Since the Pool House was built in the 1920s, I drew inspiration from beachside hotels and classic changing huts from that era, while also weaving in the preppy, nostalgic feel of the Connecticut Beach Club where I spent my summers. I wanted it to be more than just a place to change - a stylish retreat for lounging during the day with a smoothie after a swim and effortlessly transitioning into an inviting spot for cocktails after a midnight dip. To make that transition seamless, I chose fabrics that feel fresh and playful in the daylight but take on a soft, romantic glow in the evening, like the striped Sanderson drapery with its subtle sheen.

Creating an experiential space with a sense of surprise was essential to me. I collaborated with a decorative painter to design trompe l'oeil draperies in the dressing rooms—they appear to be drawn back to reveal a dune-scape wallpaper by Isidore Leroy. My goal was to evoke the feeling of stepping into another world, almost like slipping through the wardrobe in The Chronicles of Narnia.