In the Swim

At her Montauk getaway, designer Nina Freudenberger crafts a winning mix of eclectic furnishings and beachy vibes

- DAVID FOXLEY

Nina Freudenberger was high up in the Italian Alps, photographing a project for her 2023 book, when her husband, Mike Larocca, phoned to say he had found their dream summer house on the far East End of Long Island. “Just go for it,” the Los Angeles-based interior designer remembers telling him. The property that Larocca, a film and television producer and self-described “King of Zillow,” had discovered was indeed a rare find: a contemporary residence on the shore of Lake Montauk. Given Freudenberger’s expertise in transforming everything from ski chalets to surf shacks, the project felt destined to be.

Five bedrooms and eight baths in total, the residence features a massive lawn rolling toward the water’s edge—an anachronism that would not be permitted today. With two young sons, that green space was a key draw. The location was another for the couple, who keep a boat nearby, enjoy surfing and fishing, and like sipping mudslides, the local tipple. “There’s something about the authenticity of Montauk that is so remarkable to me,” explains Freudenberger, citing the enclave’s maritime industry, artistic legacy, and Native American history.

1. BUILT-IN SOFAS FACE OFF ACROSS THE LIVING ROOM; SCONCES AND CEILING LIGHTS BY ALLIED MAKER.