NYC-based ICRAVE heads east to Amagansett to design an airy, fairy-tale pool and spa retreat. Siobhan Barry gives us the exclusive on the modern, cedar design that plays between indoor and outdoor leisure.

East of the legendary Hamptons resides the quieter, charming beach town of Amagansett, whose Montaukett etymology derives from “place of good water.” Naturally, the highly sought-after design firm ICRAVE wanted to highlight “good water” as an escape for client – and friend of ICRAVE founder and CEO Lionel Ohayon – Alex May. Partner Siobhan Barry says, “the goal was to give the client a pool and pool house that would serve as a retreat and all-day entertaining space, especially during the summer season.”

Having to work around the limiting town zoning rules resulted in a unique design solution for the pool house. The 400 square-foot wood and steel structure is scaled proportionately to the length of the pool, and divided into three elements: sleep, lounge, and spa. United by a stretched roof and trellis lines, the bedroom and spa room are two enclosed, cedar shingled boxes, with an outdoor sunken mezzanine and fireside lounge in between. Barry points out that these geometric volumes are softened by billowing white drapes. Although sheltered from prying eyes by the native South Shore shrubs surrounding the property, the structure has sliding glass doors that open up to let in natural light and the summer breeze.

“We took inspiration from the local vernacular and the adjacent barn by cladding the building with cedar,” says Barry. “We also took a more modern departure that would let us play with blurring lines, so that it feels like screens become walls and solid roofs become trellises. We used simple industrial elements like structural steel and raw wood, and balanced them with the refined stone pool terrace.”

The “beautiful water feature” is the focus, “not just as a luxury, but to amplify the entire pool experience.” On the right end of the structure, the spa room features the Jacuzzi Sasha in a warm maple wood palette. Imported from Europe by Purificare and designed by Alberto Apostoli, the Jacuzzi Sasha is a wellness concept that integrates a steam shower cabin, sauna, and hammam.

The decorations are functional. The bedroom features an idyllic beach scene mural, touches of blue, and brass Moroccan pendant light fixtures to provide warm lighting when it’s time to wind down after sunset. After some pampering, the client and his guests can relax in the lounge in front of the dark steel fireplace, either on the intricately carved wooden daybed or, of course, in the hot tub.

Perfect for weekend getaways, the Amagansett pool house is a sanctuary isolated just enough from the rest of the world.

Photography by John Muggenborg & follow on Instagram