A HOUSE OF EXPRESSION

This project represents our third collaboration with a cherished client whose openness, trust, and adventurous spirit have shaped some of our most expressive work. I often describe her as my “yes client”—someone who brings delight to every idea and inspires design that is as wholehearted as she is.

The Clubhouse emerged shortly after we completed the renovation of the family’s primary residence next door. What began as an empty parcel became an entirely new concept: a ground-up destination devoted to entertainment, wellness, work, and play.

Architect Scott Thomsen designed a structure that echoes the Cape Cod vernacular of the main home, uniting the two properties through grey-washedshingles, crisp white trim, and traditional iron lanterns—creating a true private compound.

Inside, however, the Clubhouse tells a very different story. Free from the constraints of a full-time residence, the interiors became an opportunity to design with fearless exuberance. The spaces unfold as a series of immersive experiences: a bar and pingpong lounge, a golf simulator, a full gym, a creative office retreat above, and generous indoor–outdoor living that blurs seamlessly with the pool terrace. The goal was simple: build a home that sparks joy every time you walk in.

Vibrant textiles, sculptural lighting, and custom furnishings define the interiors. A curved greenstriped sofa arcs playfully across a botanical rug, while floor-to-ceiling draperies in lush Pierre Frey prints bring the landscape indoors. Overhead, turquoise-and-brass Atelier 001 pendants act as luminous jewelry. The project’s devotion to French textile house Pierre Frey became such a defining through line that we jokingly began calling it “the house that Pierre Frey built.”

Outdoors, the atmosphere shifts to a resort-like escape. Bright pink umbrellas, woven Dedon daybeds, and sleek chaises create a sun-drenched palette borrowed from vacation fantasies. Globally sourced pieces—from Argentina to Portugal—layer in dimension and narrative, giving the interiors the eclectic warmth of a well-collected European residence.

Maria Tenaglia Design also served as lighting designer and interior architect, mapping every recessed, task, and accent fixture to support the home’s dramatic ceiling heights and dynamic programming. Each pendant, sconce, and beam of light was considered for proportion, glow, and materiality.

The outdoor kitchen and entertaining pavilion complete the experience, anchored by a full-height Clé tile backsplash, a Kalamazoo grill suite, Royal Botania furnishings, and vibrant Mexican nylon loungers. Alfresco dining unfolds over Hermès Passifolia dinnerware—an expressive final flourish to a home built around celebration.

The result is a retreat that radiates personality, movement, and optimism. For our client, the Clubhouse is more than a building—it’s a place that quite simply “brings her joy.”

Architect: Left Coast Architecture
Photography: John Merkl Photography