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One Lavish Decorator’s Super Simple Beach Retreat (Published 2016)

Miles Redd, a renowned interior decorator celebrated for his extravagant and colorful designs, has cultivated a distinctive aesthetic marked by exuberance. His New York City townhouse, for instance, features a vivid Schiaparelli-pink living room with a red velvet banquette and zebra-hide covered double doors adorned with rock crystal handles, showcasing his signature use of bold colors, intricate patterns, and opulent accessories. Redd's approach is often compared to a couturier, emphasizing luxurious fabrics like satin for curtains and bed hangings, and incorporating unique flourishes such as baroque mirrors and sterling silver bowls to tell stories through his arrangements. His talent for crafting glamorous, cinematic spaces stems from his background in film, earning him a dedicated clientele, a fabric line with Schumacher, and a decade-long tenure as creative director for Oscar de la Renta Home. In stark contrast to his usual lavish style, Redd’s seaside retreat on Fire Island Pines, New York, presents a surprising departure. This 3,000-square-foot, 1970s-era, glass-and-cedar four-bedroom house, nestled between the bay and the sea, embodies a relaxed and understated mood. The interiors are characterized by simplicity, with much of the furniture sourced from big-box stores and industrial gray carpets. The decorative flourishes are minimal, and the dominant color palette is pure white, subtly accented by carefully chosen accessories like a fern in a glass vase or a Chinese pagoda hat covered in his own Black and White V Schumacher fabric. The landscaping mirrors this laid-back approach, featuring dense bamboo copses along a winding walkway for privacy and low-maintenance plantings of arborvitae, rosemary, and lavender around the pool. Redd acquired the property in 2006 after a prior rental experience on the island, describing his connection as love at first sight. He was particularly drawn to the modern, boxy architecture of the houses and the natural landscape of shrubby pines and grasses. The relaxed pace of Fire Island Pines, a legendary gay enclave, also appealed to him. The absence of cars, the long wooden planked walkways, the panoramic views of both the bay and the sea, and the festive ferry ride from Sayville all contributed to its allure. He cherishes the community’s welcoming spirit, noting that it's a place where one can spontaneously join a party while strolling through. This unique blend of being both a vibrant scene and convincingly low-key defines the paradoxical charm of the Pines, offering a distinct and serene environment that stands apart from Redd’s more elaborate professional endeavors. #MilesRedd #InteriorDesign #FireIsland #BeachHouse #DecoratorStyle #MinimalistDesign #HomeDecor #NewYorkHomes #ArchitecturalContrast #MilesRedd #InteriorDesign #FireIsland #BeachHouse #DecoratorStyle #MinimalistDesign #HomeDecor #NewYorkHomes #ArchitecturalContrast

114 months ago

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