt, go white, then layer this pale backdrop with coastal-inspired colour and texture to capture that sophisticated beach house look.
Start with storage
Shaker-style cabinets, like Kaboodle's “Alpine” profile doors, are an absolute must-have for a Hamptons kitchen, providing just the right balance of clean lines and traditional detailing.
Additionally, glass-panelled wall cabinets are a wonderful feature, contributing to the sense of light and airiness that is so important for this style – the trick to mastering this look is to avoid overcrowding the shelves and save these cupboards for storing lovely glassware or decorative pieces.
“I loved the idea of having beautiful crockery and glassware on show in glass cabinets,” says homeowner Janelle, who completed the look with custom glass shelves.

Choose a timeless palette
While the rules for colour are not absolute, and a Hamptons look can work beautifully with an array of elegant, usually grey-based hues, it's hard to beat a classic combination of white and grey.
In this kitchen, Kaboodle cabinetry in Antique White, teamed with grey-veined marble, helps infuse the room with a light and bright feel and enhances the kitchen's proportions.
Door hardware in black or even gold can work well, but chrome fulfills the “timeless” brief perfectly. Here, Janelle used brushed nickel mushroom knobs and a Mondella “Maestro” sink mixer in chrome.

Add luxe details
Hamptons style was born in the holiday homes of New York's most privileged, so the look, though relaxed and coastal, is layered with luxury.
The Calacatta marble, which flows across the benchtops and up the splashback of this kitchen, fits the bill, but you don't have to break the budget to add a luxurious feel. For a similar look, with the added benefits of a low-maintenance engineered stone, try Essential Stone in Calacutta Classique (order and arrange installation at the Special Orders desk).
The 40mm waterfall edge at the end of the island also works to give the room a cohesive and considered look.

Be inspired by the beach
A connection to the coast is a key element, and a few beach-chic accents will work to complete the look. Coral prints and seashells are appropriate but not compulsory, or you can nod to the coast more obliquely with ocean-inspired colours or materials.
For classic Hamptons style consider adding accents of blue (sophisticated navy is a favourite) or complement all those cool tones with touches of shell pink or coral. Finish by layering the palette with natural materials like timber and rattan.
In this kitchen, limed timber flooring serves as a little nod to sandy shores, while the rattan bar stools and dining chairs evoke an upmarket beach resort.

Photo credit: John Downs and James Moffatt