How a Dreary 1970s Ranch House Became a Charming Coastal Cottage

The formula for a perfect summer retreat, according to Andy Grover and Dan Mazzarini, starts with three essentials: a view of the water, a cozy fireplace, and a sparkling pool. They ought to know—as a real estate consultant, Andy has seen his fair share of summer homes, and interior designer Dan, principal and creative director at BHDM, has worked his magic on more than a few coastal cottages.

Even so, when the New York City–based couple bought their getaway on Long Island’s North Fork, it was missing a major must-have: a pool. Luckily, the beach house came with a bucolic 1.2-acre plot that sits on a bluff more than 100 feet above the Long Island Sound. “We knew we’d be able to put in a pool eventually, so we took the plunge,” says Dan.

The duo didn’t break out the shovels right away. Instead, they dove headfirst into a renovation of the 1,500-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath coastal ranch-style home. “The house was all brown, both inside and out,” Dan explains. “I wish it would have been ’60s mod, but it was 1970s gross,” adds Andy.

A glossy Dutch door (painted Black Hollandlac by Fine Paints of Europe) allows Andy (left) and Dan to be on the lookout for guests. The couple added bluestone pavers and industrial lighting from Hudson Valley Lighting Group to warm up the welcome.

To undo the dated details, they bid farewell to shag carpeting, updated the floor plan, and painted everything—including the fireplace—white. Then they layered in an array of crisp furnishings as well as the “crusty-dusty” treasures Dan’s spent a lifetime collecting. “Andy and I have known each other for 17 years, and he will happily tell you that I’m a bit of a fancy hoarder,” says Dan.

Once the interior was squared away, it was time to install that pool. Surrounded by a lush emerald-green lawn and Limelight hydrangeas, the sophisticated yet understated watering hole has become a daily destination for friends eager to enjoy late-afternoon swims and supper on the adjacent porch all summer long.

“One whole side of the pool has ‘Hollywood’ stairs that are great for lounging with a drink, and there’s a jut-out in the deep end where you can sit and watch the sunset,” says Dan. “Our goal is that when our friends leave at around 10 p.m., their bellies will be both full and hurting from laughing.”

A Light-Filled Welcome

Mazzarini Long Island House Entry

A flip-top French dining table in the entry offers a spot to stash keys and mail. Above it, a large zinc mirror from local design shop Lumber + Salt reflects light into the space.

Slipcovered Seating in the Living Room

Mazzarini Long Island House Living Room

Dan had his design work cut out for him in the less-than-dynamic living space. “Texture and pattern become important in a house that doesn’t have a lot of architectural significance,” he says. After a wash of white paint on the walls and the fireplace, he continued the crispness with a pair of practical slipcovered sofas flanking two stone-topped coffee tables. Underfoot, a handwoven striped rug offers texture, as do a pair of wicker chairs Dan found for $100 and revived with paint. “They were in such terrible condition that they had to live in the garage for a long time,” says Dan. “When we hired a guy to paint all the doors, I asked him to paint these chairs, too. Now they’re the centerpiece of the room.”

Get the Look:

A Crisp, White Kitchen

Mazzarini Long Island House Kitchen

With soaring ceilings and new bright white cabinetry, the small galley cooking space feels open and airy. Engineered white oak floors laid in an intermittent striped pattern reinforce the lightened-up feel, and dark green soapstone countertops help ground the room. Guests are always welcome to mix their own martinis in the makeshift bar area, which is outfitted with a butterfly photograph from Hudson, New York–based Robin Rice Gallery and a moody oil painting the homeowners found in Maine. Above, an antique model home Dan found at Lumber + Salt adds folk art character.

A Light & Bright Dining Room

Guests take in the landscape just beyond the dining area’s bay window from one of the white director’s chairs surrounding the oak table. The oversize light is custom. Dan likes to give a nod to the outdoors with flowers plucked straight from the garden. “It’s a fun party trick to go in the yard with clippers and then make gigantic arrangements,” he says. “The best part: Even my biggest arrangements barely make a dent in the bounty of hydrangeas.”

Because the kitchen is quite small, a pine wardrobe from another local North Fork shop, White Flower Farmhouse, comes in handy as a makeshift pantry for glasses, plates, and platters. “Our contractor told us it used to be an actor’s traveling wardrobe case,” says Dan. “It comes apart, so you would just throw it up and hang costumes in there wherever you landed.”

A High Contrast Powder Room

Mazarini Long Island House Powder Room

“I love a dark and moody room,” says Dan, who painted the powder room what he describes as “a glossy, mossy green.” It creates a high-contrast backdrop for the seagrass sconces and the gold-framed mirror.

Natural Materials

In the primary bedroom, the braided piece gives a nod to the series of basket-inspired fine-art prints by Chicago-based artist Michael McGuire. Dan scored the bedside table at a local yard sale and the sweet vintage lamp at another of his favorite North Fork stores, Beall & Bell. The oversize die on top of the wood dresser was a gift from a friend. “He told us that it just felt like it belonged in this house,” says Dan.

Off-the-Shelf Meets Antiques

Mazzarini Long Island House Bathroom

Dan transformed the primary bathroom with “easy-breezy, off-the-shelf items,” and then he peppered in a vintage items like the storage cabinet for towels, the mirror, and artwork from a nearby antique shop.

Estate Sale Scores

Mazzarini Long Island house Twin Bedroom

A pair of four-poster twin beds that Dan snagged at a local estate sale is a perfect fit for the guest room. There is just enough space between them for a vintage lamp atop a small painted table. “The art is a real scale play—I bought these vintage pieces [another hangs on the opposite wall] almost 10 years ago without anywhere to put them, so I hung them in our garage next to the car,” says Dan. “I finally found a home for them in here.”

A Multi-Purpose Screened-In Porch

Years ago, Andy and Dan made an “insane” bid on a house in nearby Bellport, New York, based solely on its screened-in porch. When they were outbid, they realized they shouldn’t buy a home because of a porch, no matter how great it might be. But they did use that porch as inspiration for an addition that has become an extension of their interiors and is used daily. Pre- and post-dinner cocktails are sipped in the adjacent living space, which is furnished with a wicker sofa and chairs.

Dreamy Poolside Living

Mazzarini House Long Island Pool

During the summer months, Dan and Andy enjoy a true indoor-outdoor lifestyle. “The tie to the landscape and the ease with which we approach living and entertaining here is much different than what we experience in the city,” says Dan. “Our backyard faces directly west, so we get these amazing sunsets.” The couple ringed the entire yard in hydrangea, which blooms from early July through the end of August.

An Outdoor Shower

Mazzarini Long Island House Outdoor Shower

In addition to installing the pool, the couple added an outdoor shower. “We put in a little shower window so you can see the water,” says Dan.