Shelton, Mindel & Associates

GEORGICA POND RESIDENCE, EAST HAMPTON, NEW YORK

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 12/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Renovating a ramshackle late-1970's modernist cedar house is a task in itself. But when you're not allowed to change its footprint or remove any exterior walls or windows, it's time to really get creative. "To preserve the zoning proximity to the water, the exterior of the house had to remain intact," says principal Lee Mindel. So he and Peter Shelton opened up the interior, focusing on a generously glazed living area that fronts Georgica Pond. Sculptural cedar walls were sanded several shades lighter—almost blond in places—updating the space while blend ing harmoniously with flooring of terra-cotta tile. Long sofas give the room a low-slung horizon, offsetting its two-story height—and offer a comfortable perch to take in the tranquil pond just beyond the swimming pool.