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The words Sasha Bikoff uses to describe her beachfront retreat in the Springs, a storied enclave of East Hampton, normally wouldn’t raise an eyebrow. “I wanted something reflective of a modern barn,” says the interior designer and New York native, adding, “something very pure, like a white church with a high-pitched roof.” But this is Sasha Bikoff we’re talking about. Since launching her firm in 2013, she has established herself as something of a decorating enfant terrible, flaunting a penchant for maximalist mischief in Upper East Side stairwells and Versace collaborations alike.
Bikoff spent much of her youth in the Hamptons and never stopped going back. “It’s where my alter-ego nature girl comes out,” she says. “It’s my happy place.” For years she looked for a property of her own, eventually falling for the Springs while renting. The quiet area is known as a historic haven for artists, most notably Jackson Pollock. For Bikoff, the community is one of the last bits of the South Fork that “hasn’t lost its magic.” She found a dilapidated house on a double lot, lived in it for two years, then tore it down once her plans and permits were in good order. “There was sand everywhere, sometimes no running hot water,” she recalls of that initial stint. “But I loved it.”
To create her new home, completed last year, Bikoff enlisted the help of Michael Foley and Cassandra Perez, founders of the design studio Plot-1. “Building from scratch is daunting, especially in the Hamptons,” she says. “They really get the vibe.” Her mandate to create something humble, that wouldn’t work against the environment, resulted in two board-and-batten structures connected by a common deck, with the main house on one end and the two-story garage on the other—but not just any garage. Hers features a curvaceous staircase and a glossy checkerboard floor. “I’ve been told that only myself and Goldie Hawn have those Cambria tiles in their garage,” says the designer. The glossy feature is the perfect backdrop to Bikoff’s beloved canary yellow 1975 Mercedes 450 SL, a.k.a. her “Fierce-mobile.” Upstairs, a full guest suite features a snail-shaped kitchenette that follows the curves of the staircase.
For the four-bedroom main house, Bikoff pulled inspiration from a recent trip to Japan. “I wanted that symmetry and simplicity,” she says. “It’s a real departure for me. After all, I usually go for anything that sparkles. I like weird, funky things.” While most of the interiors are clad in white oak, Bikoff indulged in expressive colorful bursts. Her Atlas Maior mural tiles for New Ravenna wrap the primary bath’s tub with a map of the world, while integrated surfboards enliven a guest room’s Versace bed. However, the biggest flourish is largely invisible—at least during the daytime, that is. Come nightfall, a programmable Ketra lighting system transforms her serene barn into a party palace. “Instead of decorating with glitz and color, I did it with lighting,” she says. “It’s my biggest trick. If I didn’t have that system, I’d miss that colorful world of mine.”
Controlling her house’s mood via an iPhone app has allowed Bikoff to have her zen-spirited cake and eat it too. “People gravitate toward serene environments, but I think this house is a good example of doing that without being boring—and staying true to yourself.”
This story appears in AD*’s October 2022 issue. To see Sasha Bikoff's home in print,* subscribe to AD.
