Photo by William Waldran (william waldron) Producer Anita Sarsidi (anita sarsidi)
Beach HousesFour years ago, when Eric Hughesstarted working on Sarah Jessica Parker's house in Bridgehampton, New York, he had a very clear idea of what the result should be. An interior that would not be afraid of sand brought in on beach sandals, streams of salt water running down wet bathing suits, in a word, everything that accompanies the active recreation of a crowd of restless city dwellers intoxicated by the proximity of nature. Hughes spent his childhood in California on the Pacific coast, so he knew very well what a weekend at the beach was. The only thing he had no idea about yet was the profession of an interior designer. Until now, Hughes's career had been inextricably linked with Hollywood (he recently left the post of vice president of production at Universal Pictures, where several successful films were released under his leadership, including the horror film "Bride of Chucky"). Hughes was initially a little confused when his longtime friend Sarah Jessica asked him to help her design her country home. Of course, he was flattered that she trusted his taste, and his recent help decorating the actress's New York apartment had been well received by the film crowd. But he was still a little wary of taking on an entire house.
Sarah Jessica Parker's House
«Here it would not be a matter of choicepaint for the walls and upholstery of the sofa. Although, I think Sarah Jessica could have been calm with me - I would never have made anything cloyingly chic out of her house, like new-fangled Hollywood villas».
House on the coast - this is one of the fewplaces where the actress and her husband, actor Matthew Broderick, can retire and spend time with their three-year-old son James, forgetting about the crazy filming schedules and Broadway rehearsals. Here you can play table tennis, swim, walk, receive guests and numerous relatives (in addition to her husband and son, Sarah Jessica Parker has seven brothers and sisters). "Matthew and I did not want the decor to be boring, but at the same time it should not be overly pretentious or flashy. The main criteria for us are an abundance of light, colors and comfort, comfort, comfort!" the actress recalls. The search for such a house (without unnecessary quirks, but reflecting the local flavor) lasted for more than one year. The actress endlessly rejected all offers from real estate agents. Now the star couple has settled in these parts so much that they have already bought another cottage nearby (this time it was found very quickly, that’s what neighbors mean).
When decorating the house, Hughes drew inspiration fromworks of one of his favorite designers, Billy Baldwin. His ideas, embodied in the interiors of the homes of such famous people in New York theater circles as Cole Porter and Kitty and Gilbert Miller, seemed to Hughes to be the best fit for the life of two actors. One corner of Sarah Jessica's cottage is decorated with a classic-style sofa, upholstered in Baldwin's favorite brown denim. For another sofa, by the window in the living room, Hughes chose the already Baldwin's signature printed fabric "in splashes". In the master bedroom, he placed a canvas-covered console table by Karl Springer. He spied the design of the dining table in the house of Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner in nearby East Hampton.
However, Hughes was not afraid of mixing the high andlow styles. He actively used things from IKEA, as well as from flea markets and local sales. But what Hughes managed to do best was to introduce into the interior little things dear to the owners. "I kept thinking that this was the house built by Carrie (Parker's character in the TV series "Sex and the City")," he recalls. To somehow mark this important detail of the actress's biography, Hughes invited the series designer and asked him to provide something from Carrie's apartment to decorate the sliding panel hiding the built-in TV. "It was a complete surprise for me," Sarah Jessica admits. "At first, I was afraid that people would think that I suffer from narcissism. But now that the filming of the series is over, I am very glad that Hughes gave me the opportunity to remember those times. This is so nice».
Sarah Jessica's favorite place in the housecalls the dining room: "It's completely white, but when the room is full of guests, they themselves become works of art and decorate it even more," the actress exclaims. Here she receives her friends Kate Winslet, Sam Mendes, Marcy Klein and her husband Scott Murphy, as well as Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman. Now they are all also Hughes' clients. "Sarah Jessica gave my career as a designer a boost, and I didn't even notice it," Hughes laughs. "She saw in me abilities that I hadn't seen in myself before. It's a great gift."
