Dan's Papers - August 17, 2007 - A Beautiful Room, Period

The dining room in the Hamptons Designer Showhouse in Bridgehampton, entitled "A Summer Evening: The Serenity of Nature... Brought to the Table," is, perhaps, the most inspired room I have ever been in. Intricately detailed to incorporate nature, East Asian cultures and also the relaxing feel of the Hamptons, the room, designed by Period, a New York City based interior design firm, is a sight to behold and a little world unto itself.

"When I walk into a space, I try and get a feel for the room," said Rick Livingston, founder of Period. When he walked into the dining room of the beautiful Bridgehampton Showhouse on Ocean Road, he felt he needed to incorporate the outside, inside the room. In order to do this without cheapening nature, Livingston made sure that the depth and scope of nature was alive inside the room by wallpapering it with a vinyl photograph taken by Martin Crook Photography deep in the woods of East Hampton. The photograph on the walls is dark and tranquil gunmetal blue that allows the diner to feel he is inside both a classy and modern home as well as, perhaps, a summer evening.

The fantastical feel of the room continues throughout: hanging above is a custom-made chandelier of real Manzanita Driftwood. Period again managed to mix modernity with nature by hanging rain drop shaped glass as well as long factory-looking lights from the natural driftwood, which Livington says reminds him of "fireflies and drew drops."

The table itself is pure white, made of Corian. Forming an asterisk, long dark runners flow across it and at each of the chairs is a large, black napkin and big, dark bowls with an Asian flower inside and a glowing halve of a rock adjacent. The chairs, comfortable with a dark fabric and Asian patterns on the back, are refurbished and replicated from Rick Livingston's collection of '70s vintage chairs. Underneath the table is a thick carpet of custom-made, hand woven grey Mohair, which matches the window treatments. And behind the table is arguably the room's most captivating piece: a large, white real Coral on a dark brown base. Livingston said he chose to use a piece of nature rather than a sculpture because he has found that, on the whole, people have fewer problems with an actual piece of nature, whereas everyone has a different opinion on a sculpture. And he's right - the beautiful coral, made by the Earth and found in the sea, is impossible not to stare at and admire.

Livingston attributes his eye for detail to his years as an executive in the fashion industry at Saks, as well as with the help of his five person creative team. Together, they designed and crafted the room in just five weeks - struggling to overcome issues of time and vision with overseas suppliers, fabricators, collaborators and even the Bali government (in creating the handmade Mother of Pearl cabinets). The room is designed and decorated with such a vision that was steadfastly stuck to.

"I create a storyboard in my head and then follow it. I also like to incorporate a little bit of fantasy," Livingston said.

Period works in Manhattan and the Hamptons and Livingston says there is no one formula they stick to, but rather they tailor make each assignment to the needs and interests of the client and the room.

The dining room has had one of the most positive reactions in the house. "The runners are fabulous," one onlooker exclaimed.

When not designing and in Manhattan, Livingston lives in a historical home in Quogue, where he is inspired by the everyday beauty of the Hamptons to help him create his modern interior design masterpieces.