With our Book Club series, we hand over the proverbial mic to our Experts—letting them share their work, thought process, and best tips, all in their own words. The following is an excerpt from Studio DB’s new book, Drawn Together, published this month with Rizzoli.

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This home began with the house next door.

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Our clients, the same people who had us design their Tribeca warehouse apartment, were looking for a getaway in the Hamptons and went to see a new house a builder had constructed to sell. They loved the location and could see that it was meticulously built. They were tempted to buy it—but then they saw another opportunity. There was an empty lot right next door. Instead of buying a ready-made house, they could invest in designing their own, they realized, and create a house that reflected their needs, desires, and personalities. They bought the lot, tapped us and local architect Raymond Renault to collaborate on the design of a brand-new house from scratch, and recruited the same builder to construct it.

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Right from the beginning, they knew what they wanted. The house needed to be a family home, with room for everyone, and plenty of space for having fun, indoors and out. They wanted it to feel relaxed and beachy, but in a way that was interesting and unexpected rather than cliché. And they wanted a worry-free place that could withstand wet swimsuits and sandy feet while still projecting a sense of elegance.

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The result is an expansive home based on a simple gable-roofed structure lined in Alaskan yellow cedar, bronze-hued metal, and plenty of glass that connects to a smaller gable-roofed pool house. Inside the front door, the entrance hall opens to a glassy, sun-drenched, double-height living room hung with Lindsey Adelman chandeliers recalling barnacles.

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Throughout the house, we chose distinctive varieties of natural materials, such as Ceppo di Gré limestone, which has the look of oversized terrazzo, and white oak for floors and wall panels, as well as metals with an accelerated sense of age, such as patinated bronze, burnished brass, and verdigris copper, which look as though they have spent a lifetime by the sea.

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It’s a home that invites discovery and exploration. As friends and family move between the dining room, library, and family room, as well as outdoor gathering places like the firepit and pool, each feels like its own unique destination. It’s a beach house where everyone can be together when they choose, but people also have the space for moments of quiet contemplation when they need it.

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Order Studio DB’s new book for more inspiration, or book a consultation with Studio DB to get personalized advice for your space.