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The Mod Squad

Size doesn’t matter, at least not if Christopher Burch is correct. Tory’s ex and the entrepreneur behind her fashion line and highly ambitious but now defunct retail chain, C. Wonder, is betting on little houses. You might think that the Hamptons, with their ego-driven mammoth mansions, would be the last place on earth to showcase a tiny, prefab (horrors!) abode. Yet, this summer saw a constant stream of curiosity seekers heading to the back of Mecox Gardens in Southampton to ogle Burch’s 480-square-foot modular unit. And the surprisingly chic space seems to have Hamptonites smitten. On the other hand, Hamptonites are nothing if not trendsetters, and it might not be so odd that they at least are flirting with the “tiny house” movement that is taking hold elsewhere.

One of three models, the version at Mecox is the Studio, which sells for from $225,000 to $275,000. The company, Cocoon 9, founded by Burch and his friend Edwin Mahoney, also manufactures the same-size (12 X 40 foot), same-price Cabin, and the 160-square-foot Cocoon Lite 20, which costs from $75,000 to $95,000. Burch already has a Studio on his property in Southampton serving as a pool house.

A rotating lineup of interior designers will transform the space over the summer to demonstrate it’s versatility. The Cocoon launched with Greg McKenzie Design, with furnishing provided by Mecox Gardens. Now, interiors stylist Sarah Storms has added a more contemporary touch to the layout.
Essentially glass-fronted boxes, these little “plug and play” structures feature sliding floor-to-ceiling windows and doors “that deceivingly double the structure’s square footage by giving the illusion of a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living space,” according to the Mecox Gardens blog. The bathroom window is made of smart glass, which changes from transparent to opaque with the touch of a button. Environmentally conscious, the houses boast LED lighting, sustainable materials, and insulation that allows the inside temperature to be virtually unaffected by the outside temperature.
There are options aplenty. Exteriors can be made of a wood-plastic composite or carbon stranded bamboo siding. Cabinetry comes in several finishes from matte to glossy white lacquer. Floors are clad in Hamptons white, either cerused oak or oak-grained vinyl. Fixtures are also customizable from brushed stainless steel to Venetian bronze.

Michael Hofstadter, the manager of Mecox, who is stationed at the house giving tours and fielding questions, reports an “overwhelmingly positive response” from visitors. Some of the aspects they particularly like are the “nine-foot ceilings, TV that swivels from living room to bedroom, great storage space, the Murphy bed and ethanol fireplace.” Prospective owners have expressed interest in turning it into an office, guesthouse or even a potter’s studio. It can come with or without a kitchenette.
“It’s surprisingly more spacious than I anticipated,” says Eric Levesque, who was sniffing around the structure with his wife. Having recently sold their house in Noyac, they say they might consider purchasing a piece of land and erecting such a dwelling. “We were expecting a much smaller, less airy feeling space.” But he questioned whether perhaps there was too much glass for Hamptons’ winters.

The beauty is that all houses can be transported by a flatbed truck and be delivered within a remarkable 16 weeks of being ordered. Easy as pie, right? Almost. You still need to build a foundation, secure proper permits and pay for shipping. “The goal was to create a thoughtfully designed product that is simple and elegant and can be used for many different functionalities,” Burch told the New York Times.

At the end of summer the little house at Mecox will be moved to Connecticut, where its owners, financier Spencer Grimes and his wife Lindsay Burn, will place it alongside their midcentury modern New Canaan home to serve as both a pool house and home office. The question remains: Will we see the Lilliputian confections popping up in a potato field near you?

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