Produced by Steed Hale / Written by Jonna Gallo Weppler

When you consider how many irons Brad Ford has in the fire, it’s easy to wonder if the man ever sleeps. The Fashion Institute of Technology grad runs a busy interior design practice, Brad Ford ID, that works with clients in New York City, the Hudson Valley, the Hamptons, and beyond. He’s also the brains behind a Manhattan furniture showroom called FAIR (fair-design.com) which represents a significant number of Hudson Valley makers, among others from around the world. And then consider Field + Supply, his au courant take on the arts and crafts fairs of yore held in Kingston every spring and fall. Yet with all this going on, Ford isn’t too busy to make a full-size mockup of a light fixture with sticks, strings, and an inflated balloon and have it hung to make sure the scale and height fit exactly right.

Ford’s aesthetic, shown to perfection in this built-from-the-ground-up Hamptons house designed by architect James Merrell, is best described as modern and uncrowded but never cold or off-putting. “We worked on this home for close to two years,” recalls Ford. “I helped consult on all the finishes and furniture. The homeowner has incredible taste and is very decisive which to me always makes for a more successful project.”

It certainly helped that the clients own a fantastic art collection. The architecture and landscape are equally beautiful. “Because of this, I wanted to create a neutral backdrop with understated furnishings so that the interior didn’t compete with the other elements of the house,” says Ford. In other words, he wanted to make sure his choices would clearly accentuate the architecture and stunning views rather than clash with them.

Much of the furniture—including picks from HV-based makers Casey Dzierlenga (Salt Point), Michele Quan (Saugerties), and Fern (Hudson)—was sourced from Ford’s FAIR showroom. He curated everything to harmonize with the lush scenery outside the house, which is prominent thanks to expansive windows everywhere you look. “There’s a sophisticated earthiness to a lot of the furnishings we used,” Ford points out.

Appreciating gorgeous greenery is second nature to Ford, who grew up in Arkansas but bought a house years ago in Accord. “I fell in love with the lush landscapes of the Hudson Valley,” he says. “The mountains, rivers, woods and other natural resources—they all remind me of home.”

When space, light, and color are perfectly balanced, the effect is timeless rather than period specific.

Focusing on a sophisticated mix of natural textures and materials is quintessential Brad Ford.