Home Studios utilises reclaimed timber for Montauk restaurant renovation

Dan Howarth | 23 September 2023 Leave a comment

Brooklyn-based Home Studios has renovated a bar and restaurant in Montauk, using materials like white-washed plaster, glazed tiles and reclaimed timber for a "deliberately minimal approach".

Formerly known as Bird on the Roof, the establishment reopened as The Bird earlier this year with refreshed interiors by Home Studios.

Bar area with wood cladding behind the counter and red brick flooring — The bar and restaurant areas at The Bird are connected through a cased opening

The space is run by the team behind the Daunt's Albatross motel, located across the street, which Home Studios overhauled the previous year. The menu was created by chef Marcos Martinez Perez and a beverage programme by Sophia Depasquale.

"[The clients'] intent was to celebrate the legacy of a 40-year-old adored Montauk establishment, imbuing a familial sense of warmth and hospitality threaded throughout the experience and the design," said the team.

Reclaimed wood back bar and white-tiled counter front — Reclaimed timber clads the back bar, while white tiles cover the front of the counter

"The aim of the space is to capture the spirit of old Montauk, providing a welcoming home-away-from-home for both visitors and locals to gather at any hour and any season."

Located in the town centre, the A-frame building that houses the restaurant has a white bird painted on the side of its roof – hence the original name.

Bar area viewed through cased opening surrounded by blue tiles — Red brick flooring is laid in a basketweave bond in the bar

The interior is divided in two, with the bar area on one side and the restaurant on the other, connected through a cased opening.

A muted colour palette across the spaces echoes that used at Daunt's Albatross and is based on the natural coastal surroundings.

Dining room with wooden furniture on the left and yellow banquettes to the right — A similar muted palette continues into the dining room

Home Studios describes it as "a spectrum of whites, warm grays, browns, faded yellows, rusts and ocean blues".

In the bar area, red bricks are laid in a basketweave pattern across the floor, and the russet hue is continued by the leather that covers the built-in seating and stool tops.

Blue tapestries hang above wooden tables and chairs

Flooring shifts to reclaimed timber in the dining area, where banquette cushions are upholstered in yellow fabric and the accompanying vintage chairs are all slightly different designs.

"The restaurant includes a deliberately minimal approach to furniture, lighting and decor, which allows the materiality to shine on its own," said Home Studios.

Large banquette below a window — Blue-grey glazed ceramic tiles surround the window and door frames

Blue-grey glazed ceramic tiles surround the window and door frames, while thin white tiles wrap the front of the bar counter.

The same white tiling is found in the bathroom, accessed via a powder-blue door, but with red grouting for a more contemporary twist.

Both The Bird and Daunt's Albatross are run by third-generation proprietor Leo Daunt and his sister Zoe, who grew up in the town and wanted to return both properties to their former glory while retaining their neighbourhood feel.

"Open year round and transforming with the seasons, [The Bird] will proudly continue its legacy as a community staple – and true Montauk landmark," said the team.

Two-top tables along a bench seat — Wooden dining chairs that accompany the two-top tables are all slightly different designs

Situated at the eastern tip of Long Island, Montauk is a popular summer getaway for New Yorkers that offers a more affordable alternative to the Hamptons nearby.

However, it's not without its fair share of expansive beach houses, with a grey wood-clad home by Desciencelab and a residence topped with a swimming pool by Bates Masi as examples.