One of East Hampton’s most notable landmarks, The Hedges Inn, is getting ready for a complete restoration that will blend history, elegance, and fresh design energy. Interior designer and author David Netto will lead the project, having been chosen by owner and CEO Sarah Wetenhall to reinvent the inn for a new era.
Netto is well-known in both the design world and the East End community. He creates interiors that balance classic structure with a modern touch. His work has been featured in Vogue, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, and Town & Country, where he writes the “Case Studies” column. He has written books on François Catroux, Stephen Sills, and Rosario Candela, and in 2023, he published a monograph that covers two decades of his work.
This collaboration is a significant moment for The Hedges, a 19th-century inn that has long been essential to East Hampton’s hospitality tradition. Wetenhall, who is known for revitalizing The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, described her approach as “an evolution, not a reinvention.”
“The Hedges is key to East Hampton’s identity,” Wetenhall said. “Our goal is to keep its spirit while updating it for today’s traveler — someone who is discerning, design-minded, and looking for a deeper connection to the place. I chose David for his rare skill in combining intellect, emotion, and aesthetics — traits that resonate with the essence of The Hedges.”
The redesign will include more than just the interiors. Landscape architect Ed Hollander will manage the redevelopment of the grounds and gardens, while FGS Designs and Fleetwood, McMullan and Sanabria will serve as project architects. Every part of the inn, from architectural features to guest experience, will be reevaluated with a focus on heritage and atmosphere.
For Netto, this project has personal significance. “I was thrilled when I learned Sarah had bought The Hedges Inn, one of the most visible landmarks in my hometown, and I was excited when I got the call to help make this place an even bigger part of life in the village,” he said. “She plans to make The Hedges and Swifty’s stylish, but still familiar; my goal is to design the rooms and enhance the building with warmth and atmosphere that makes everyone wonder why it wasn’t always like that.”
Construction is set to begin in the fall, and the inn is expected to reopen in spring 2026.