For long, languid summer afternoons, there’s no more traditional setting than a porch in the Hamptons. Time slows as you page through a paperback or sip a Sancerre, gazing at the garden and pool.
On the porch at the 2015 Hampton Designer Showhouse, the decorating directive was to not settle for sameness. As John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon of Madcap Cottage designed the covered porch in partnership with Frontgate, they bypassed staid staples, instead employing an eclectic mix of products and patterns.
“When we designed the space, we were in Portugal, so we were very much inspired by the colors and the feeling and the vibe we saw in Lisbon. This covered porch has a lot of whimsy and fun.”
“We wanted to create the perfect space to retreat and relax,” John said. “When we designed the space, we were in Portugal, so we were very much inspired by the colors and the feeling and thevibe we saw in Lisbon. This covered porch has a lot of whimsy and fun.”
With exotic accents, their design reflected a passion for travel and a desire to bring one’s adventures home. Exuberant patterns burst from a rich palette.
“We want to show people how to bring prints and colors back into their life,” Jason said. “Life is short, and it should be lived in Technicolor.”
“The outdoor porch is really an outdoor room,” John said. “We try to create spaces that feel lived-in, that feel like they’ve accumulated over time and – that aren’t straight out of a showroom. The thing that most people get wrong is not having a mix of furnishings in a space.”
The handwoven rattan of two chaise lounges created a tropical feel, pairing with the natural seashells of the Seashell Side Table. A Tropical Bamboo Lantern and Margaritaville Bamboo Flatware extended the vibe.
Pagoda Lanterns suggested an Asian influence, as did an elephant motif carried through a ceramic statue, pillows and a Handpainted Elephant Umbrella Table. John and Jason used that blue-and-white table as the base for a Handpainted Round Dining Table in matching colors. Jaunty cabana window treatments enclosed the porch and gave it a Southern France sensibility.
And yes, you can pair stripes with patterns as long as there are consistent tones to carry through the space – in this case, green and blue. In short: Don’t be afraid to be a little madcap. “We want to show people how to bring prints and colors back into their life,” Jason said. “Life is short, and it should be lived in Technicolor.”
See all the outdoor furniture and decor John and Jason used in furnishing the Showhouse porch. Please also enjoy guest blogs they wrote during the design process and view other designers’ work at past Hampton Showhouse events.
