Tour Trend Designer Ulla Johnson’s Ever-Evolving Montauk Retreat

Ulla Johnson and Zach Miner can’t cease speaking about their backyard. “It’s a spring bounty each weekend with new issues in bloom,” says the style designer. Her verdant environment, after 4 years of labor with panorama guru Miranda Brooks, are lastly coming into their very own. Bulbs planted final fall are pushing up via the soil. Magnolia timber are blossoming. A flash of pink—the petals of a flowering cherry tree—is seen simply outdoors the lounge window.

The couple have relished the method. “A backyard takes time to develop into itself,” explains Johnson. “Issues transfer round and discover their residence. Stuff you plant come again in a barely completely different place. It’s such a good looking evolution.”

$139.00, Ferm Residing

$245.00, Robert Kime

$550.00, Commune Design

The identical could possibly be stated of their residence out east, constructed circa 2010 by MB Structure, the place they retreat on weekends with their three children. Just like the backyard, it’s a bit of completely different on each go to: The modular classic Mario Bellini couch would possibly stay in a leftover configuration from final evening’s banquet; a stray piece of driftwood—one of many household’s many collections—would possibly find yourself in somebody’s bed room, due to their vizsla, Daphne; a brand new ceramic piece would possibly arrive in a field, shipped residence from a current journey to Spain.

“It’s all about this concept of layering,” says Johnson, whose elevated bohemian trend model follows a equally eclectic feeling. “Over a lifetime the home will proceed to evolve.”

Johnson and her husband, a marketing consultant with an artwork background, had been spending weekends in Montauk, the windy, low-key hamlet on the easternmost tip of Lengthy Island, for a few decade earlier than they started to search for their very own place. This home, as Miner places it, “checked a whole lot of very attention-grabbing containers—it was uncommon, fashionable, and had character.” As Johnson says, “Its spirit spoke to us.” Once they glimpsed the present inexperienced roof up high, they have been bought.

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For about 5 years, they’ve steadily renovated and furnished the place in phases, with the assistance of structure agency Studio Zung and inside designer Alexis Brown, at all times cautious to maintain it livable as they work—particularly in the summers once they carve out time to surf, swim, hike, and entertain.

$495.00, Ulla Johnson

$795.00, Ulla Johnson

$495.00, Ulla Johnson

$295.00, Moda Operandi

To additional entry the vistas past (the home, which sits on high of a hill, presents views of each the ocean and the bay), they added extra home windows. In the summertime, they’re principally left open in order that, as Miner says, “you’ll be able to principally stay outdoors.” To heat issues up, they ripped up manufactured bamboo flooring and changed them with stable Dinesen ash and refinished many partitions with hand-applied plaster. They reworked the staircase in ash and powder-coated metallic, and streamlined a couple of areas, significantly the kitchen, to create a extra informal, entertaining-friendly flooring plan. Some components—just like the fossil-stone counters within the rest room—they left simply as they have been. After which there was the panorama, during which Brooks launched timber, a peony path, and a slicing backyard. “We planted it very informally, in order that issues really feel fairly wild and free,” says Johnson, a flower lover who finds limitless inspiration for her collections within the backyard.

Brown, who labored with the household on their Brooklyn residence and designed a number of of Johnson’s retail areas, layered the couple’s private collections—textiles, baskets, ceramics, shells—with customized items and classic finds (assume worn-in Charlotte Perriand chairs; a number of Willy Guhl and Walter Lamb outdoors) to conjure a laid-back however elevated beach-house vibe. “They actually needed it to really feel heat—a spot the place the youngsters could possibly be, a spot the place their buddies could possibly be. A very enjoyable oasis for once they need to get out of town and chill however nonetheless really feel impressed.”

$279.00, Crate & Barrel

$1395.00, The Citizenry

$57.00, Malaika Linens

With every part they’ve introduced again from their travels, there’s inspiration aplenty. Almost each object has a narrative. There’s the mingei Japanese raincoat product of seaweed that hangs within the stairwell. On the eating desk, there’s a 200-year-old bowl Johnson makes use of for flower arranging that she discovered within the distant Brazilian city of Paraty. In the lounge, there’s a classic French fishing basket hung from the ceiling like an ethereal sculpture.

“I used to be introduced up with this love of objects—particularly ones which have a private story or have been created by hand,” says Johnson, whose archaeologist mother and father gathered treasures throughout the globe (her mom, additionally a painter, collected folks costume).

Not surprisingly, Johnson has a selected affinity for textiles—batiks and shibori dyes, and something hand-loomed—which she has been amassing over the many years. With Brown’s assist, she has turned lots of them into pillows and blankets, just like the customized quilt within the major bed room. Outdoors, some patterns from her runway collections—florals from spring 2022—have change into all-weather upholstery materials.

$28000.00, Lindsey Adelman

$1798.00, Serena and Lily

$1565.00, 1st Dibs

$120.00, Raj Tent Membership

The couple’s artwork assortment—spearheaded by Miner—is an ideal complement to the home’s decor. Textile-based works like a thread-wrapped canvas by Sheila Hicks and a copper-wire-and-linen tapestry by Analia Saban combine in with items that nod to the beachy locale—work of shells by rising artists Paula Siebra and Veronika Pausova. “Whereas we’re craft, we’re additionally positive artwork,” Miner explains. “We’re actually enthusiastic about that intersection.”

Regardless of the numerous beloved objects, Johnson insists, “I’m not valuable about issues within the residence.” Moist swimsuits sit on the classic leather-based couch. A number of cushions want post-pillow-fight mending. A basketball has, greater than as soon as, come startlingly near a fragile Kazunori Hamana pot. However that is their life. They usually love nothing greater than a home stuffed to the brim. “We’re usually feeding at the least 13,” Johnson says with amusing.

Extra of Trend Designer Ulla Johnson’s Ever-Evolving Montauk Retreat

$3760.00, The House

$5253.00, 1st Dibs

$8391.00, B&B Italia

Dinner events continuously begin with drinks on the boatlike roof deck and end there, stargazing with a pair of telescopes. In between, Miner, an avid cook dinner, performs chef. The primary weekend in Could marked the season’s opening of their go-to fish market, in order that they served the youngsters’ favourite: linguine con vongole.

Contemplating their favourite piece in the home, Johnson and Miner come to an surprising conclusion: the bunk beds within the basement, the youngsters’ sphere the place they retreat for ping-pong, video games, and puzzles. “When these are full, the home is full,” Miner explains. “It means we’re having enjoyable. Mates are right here. Household is right here. And that’s what the home is for.”

Initially Appeared on Architectural Digest