An Edward Weston print complements a vintage console in the entry. Photo: Pernille Loof. Styled by Mieke Ten Have
The interiors conceived by New York designer Wesley Moon are often exalted exercises in maximalism—cinematic wall coverings, sumptuous jewel tones, and layer upon layer of expressive stones. But with a recent retreat in the Hamptons, he demonstrates he’s equally adept at the inverse with swathes of tranquil neutrals punctuated with splashes of color.
The homeowners, longtime clients and among his first when he opened his studio a decade ago, have looked to him for two primary residences in California; a color-rich home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and a casual beach house in Amagansett, New York. But as the family grew, so did their needs, and when they decided to relocate to a more spacious address just steps from the ocean in East Hampton, the couple once again reached out. “They’re a very active family, always on the move, and they needed a house that was an upgrade from where they were before,” says Moon.
A Nacho Carbonell light fixture surmounts a Barn in the City dining table surrounded by Maison Leleu chairs in a Ralph Lauren fabric while a Clifford Ross photograph tops the Roman Thomas cabinet and a Lyndi Sales work hangs over an Hermès bar cart. Photo: Pernille Loof. Styled by Mieke Ten Have
Although the bones of the eight-bedroom property were good, the interior showed its age and needed a refresh. Out-of-date honey-colored wood floors were sanded down and bleached. Oil-based wall paint that had turned dingy over time was covered over with fabric upholstery or quietly patterned wallpaper. The early-aughts kitchen and baths required a complete overhaul, the stark white of the former now reworked in a creamier shade. Here, Moon customized cabinets with panels that resemble Venetian plaster and installed tile that shimmers like mother-of-pearl.
In a nod to the location, Moon drew palette inspiration from the beach. “They wanted to keep it very neutral and soft,” says the designer, who relied on the palest of shades, such as the misty blue that covers the ceiling in the office or the delicate pink found in the living room’s wispy curtain sheers and on a textured wall covering that serves as a backdrop to a billowy Ayala Serfaty light fixture. “I wanted it to be like, ‘Oh, wow,’” says Moon of these restrained design details. “I like it when an interior slowly reveals itself to you.”
In the primary bedroom, a John Armleder canvas joins a pair of Steve Locke artworks over a Dmitriy & Co. bed paired with bespoke nightstands by Alexander Lamont. Photo: Pernille Loof. Styled by Mieke Ten Have
Grace Weaver’s Untitled (Woman) (2021) enlivens the stair. Photo: Pernille Loof. Styled by Mieke Ten Have
But for all that subtlety, the home still packs a punch due to its bold art curation. A newly acquired Kiki Kogelnik painting of a retro-chic bikini model rendered in shades of turquoise has pride of place over the living room fireplace, while a fiery canvas by John Armleder electrifies the otherwise monochromatic primary bedroom. A large-scale Grace Weaver canvas depicting one of the artist’s signature female figures serves as a focal point in the stair, and an exuberant Lyndi Sales work on paper animates an otherwise serene dining room.
In an East Hampton, New York, home designed by Wesley Moon, Blue Glasses (1977) by Kiki Kogelnik overlooks a pair of McGuire sofas, a cocktail table by Roman Thomas, and an Alexander Lamont chair. Photo: Pernille Loof. Styled by Mieke Ten Have
To complement the impressive roster of burgeoning artists, Moon leaned into the clients’ growing affinity for collectible design, sourcing furniture and lighting by Nacho Carbonell, Christopher Maschinot, and Alexander Lamont, including a spectacular pair of marquetry nightstands the designer commissioned in light to dark ombré. Moon sets these eye-catching pieces against understated backdrops such as pulled-plaster panels in the stair and a fireplace surround of terrazzo-like marble. “Everything is about a play on textures and subtle colors; nothing is screaming at you,” says Moon. “I like interiors to be a chorus, so everything is humming together.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2024 Summer Issue under the headline “Ocean Current.” Subscribe to the magazine.
