Bridging The Gap
Interior Designer Steffen Ringelmann of Studio MTK Navigates the Local Building Trade with Finesse
by Alexandra Croft
When it comes to design and renovation projects, Steffen Ringelmann wears many hats. Some of them are hard (donned on site visits, when dropping in on a client’s contractor to see how the kitchen renovation is coming along). Others are soft but not squishy (such as when he counsels a client against signing another change order and explains why). Still others involve putting on a listening cap and responding with creative ideas that make eminent good sense. There’s no catchphrase to describe all the design and renovation-related things he does. “I never know what to call to myself,” he says. “Homeowner’s rep? Advocate? Liaison? What I am, really, is another set of eyes.”
Montauk Metamorphosis
An East End Cottage Pays Homage to its Mid-Century Origins with Of-The-Moment Flair
by Nina Thompson
Steffen Ringelmann, an interior designer and furniture builder who runs studio MTK, has a longstanding love of mid-century architecture and design. So when the new owners of a Leisurama, a married couple with one child, engaged him to decorate the place, he envisioned a sleek yet historically correct re-do with furniture and fittings in rattan and brick and brass. The clients, however, had their hearts set on a “bright, light beach house,” albeit one with mid-century accents. For Ringelmann, the challenge was to fuse both styles in a way that seemed true to the 1,400 square-foot cottage’s origins and that also felt of-the-moment.
What is Montauk Interior Style?
Montauk makes up part of The Hamptons region in the US state of New York. Montauk design style, on the other hand, is a little trickier to define.
Montauk décor is closely related to Hamptons style, but with a slightly edgier, earthier palette and an emphasis on natural wood. The use of wood panelling and nautical motifs are common. In Australia, we're more likely to refer to the style as coastal, rather than specifically 'Montauk style'.
Cool, Casual, and Pretty Darn Perfect
A couple turn a down-at-heel Montauk fishing shack into hipster heaven.
by Sophie Overton
For Steffen and Sara Ringelmann, it wasn’t enough to transform an unprepossessing shack in Montauk into an airy investment property with nothing more than elbow grease and the sweat of their brows. Steffen, who together with his wife Sara, runs the design/build firm studio MTK, also took it upon himself to design and hand-build much of the furniture in the 950-square foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow. The result is an object lesson in architecture and design self-reliance.
High Design Airbnb Rentals We'd Love to Call Home
Escape your cramped apartment for one of these dreamy properties just outside of New York City.
by Sydney Wasserman
For East Coasters, summer tends to come as a shock: Just as we're getting used to the fresh smell of spring air and easing into longer days, it's suddenly the Fourth of July. Ack. And for those of us who never got around to making reservations for that weekend getaway we totally intended on taking, it becomes a panicked dash to book something. Double ack. But before you settle for any old overpriced hotel room too far from the beach, consider one of these high-design Airbnb rentals, all driving distance or a train ride away from Manhattan.
Hamptons Style Decor. 8 ways to recreate this calming, beachy look
Discover what makes Hamptons style decor so special, and get expert tips for how to replicate the look at home
by Oonagh Turner
Picture Hamptons style decor in your mind and you’re immediately transported to the seaside string of communities on Long Island’s southern coastline, where white-washed mansion homes fringe the shore and embrace the view. A summer escape and a calming antidote to the hustle and bustle of New York, the seafront is a first and foremost a prime holiday escape, and Hamptons interiors reflect this. Homes are glamorous, sophisticated, yet this modern interior design style is effortless at the same time. Rooms are bright and light, with big open windows that let the light in.
Nantucket Is Back And Better Than Ever
Here's What's New on the Island From a stunning new hotel to revamped classics, here’s what to expect on the Grey Lady this summer.
by Todd Plummer
The Scene: Stoke ACK
Sharks notwithstanding, Nantucket actually has a pretty vibrant surf culture — and this new surf shop and café is the island's best place to pick up a board, grab a flat white, and chat with the locals about where the best swell (and fewest Great Whites) can be found. Montauk-based design firm Studio MTK designed this gorgeous space.
Designing in a Virtual World
Hamptons Interior Design Trends in the Landscape of Covid-19
by Kate C. Patchett
Interior design is a highly visual, tactile industry – the pairing of shapes and textures enliven the senses and feelings meant to be evoked by a designed space. The process is about as hands-on as can be with building, painting, physical arranging of furnishings and home décor, and various little touches here and there. But when a pandemic hits home and businesses like interior design and construction are deemed non-essential, there’s an unprecedented separation. Working in the most personal of spaces, virtually, East End designers share their thoughts on trends and demands in the landscape of COVID-19.
The BoHo Manifesto by Julia Chapman
The BoHo Manifesto
Inner Expression: The Meditation Room
by Julia Chapman
Media rooms, the “man cave”, in-home bowling alleys and gyms used to convey an enviable status. These days it’s the meditation room that has become the ultimate statement in “interior” sophistication.
Styling Tricks from Six Daringly Designed Airbnb Homes
These gutsy design ideas from creative Airbnb hosts can help transform an ordinary room into a showstopper
Give your kitchen a make-under.
Location: Montauk, New York
“This is a beach house, so we wanted the kitchen to feel bright and open but also relaxed. That’s why we used lots of plywood — a humble but beautiful material — on the floor, walls, and shelving. We sanded it and applied a super-matte protective coating, but it still has a natural, unfinished look. The stools tie in to other pink elements, like our front door and shutters, and the black metal lighting is a nice contrast to the wood.” — Steffen Ringelmann, Superhost
70 Vetted Airbnbs All Within Three Hours of New York City.
Walking Distance to Both Ocean and Bay Beaches
Location: Montauk, New York
A three-bedroom cottage styled, says editor Alex Postman, “in textiles and flea-market art by the designer couple who run studio MTK.” She also appreciated the “huge table” that doubled as a “breakfast nook and Settlers of Catan staging area.”
What’s New on Boutique Homes?
Ten exciting additions to our collection. Beach Bungalow.
Enjoy the beaches, trails and calming vibe of vacation town Montauk in this artfully-designed, centrally-located retreat. The house was recently renovated and features a cool, eclectic mix of furniture, objects and decor.
8 Beach Houses Near NYC That You Can Rent on Airbnb
Soak up the sun during a stay at one of these charming cottages, waterfront mansions and beach houses near NYC.
by Annalise Mantz
Warm temperatures and sunny days act like a siren song for New Yorkers, luring them out of the city and toward the best beaches in NYC. Make the most of the fleeting warm weather by planning a summer getaway from NYC to one of these picturesque beach houses. Whether you’re looking for a little bungalow on the Jersey shore or a grand estate in the Hamptons, this list includes an Airbnb for every type of vacationer. So what are you waiting for? Cue up the road trip songs, pack a bag of summer essentials and get the hell out of town.