Bridgehampton designer Michael Aram, who also has homes in NYC’s West Village and New Dehli, India, brings a casual elegance to his East End cottage, which features an oversized courtyard and is built for simple, rustic entertaining. Michael spends his weekends out East with his husband and children, and wanted the cottage to be a true country oasis – as equally suited for an impromptu dinner party as an art lesson with his twins.

With pieces sourced from around the world, the electric, spiritual décor resembles his furniture designs, taking inspiration from India, Paris and even his home town of Westchester. The anchor of the kitchen is a re-purposed industrial table, doubling as the dining table, illuminated by an orange hanging lamp picked up at the Paris flea market. Each piece of art in the house was hand-picked by Michael and his husband, who wanted to make sure every aspect of the house had a personal connection.

Daytime in the Hamptons is best spent outside, not behind a stove. Michael Aram’s new dinnerware only looks delicate – most dishes are actually both microwave and dishwasher safe, which means less hassle and, even better, less clean up. If you’re staying with friends or family, show your appreciation with a scented candle, set of exquisite coasters or dramatic wine stopper, which all retail for under $100, from Michael Aram’s collection.

KDH chats with Michael about his favorite new tips and products for summer entertaining in his NEW KDHamptons Design Diary below:

KDHamptons: What are your favorite Michael Aram products for summer entertaining?

Michael Aram: My favorite pieces for summer entertaining are the large New Molten Platter to use for serving local oysters on ice, the Ocean Coral Caviar dish, the Brain Coral Bowl, which I use constantly for garden salads, and the New Molten Cake Server for serving to-die-for rhubarb raspberry pies from my favorite farm stand.

[Store Locations: New Molten Platter and New Molten Cake Server available at Loaves & Fishes Cookshop – Bridgehampton, Ocean Caviar Dish available at Rose Jewelers – Southampton, Brain Coral Bowl is available at London Jewelers – East Hampton]

KDHamptons: What is the most important DO and DON’T for Hamptons hosts?

Michael: Don’t over-invite guests to the point that you feel like a hotelier and end up more exhausted at the end of your vacation than before. Do try to keep things casual and elegant… and when you entertain, remember to keep it easy and stylish.

KDHamptons: What is the best host gift you have received from a guest?

Michael: A full lobster dinner hamper airlifted from Maine for the weekend.

KDHamptons: What is your #1 gift from your line that you bring when you attend a friend’s dinner party?

Michael: A Michael Aram Lemonwood Candle or the fabulous sea urchin platter from our new “MADHOUSE” line

[Lemonwood Candle available at Rose Jewelers – Southampton and MADHOUSE line is available at In Home – Sag Harbor]

KDHamptons: Share a dinner party disaster and how you came up with the solution?

Michael: Dinner guests arrived on the wrong night. Didn’t want to send them off or even make them feel awkward. Smiled, opened wine and scanned the pantry for go-to basics. I picked some greens from the garden and served a home grown salad, made a quick lemon risotto, and served my favorite mango chili lime sorbet – a constant at all times in the freezer along with Amaretti di Saronno cookies.

KDHamptons: How would you describe your home design and aesthetic?

Michael: I like things that have a sense of scale and I don’t like things which clutter. I like to keep space rather open, but collect art, objects and furniture that appeal to me and that I have found in a variety of countries. I generally like a neutral palate and use a lot of black in New York, but at the beach I like to play with color. The secret to my love of collecting but desire for eliminating clutter is that I have a large warehouse that I use for my company, but that I am forever storing things I buy in until the right time and place to use them arises.

KDHamptons: What is your favorite room/item in your Hamptons home?

Michael: I love my bedroom at the beach. I had linen curtains custom made in India which cover the entire wall and when pulled open, reveal an open view of the yard and farm beyond. When the curtains are drawn, there is just enough light coming in to let you know it is morning, but that cocoons enough to make you feel very enveloped.

For more information about Michael Aram, please go to: www.michaelaram.com

You can also shop his collection at In Home Inc., 132 Main Street in Sag Harbor.Prices of featured products above:

o New Molten Platter, Large – $239
o Ocean Coral Caviar Dish – $159
o Brain Coral Bowl – $225
o New Molten Cake Server – $69
o Lemonwood Candle – $60
o Sea Urchin Platter – $99