Some people have a way of marrying the casual, natural look of the beach with eclectic objets. Meet lifestyle expert Martha McCully, my longtime friend and generous mentor, who graciously invited us in to her East Hampton home, where antique silver bowls, exquisite souvenirs and vibrant bottles govern the crisp white landscape. "I love to buy products when I travel, the packaging is like art to me," Martha says.
"Stepping into my bathroom is like entering another planet. I see all the beautiful colors and patterns. It all makes me happy."
"I bought Christofle wine coasters at an amazing sample sale years ago. Some of my friends bought entire sterling silver place settings for $20. The peony candles are from Floral Art in Venice, CA. I live there in the winter. I like to bring a lot of CA into EH."
Martha created this orange blossom fragrance for her Princeton classmates in honor of their 30-year reunion. She modeled it after Chanel No. 5, naming it Princeton No. 30.
"I got to design the label, so of course it looks just like Chanel, but instead of Paris it says New Jersey."
"The originals in the glass jars were best," Martha says of her Jo Malone bath oils. "I can’t stand anything synthetic smelling, I try for really natural, beautiful fragrances."
"Often after the beach, I just pour it on my hair and leave it overnight," Martha says of Catherine Memmi Les Basiques conditioner. "I have practically given up on shampoo, but can’t live without my conditioners."
"When I discovered Ortigia in London a couple of years ago, my beauty heart was reopened. [The scent] is really unique and it just makes me want more of it. The Moroccan tea cup was a gift with flowers, and I just held on to it. My Waterworks cabinet was a splurge. I think you can find them for about a tenth of the price now."
"Thuyen [Nguyen] is an amazing facialist and massage therapist. His La Don body wash fragrances are fantastic," Martha says. "I bought this Korres shower gel in Greece, love the jasmine. Love anything jasmine, actually."
La Don Spa. 382 Montauk Highway, Wainscott, NY; 631-604-6500, ladonspa@gmail.com
"Kaplan MD Cleanser is a really excellent cleanser. Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream is soothing and refreshing at the same time. Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm is the easiest lip color ever. I buy Labello lip balm in international airports and then order it online. I covet it. This Buddha is from Eric Hughes’ yard sale. I snagged it before it went on One Kings Lane."
"I went for basics, all white. I have to say I think this palette has stood up to my beauty trials and errors pretty well! Bleach helps, too. The white towels are Ralph Lauren. I met Stephen Webster at a photo auction and loved this photo instantly."
"Beautifully packaged products are the best souvenirs, because they really do bring back the trip. I’m obsessed with footed anythings. I love the shape. These silver ones are from eBay when I was procrastinating one day. The design of these Korres fragrance packages is incredible, especially on the products sold only in Greece."
