Best Design Picks In The Hamptons

Our Favorite Cool Things That Will Bring Cheer To Any Home

End the year on a high note with some of the best design offerings the Hamptons has to offer. From one-of-a-kind spice containers to bone China tea pots that are fit for high tea in the heart of a traditional British estate in the countryside. Take a tour of the East End with us as we scour some of our favorite stores for this year’s top picks for incredible finds for friends, family, and, yes, even ourselves. 

At Matriark, in Sag Harbor, the design-minded can find curated picks from women- and LGBTQI-owned brands from around the world. The store carries everything from clothing to bespoke beauty supplies to home goods. In the latter category, shoppers will find some of the Hamptons most unique finds, like KÓKILI’s tree story spice containers, a made-to-order set that can accommodate the most commonly used spices and that was awarded the coveted Bronze A’ Design Award in 2023. The six-piece set are meant to mimic the shape of tree canopies in different regions around the world. Bases are made from American walnut, white oak, cherry, beech, and yellowheart, and glass is lead-free. Although the lead-time on these can be long, as they are hand-made, gift-givers can send a note telling the story of their incredible provenance. 

Bridgehampton’s JANGEORGe Interiors & Furniture is a must-visit for the design obsessive who is inspired by a bit of classic taste. The retailer sells an astounding collection of beautiful and classic teapots in differing shapes and patterns: a 1.3-liter Dibbern bone China blue birds patterned pot, designed by Maik Hansen, or a 1.3-liter gold leaf pot, also Dibbern bone China, and designed by Bodo Sperlein. A festive, German-designed Santa Claus teapot is another unique choice for this year’s luxury holiday shopper. The retailer also sells bone China pot warmers, mugs, and more — everything you need to embrace the classic idealism of tea drinking at home. 

Hidden Gem, in Southampton, offers Hamptons-specific décor that you won’t find anywhere else. Owned by Tanya Willock and Temidra Willock-Morsch, both of whom were raised in the Hamptons, the store showcases original designs, fine arts, and textiles. Those who seek to bring a little bit of the East End’s marine culture into their home can look no further than Hidden Gem’s handmade Board Surf wall art. Made from wood and available in multiple colorways, the two-foot pieces of artwork replicate surfboards, themselves a symbol of the East End’s robust surfing scene. The boards can also be customized in larger sizes (the largest size available, a six-foot board, approximates the size of an actual surfboard) and can be made with gold leaf detailing.   

Finally, stop into Il Buco Vita, in Amagansett, for a stunning set of artist Antonello Radi’s ceramic radishes. Fashioned in the Marche, these pieces all differ. Hold them in your hand and decide which one is the right fit for your coffee table, kitchen counter, or breakfast nook. They are individual — and perfect — works of art that look almost good enough to eat. Almost.