KDHamptons Design Diary: At-Home On Mecox Bay With SUITE NY Founder, Kris Fuchs

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A self-described “cowgirl in another life,” Kris Fuchs at her Water Mill home, Camp Fuchs, on Mecox Bay

 

 

 

Lifelong Hamptonite Kris Fuchs is the co-founder of SUITE NY, Manhattan’s leading modern and contemporary furniture and design showroom. After years of collecting mid-century modern furniture, Kris turned her passion into a thriving business eight years ago. Since then, SUITE NY has become the go-to spot for top architects and interior designers, and the company has worked on major projects including the New York Public Library, Lincoln Center, Alain Ducasse’s Benoit, and the apartments at the Gramercy, to name a few. She may be a powerful city slicker during the work week, but Kris could not be more happy, or at home, than when she is in the Hamptons at her beloved retreat, Camp Fuchs. SUITE NY has furnished many haute Hamptons homes — including Camp Fuchs, which is replete with sumptuous furnishings and art, and equally welcoming and cozy. We love this KDHamptons Design Diary of Kris’ gorgeous waterfront home on Mecox Bay in Water Mill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: How long have you been living in the Hamptons?

Kris Fuchs: I am actually a lifelong Hamptons girl. I grew up in Riverhead and moved to Southampton when I was 13 years old. My first job, at 16, was hostessing at the Driver’s Seat on Jobs Lane. I was a happy country bumpkin when I arrived on the Southampton scene in 1979, and I met the most interesting people—fascinating artists and movers and shakers. It opened me up to a world I never knew existed. I graduated from high school out here. In 1981, I moved to New York City, but will always be a local at heart.

 

 

 


Kris with her friend and SUITE NY partner, Maria Sepulveda (left)

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Can you share your inspiration for the design of your home?

Kris: I have resided on Mecox Bay in Water Mill for nearly twenty years. William Georgis was my interior designer when I moved in and I am still in love with the timeless interior. I wanted a dreamy contrast to my city life, with bold pops of color in every room. There are so many glass doors in the house, so the outside comes in, and the interiors magically go out. Color really represents my lifestyle on the East End. It’s warm and inviting—with zero black! Which is funny, for a New Yorker.

 

 

 

Kris shares, “My art collection is fun and playful. There is work by Sam Francis, Robert Rauschenberg, Jim Dine and Donald Bachelor and I love my my huge black snowman by Gary Hume.

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Please describe your ideal weekend for KDHamptons readers?

Kris: Anyone who knows me, knows that I never leave the house. I head east on Thursday nights, and by Exit 70 I’m a trail horse all the way home. I start each day with a fitness boot camp with the owner of AS One, who happens to be my boyfriend, then restorative yoga with my favorite yoga teacher of thirteen years Jessica Bellafatto, owner of Kama Deva. After my workout, we have a delicious lunch with friends made by Rick Sullivan, my private chef. The rest of the day is all about the poolside until sundown — then press play and repeat until Sunday night! To keep my family and house guests from leaving, I run the place like a Relais & Châteaux resort. Everything revolves around my guests and their comfort. I have a massage therapist on hand every Friday and Saturday.

 

 

 


The sunny entryway at Camp Fuchs

 

 

 

KDHamptons: You always have the most gorgeous floral arrangements and outdoor pots at your home, who is your green thumb?

Kris: Erin at Topiaire does the gorgeous herb gardens and succulents planters and Lilee Fell creates the floral arrangements. Everyone who visits my home knows how much I love it, and in turn they love it too.

 

 

 

Succulent plantings in a seashell by Topiaire Floral Boutique in Southampton

 

 

 

A pretty potted Herb garden for the porch by Topiaire

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What is your favorite time of day in the Hamptons?

Kris: The morning. My boyfriend, George Vafiades, and I watch the sun rise on the bay. I greet the new day with this wonderful human being, and it’s our quiet time to be together. Then we head downstairs to the happy chaos that awaits us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: How did you get into the design business?

Kris: Years ago I fell in love with design — the objects and iconic pieces and began to a collect, one piece at a time. I entered the design business in 2003 and opened my own business, SUITE NY in 2006, with best friend of thirty-one years, Maria Sepulveda. The design world has so many facets. Every day is interesting and stimulating and satisfies my creative side in so many ways.

 

 

 

KDHamptons: You have a deep emotional attachment to your house, why is that?

Kris: My daughters, Sage and Laura, have been in this house since they were four and two, and it has always been “family first” for me. We’d spend every summer in the Hamptons and come out every weekend in the off season—until boys entered the picture! I have not missed Thanksgiving in the Hamptons my entire life. Camp Fuchs has always been “that house” where all the kids’ friends come and stay, which is such a gift because I get to see, hear, and share in everything that goes on in their lives.

 

 

 

Cameron Beach

 

 

 

KDHamptons: Like every great summer camp, yours comes with lots of fun toys and activities for guests. What are the fan favorites?

Kris: We love to take my power boat over to the beach and then jump in for a swim, or kayak and canoe in the morning. Cameron beach A.K.A “The Cut,” in Bridgehampton is my favorite beach. On rainy days, I love jigsaw puzzles, 1,000 plus pieces! My favorite toy is a mint-condition 1967 turquoise Chevy pickup that was a gift from my best friend, Jennifer Miller [below]. Jennifer’s husband collects cars, and one day they parked it in front of my door and then jumped out from the bushes to surprise me.

 

 

 

Kris with best friend and fellow Hamptonite, jewelry designer Jennifer Miller

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What is you favorite Hamptons restaurant? Do you have a guilty pleasure foodwise?

Kris: My house is my favorite restaurant, typically we eat outside overlooking the bay. Tate’s bake shop is my guilty pleasure, hands down! We actually have a pie-eating contest at my house every weekend. On average, we eat about 20 pies a weekend. My favorite is a tie between Kathleen’s pecan and blueberry pies. Heaven! I work the opposite of a bear’s diet and happily gain my weight in the summer. Yoga helps burn off some of the pie calories. Jessica Bellofato of Kamadeva Yoga comes over in the mornings to lead Ashtanga classes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tate’s Bake Shop in Southampton

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What do you love most about what you do?

Kris: I love the synergy with the art, music, fashion and philanthropic worlds, how it all crosses over. There is so much talent out there and I love watching the creative process. Whether it someone who designs rugs, a new technique in furniture making or working with a real estate developer on a new project, every day is different.

 

 

 

The Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, a recent SUITE New York project

 

 

 

KDHamptons: What does the next phase of SUITE New York look like?

Kris: I love my work, and as much as I am devoted to my business, I can’t wait to retire and live in the Hamptons full time. I want to wake up here every day for the rest of my life, with my grandkids running on the lawn, and share this experience with them. So look for a Suite NY pop-up here next summer!

 

*Visit the SUITE NY website HERE