Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1536611
Loewy drawer chest, an early-design George Nelson bench, four acrylic French swivel chairs, and a metal console from the '70s. Her art collection is also distinguished, with works by some of the 20th century's most celebrated artists, including Larry Poons, Alexander Calder, and Kiki Smith. Some pieces — such as the tall Poons canvas and Calder wall hanging — were discovered during client acquisitions. Others have more unexpected origins. "One of my favorites is a painting of Noah's Ark I found at the Epic Montauk Garage Sale for $9.99," she says. Despite her considered purchases, the space still felt incomplete. "I couldn't find anything else that felt right, so I started designing my own furniture for the house," she says. Her Montauk retreat became a testing ground, filled with prototypes that later went into production for the Rottet Collection. "The Float series came from the intense design effort focused on furnishing the house," she explains. The dining table, with its acrylic base, preserves views of Nelson's built-in storage, while a rattan settee and lounge chair nod to vintage McGuire designs. A tray table was already underway, but she refined it during her time in Montauk. Only later did she realize that everything she made for the house echoed its architecture — rounded edges and softened corners subtly reflecting the hexagonal structure. With its soaring shingled ceiling and panoramic views, the living room is where Rottet feels most connected to the house. "It's truly inspiring year-round," she says, though she especially cherishes the quieter off-season when summer crowds fade, the sun drops low, and shadows lengthen. In winter, when leaves have fallen and the view to the Sound reemerges, she begins her mornings with coffee, watching the sun rise over the water. By evening, the fireplace fills the room with flickering light, casting reflections on the Kiki Smith self-portrait, making the figure appear to move. "It's enchanting," Rottet says. Rottet had just finished reading Tomorrow's House, Nelson's 1945 book that redefined how postwar American families might live and helped introduce the very idea of the family room. His vision emphasized flexibility over formality — a space organized around daily activities rather than rigid functions. Built-in storage, movable furniture, and practical materials were central themes, all designed to serve comfort, function, and adaptability. The Montauk living room, with its enveloping geometry and sense of perpetual motion, may be exactly the kind of kinetic space Nelson envisioned — an ideal setting for gathering, where angles subtly draw people toward one another, and the energy is unmistakable. "We often end up dancing late at night," Rottet says. "People always say, 'I never dance,' but then they're twirling around the room." 40 Lauren Rottet designed the primary bedroom's cerused oak headboard. Artwork by Andrew Brischler. John Salibello vintage lamps, Rottet Collection nightstands. The powder bath's vintage light pendant is from John Salibello, Bridgehampton, NY. Andrew Holmquist painting from Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago.