Wondering how to bring your dated 80s home into the current century? Glean some tips from this house in East Hampton north. Bordering reserve, the 2000 square foot house is set on 0.92 of an acre. There are three bedrooms, three and a half baths, and a finished lower level with gas fireplace and screening room. Asking price for the property, represented by Bayard Fenwick and Rylan Jacka at Sotheby’s, is $1.675 million.
Paint it black.
The black cedar siding of this house looks much fresher and less tired than the other options. White, cliche, gray, yuck, brown, double yuck. Black is the way to go.
Paint it white.
80s interiors were often all about the natural wood tones, complemented by red brick. Bring interiors out of the 80s by wielding your paintbrush. Note the contrast of the simple dark-framed windows: no ugly oak trim here.
Use stylish modern furnishings.
As above: the simple contemporary pieces work with the space beautifully. Older styles of furniture frequently look absolutely terrible in a contemporary. New or midcentury furnishings and accessories don’t fight with the architecture.
Renovate the kitchen…
A fresh, simple new kitchen is generally the way to go. Most 80s kitchens are better off left in the Reagan era. Clean lines and light wood make the kitchen an asset to the house. Avoid orangey wood tones.
and the bathrooms.
Bathroom design has also moved on from the Just Say No years. Simple white and gray looks fresh, as does the dark hardware. (Let us not even think of gold-plated faucets.)
Embrace a few quirks.
Not everything about the 80s was bad: we love the era’s natural style freeform swimming pools, as here.
What say you? Let us know in the comments.
For more, click here. 27 Marion Lane, East Hampton
