Interior & Architectural Design
Côte d'Azur • London • Los Angeles • New York • Paris • Saint-Tropez
Maximalist in the Hamptons: When the Cote d’Azur Meets the East Coast
August 14, 2026
For years, Hamptons interiors have been defined by a certain restraint: whitewashed walls, pale linens, driftwood tones, and an effortless coastal elegance. Beautiful? Always. Expected? Increasingly so.
But a new wave of homeowners are embracing something more expressive. More layered. More personal. They want the relaxed sophistication of the Hamptons, infused with the curated maximalist sophistication, colour, and joie de vivre of the French Riviera.
Expressive Coastal Luxury
Our concept kitchen design for West Hampton
Luxury today is no longer about following a prescribed aesthetic. It’s about creating homes that tell a story, reflect a life well lived, and feel deeply individual.
The maximalist Hamptons home celebrates this shift.
Imagine arriving at a shingle-clad estate in East Hampton. From the outside, it feels classically American. Step inside, however, and the atmosphere changes entirely. Richly textured fabrics, curated antiques, sculptural lighting, and vibrant artwork create a sense of discovery. Every room reveals another layer of personality.
This is not maximalism for the sake of excess. It is thoughtful abundance, where every object has meaning and every space feels collected rather than decorated. This is what we are seeing today with some of our clients in the Hamptons.
Bold European influences
Bar area design for one of our projects in Paris.
As Americans have increasingly been buying up real estate in the south of France in the last few years, we have been introducing this curated maximal approach as with our clients in Saint-Tropez who want sophisticated homes that feel effortless and undeniably unique.
The most beautiful villas along the Côte d’Azur are not sterile showpieces. They are layered, eclectic, and endlessly inviting. Family heirlooms sit alongside contemporary art. Vintage rattan mingles with bespoke upholstery. Sun-bleached linens coexist with bold colours and patterns.
What makes these interiors so compelling is their confidence. They embrace contrast. A gilded mirror against a limewashed wall. A contemporary sculpture beside an antique commode. Deep terracotta, Mediterranean blue, saffron yellow, and emerald green punctuating neutral palettes.
It is this fearless approach that feels increasingly relevant with our clients in the Hamptons today. Through years of designing homes in Europe and the UK, we easily bring these bold unique furniture pieces and decor from our special network of European suppliers.
Beyond the All-White Interior
Concept design for the primary bathroom at our projecst in Los Angeles.
Powder room design for one of our projects in Paris.
The traditional Hamptons palette isn’t disappearing, it is evolving. Clients now are more receptive to a more layered, colorful and unique approach to their homes.
Instead of relying solely on shades of white and beige, today’s homeowners are introducing richer tones and more tactile materials:
Jewel-toned velvets balanced with natural linens, hand-painted wallpapers inspired by European villas, statement lighting that doubles as sculpture and antique furniture mixed with contemporary design. Large-scale artwork that commands attention and layered patterns that create warmth and depth.
The result is a home that feels both sophisticated and lived in.
Curated, Not Cluttered
Concept design for cinema room in one of our projects in Manhattan.
There is a common misconception that maximalism means filling every surface with objects.
True luxury maximalism is far more nuanced. The goal is not quantity. It is curation.
A carefully assembled collection of meaningful pieces tells a far richer story than a perfectly styled room filled with items chosen solely because they match. The most successful interiors feel as though they have evolved over time. They reveal the owner’s travels, passions, and experiences. They feel authentic.
This is where maximalism becomes timeless.
Entertaining with Riviera Spirit
The powder room design from our Bishops Avenue project in London.
Both the Cote d’Azur and the Hamptons share a culture of entertaining and we very much enjoy working with our clients in these areas. Long lunches that become dinner. Guests drifting between indoor and outdoor spaces. Families gathering for entire weekends.
A maximalist approach enhances this lifestyle beautifully.
Dining rooms become dramatic settings for memorable evenings. Libraries become conversation spaces. Outdoor terraces are layered with textiles, lanterns, ceramics, and oversized planting that blur the boundaries between house and garden.
The atmosphere is relaxed yet undeniably luxurious. Exactly as it should be.
The Future of Hamptons Design
Bold staircase inspiration and gorgeous floor pattern in the former St Tropez home of Brigitte Bardot, beautifully revamped by Peter Mikic, as shown by @galeriemagazine. Photo by @katemartinphoto
Fun bunk bed inspiration. Design by @lindrothdesign Photo by @hautebohemiansmfv
As more international homeowners move between New York, London, Paris, and the South of France, design influences are naturally crossing oceans.
The result is a more worldly Hamptons aesthetic. One that embraces craftsmanship, individuality, and a sense of collected beauty. Being European designers working in the US, enables us to create a more unique approach to interior design.
The future of Hamptons design is not about minimalism versus maximalism. It is about balance.
The architecture remains quintessentially East Coast, yet the interiors are shifting in a more sophisticated direction: richer palettes, warmer textures, and a greater sense of personality. Less predictable beach house, more carefully curated statement interiors that transform a beautiful property into a truly exceptional home and impossible to replicate.
If you own a home in the Hamptons or Manhattan and are looking to create an exceptional interior that truly stands apart, we’d be delighted to help. Contact Mark Howorth at +1 470 798 4146.
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