In fashion circles, Maria McManus is known for refined tailoring and environmentally conscious luxury pieces. In Montauk circles, she’s known for throwing a memorable summer dinner party. After years of seasonal pilgrimages, the Dublin-born, New York-based designer put down roots out East in 2012, embarking on an ambitious renovation that transformed a double A-Frame house into a sleek, airy beach haven. “We bring everyone together: kids, adults, grandparents, all around our oversized outdoor table,” McManus says. “I try to emulate that casual feeling back in the city.” As the designer settles in for a summer of long outdoor evenings, she shared a few of her favorite aspects of Hamptons life with CULTURED.
CULTURED: Describe your perfect day in the Hamptons.
Maria McManus: Irish tea on our back deck listening to the ocean, followed by a beach walk. Family lunch at Carissa’s (this would likely include their vegetarian reuben sandwich and hibiscus iced tea). A walk through LongHouse Reserve. I love to see the seasonal changes in each of the gardens there. My husband is a really great cook, so the day would end with a homemade meal surrounded by local friends.
CULTURED: Tell us about your Hamptons uniform.
McManus: I’m always reaching for our A-Line Shirt in either Portuguese organic linen or cotton, depending on the day. It pairs perfectly with our Bow Leg Jean, crafted from organic Japanese denim that’s perfect for the summer months, and a pair of Birkenstocks.
CULTURED: What do you do to feel grounded?
McManus: Gardening, or walking by the ocean.
CULTURED: Tell us about your home and the renovation. What are the pieces that mean the most to you there?
McManus: We bought our house almost 12 years ago when our second daughter was a tiny baby. We wanted to move beyond summer rentals. I love a renovation—my husband and I have done many together over the years. We came across a double A-Frame house in Ditch Plains, built in 1982, and we saw the potential right away. It had lots of lovely original charm—a spiral staircase, an oversized hallway—but not quite right for a beach house. We worked with our old friend and incredible architect Thomas Ryan on the redesign, which was a collaborative process from start to finish.
We took inspiration from the Herzog & de Meuron Parrish Museum and kept materials simple: whitewashed wood, concrete floors, unpolished brass, and lots of large windows to bring in natural light. The staircase is particularly special; it has a large picture window at the bottom and a beautiful skylight at the top. One of my favorite details is the unpolished brass handrail, which was custom-made by a metal worker here in the Hamptons. When we furnished the house, we only sourced vintage pieces like the Percival Lafer Sofa and a 1970s green marble coffee table. If vintage didn’t work, we looked to incredible local designers, like Sawkille Co., who created our walnut dining table.
CULTURED: What’s your greatest seasonal indulgence while in the Hamptons?
McManus: A boat trip to Shelter Island with my girlfriends.
CULTURED: What are your rituals for more sustainable living? Any specific to the Hamptons?
McManus: We drive an electric car out East or take the train. Having a back garden is such a novelty—we compost everything here. I love the summer months here because the bees, butterflies, and birds have finally returned. The entire garden is drought-resistant or native plants, and we use no pesticides, weed killers, or fertilizers. We are also trying to maintain plastic-free bathrooms using brands like Vintner’s Daughter skincare, Blueland cleaning products, Sándor Earth haircare, and Singular Care toothbrushes.
CULTURED: How does your life in the Hamptons inspire your city life? Vice-versa?
McManus: We cook for friends a lot out here. We bring everyone together: kids, adults, grandparents, all around our oversized outdoor table. I try to emulate that casual feeling back in the city when we host dinner parties.
CULTURED: How does your life in the Hamptons inspire your collections?
McManus: Being in Montauk brings an ease and casual feel to the collections. Simple silhouettes in natural materials mirror the relaxed nature of life out here. I’ve also learned the importance of playing with layering and how this level of functionality can still feel well-designed.
CULTURED: What are your favorite spots out East—shops, restaurants, etc.?
McManus: Valentina Akerman has a gorgeous eye, so we always stop by Galerie Sardine. My friend Sheila Bouttier of Galerie Provenance shows her collection of European midcentury design furniture in Bridgehampton every summer, which is always something to look forward to. The Crow’s Nest has a solid policy where they seat locals first, so we have many a family dinner there. Balsam Farms has a gorgeous farm stand in Montauk where we get all our produce. The Cowboy Candy pickles are a family favorite. For shopping, Amagansett is the greatest. Love Eats for food, Love Adorned for gifts, La Garçonne for clothes, E-E Home for beautiful homeware, Nellie’s for vintage, and Missi for the most incredible bouquets.
in your life?
