Designer Robert McKinley’s portfolio reads like a roster of New York hot spots: Sant Ambroeus, Ruschmeyer’s, the Surf Lodge. But for him, Montauk, on the furthest reaches of Long Island, is personal: It’s where he met his now wife, Kate Nauta, many years back (“She was 18 fresh from Oregon and he was a city boy and surfing regular who grew up retreating to its sandy shores,” they say.) Four years ago, they were married at Montauk’s lighthouse. Now, the couple has rehabbed a 1970s bungalow in town, newly opened and available for rent. Everything at McKinley Bungalow—down to the cabinet fronts by Reform, ceramics by East Fork, and natural lime-based paints from Domingue—is for sale, including the house itself. Take a look inside (and maybe book it for a weekend).
“After” photography by Nicole Franzen, courtesy of McKinley Bungalow.
Above: The four-bedroom, three-bathroom ranch house was originally built in 1978 and needed significant updates to the dated interiors. Above: The kitchen is fitted with Reform cabinet fronts. (For more, see Ikea Kitchen Upgrade: 9 Custom Cabinet Companies for the Ultimate Kitchen Hack.) The sink is the Chef Center Sink by Franke and has compartments for cleaning supplies and compost, plus a roll-up drying rack and glass cutting board. The cabinets are stocked with Knindustrie cookware. Above: The bungalow is complete with an updated take on the 1970s breakfast nook. Above: In the main room, newly exposed high ceilings are painted white. Adding to the beach feel: a natural-fiber mat and laid-back white couch. The furniture is a mix of vintage and original designs, like the coffee table, by Studio Robert McKinley design director Paula Rodriguez. Above: McKinley’s trademark playful style is on display throughout. Above: The dining room, with bar behind. Above: The barware is appropriately retro. Above: One of the bedrooms, with a woven mat, long summer curtains, a simple platform bed from Floyd. The bed linens are from Wright. Above: The bathroom, with a compact marble sink and tiles from Cle Tile. Above: The house is on offer for vacation rentals via Airbnb, starting at $695 per night for the full bungalow. (Alternatively, a smaller, one-bedroom apartment is available from $395 per night.) Included in your stay: the use of six Shinola bicycles to bike to nearby Ditch Plains beach. Above: Nauta and McKinley on the steps of the bungalow.
Before
Above: Pre-renovation, the house was dated, low-ceilinged, and dark, with a breakfast nook in need of an upgrade. Above: Drop ceilings were removed and exposed beams painted white. Above: The bungalow, in process.
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