Soft, Glowy Light Is the Main Character in This Calming East Hamptons Home

PublishedMay 10, 2026 4:50 AM EDT

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Artists have always been drawn to the ethereal light in Springs, New York, an enclave of East Hampton that has influenced generations of creatives. The sun has dazzledpainters like Lee Krasner, Helen Frankenthaler, and Elaine de Kooningall who spent time in this particular corner of the country. It's also captivated textile designer and artistCaroline Z Hurley, who made the colony her home in 2023 with her husbandAlex Crane, a menswear designer, and their two daughters. "Part of my core identity has been tied to the dunes and ocean vibes of the Northeast coastline; I've always been drawn to it," Hurley, a Rhode Island School of Design grad, muses. "There's something about the quality of light here, and the way it reflects off the ocean that is so magical." And honestly? We get it.

Her search in the area actually started as a business venture. Craving a place for customers or potential clients to experience the ethos of her eponymous brand, Hurley put an offer in on a small bungalow. When that deal fell through, she and Crane decided to pivot to something more personal. Within months, they had closed on a 1,600-square-foot house from the 1960s overlooking Three Mile Harbor. "When you look out the window, any window, it feels like the inside is a frame, and the outside is the painting." OK but how poetic is that?

After six months of living in the space as is, Hurley had cataloged where they spent the most time, which direction the wind blew in, what time of day the trees cast shade, and—crucially—how light moved throughout. That's when the couple turned to their friend Michael Yarinsky, co-founder ofOffice of Tangible Space, who designed Hurley's original store in Greenpoint back in the 2010s. Together, they envisioned a more cohesive layout that would support the family for year-round living rather than just short seasonal stays.

In the beginning, the main objectives were to add extra square footage, eliminate dark dead zones, and integrate a larger kitchen. But, in the end, the project became a nine-month gut renovation, allowing Hurley, Crane, and Yarinsky to really reimagine how they'd spend time in the house. To expand the footprint of the three-bedroom, two-bath home, the team added 500 square feet for a new cookspace plus another bathroom and bedroom. "Caroline and Alex just wanted this house to be flooded with light," Yarinsky says, so in came giant skylights in the living room and kitchen. On the second story, the primary suite lost a demi-wall and gained floor-to-ceiling glass panels to let northern rays pour in. "You might as well be outside. You don't even need to have a lightbulb on for the bulk of the day," he adds. I'm honestly obsessed.

In the great room, they took out an X-shaped brick wall—delineating a fireplace, den, tiny kitchen, and a wedge of a bathroom—to make way for a single curvaceous pillar that does way more than just give off warmth. Plumbing, ductwork, drainage, and electrical for solar panels secretly run through the structure, which has a stucco and plaster finish that blends seamlessly with the warm white walls. In the new kitchen and dining area, cast concrete countertops lend heft atop custom oak millwork and natural linoleum fronts. Color-blocked concrete tiles feature prominently in all the bathrooms, two out of three designs dreamed up by Hurley herself. So good.

Hurley took the lead on the decorating while Yarinsky and his team sourced fixtures and manufacturers. "The colors I chose were meant to be a canvas for this light to be poured into," she says. The artist recovered sofas and a lounge chair in her own textiles; sourced vintage fabric on Etsy for headboards and bed frames; and scoured Live Auctioneers and 1stDibs for a credenza near the entry, a coffee table in the family room, and the dining table and chairs. Of course, the project wasn't without its challenges. The couple had to completely redo the basement, add a new septic system, and use expensive steel beams to support the addition. The fireplace was supposed to be wider, but became more compact in service of better flow. But hey, that's renovations for you.

Outside, vertical wood siding and a new metal roof brought the exterior more in line with the region's architectural vernacular. Before, there was no clear entrance to the home, so Yarinsky set about creating a deliberate garden path to the front door. With its two-step stoop, canopy, and porch lights, there's no mistaking the way in now. First impressions matter, people!

As for the landscaping, "Alex would go running in the dunes and he'd be like, 'That's what I want our house to feel like,'" Hurley recalls. They swapped boxy, formal hedges and potted plants for some of his native discoveries to complement the towering pines and rare monkey-puzzle tree already on the property. A bluestone patio stretches out toward a grassy patch and swimming pool—where long summer afternoons are spent—that looks out onto the bay. Honestly, name something more idyllic.

After two decades of living in New York City under their belt, this has been an intentionally slower chapter for the family. "We were not planning to move out here full time, but I am so happy that we did," Hurley says, noting that she rents a small space for her creative practice nearby. "Being able to walk on the beach every day and then come to my studio and paint these beautiful colors—it just feels really more aligned with what my authentic soul wants." That, plus the sublime light. Same, Caroline. Same.

Samantha Weiss-Hills is the managing editor for Domino. She edits and writes home tours and features, and she's the friend who everyone texts for glassware, sofa, and sheet recommendations. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Alex, and their beagle-corgi, Elsa.

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