Inspired by British gardener Russell Page, landscape architect Mario Nievera 1940s cape-style vacation home in the Hamptons—which he shares with his partner, Travis Howe—masterfully balances horticulture, architecture, and romance. An effortless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces encourages guests to engage with the landscape as though it’s simply another room.
The porch, added by the previous owner, allowed Nievera to further extend the space by opening the vaulted living and dining area to the garden and pool. In contrast to their curated and clean Florida home, Nievera and Howe filled their Long Island escape with quirky cork frames, tramp art, and old hand-tinted tourist maps from days of yore. Their goal was to create a space where you’re enveloped in a verdant environment where life moves slowly and everything appears as if it’s always been there. The house is a “collection of everything we love—and found,” says Nievera. “It’s deeply sentimental.”
Nievera was apprehensive about the house’s location at first—it’s nestled next to a cemetery—but the quietly lush spot has been a welcome neighbor. He did, however, add a hedge around the border!
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Even the guest room has a view out to the lush greenery surrounding the property, which compliments the calming color palette of the interiors.
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No strangers to hosting friends and family, the couple’s patio is the perfect environ for elegant al fresco meals with fresh flowers and local produce.
