Sitting at the iconic curve where Woods Lane meets Main Street at 74 James Lane, The Hedges historic 1873 property has always been known for its timeless charm and longstanding presence in the heart of East Hampton.
Now, after undergoing a full-scale renovation led by designer David Netto and owner Sarah Wetenhall, The Hedges is stepping into a new era. Reopening its doors to the public last month, the hotel is showing off a redesign that blends nostalgic East Hampton charm with regionally inspired interiors.
In addition to the refreshed spaces, the beloved restaurant Swifty’s, originally revived by Wetenhall at Palm Beach’s Colony Hotel, is back for another year bringing its signature dining experience to the newly transformed property.
For Netto, the redesign was deeply tied to Wetenhall’s ability to revive historic hospitality destinations while still preserving their identity. “Sarah has an incredible record of delivering sense of place in her hotel projects,” he says. “Before her, The Colony Hotel was basically asleep and no one knew what it could be, and now, it’s impossible to imagine Palm Beach without it. The vision for The Hedges was to deliver that to East Hampton.”
Inspired by the area’s rich history and relaxed beachy atmosphere, the redesign integrates colorful interiors and vintage-inspired details, giving the historic property a familiar yet entirely fresh feel. When discussing the inspiration for the design, Netto says, “We wanted to give East Hampton something it never had before, in the form of a chic inn, but that looked like it was always there. How we did that was with lots of happy colors, old quilts, carefully collected art and personal objects, and an unrelenting commitment to being regional in the style of the decorating.”
Audrey Glass
