Gideon Mendelson: A Peek Into The Award-Winning Interior Designer’s Sagaponack Home

Nothing is more enjoyable for design enthusiasts than touring the homes of interior designers. To see how they adorn their homes in the Hamptons gives us a glimpse into their true selves and how they prefer to live — thus giving giving us clues into how we can elevate our own homes. One of our favorite design gurus is Gideon Mendelson, the namesake of the Mendelson Group and we get to peek into his Sagaponack home that his family uses as a weekend retreat.

Few understand how to combine textures and compelling tones quite like Mendelson while retaining a sense that the design feels historic in discipline. Every room in Mendelson’s home is traditional and deeply layered in pieces that “sparked joy.” In the corner of the vaulted-ceiling and sky-blue hued living room, the dark wood floors are lightened with a neutral Stark rug. A wingback chair that was found on 1st Dibs was reupholstered with a hand-woven ikat pattern from Birmingham Fabrics. Minimalist art by Brooklyn-based artist, Tara Donovan, brings a carefree ruffle to the otherwise classical room.

Mendelson has young children and we can imagine meals in his enchanting breakfast corner. Rich with natural tones, dark floors and whimsical art on the walls, the arched bay window casts the glow of natural light onto the solid wood frame Lorin Marsh chairs with French caning that surrounds the Holly Hunt dining table. The breezy Rogers and Goffigan cafe curtains subtly accentuate the mid-century-modern inspired custom David Weeks pendant by leaving the top of the windows bare, like the frame of a painting. The main drapery called “Reverse Tile” in lapis on lotus in natural linen by Galbraith & Paul, continues the whimsical touch.

Nothing has been quite as elevated as the home office post-pandemic. Like the sun emerging from a stormy sky, the sputnik-inspired pendant is a show stopper from Downtown20. The angled walls are striped with light blue, eggshell white, and chestnut wall paper by Romo Fabrics stop at built-in storage cabinets topped with baby-blue tufted cushions that double as seating. Light blue accessories found on The End Of History add a contrast to the dark armed wood chairs picked up from 1st Dibs.

The home’s library also has multi-angled walls with a more traditional take in design. Rounded rooms give Mendelson an opportunity to incorporate interesting pieces like the custom benches he designed that surround the round Lee Jofa table seamlessly. Again, the notable pendant lamp by Remains centered in the octagonal ceiling papered by a subtle pattern by Osborne & Little. Pops of orange of the patterned cushions connect the room with the color of the back wall of the bookcases. Classic Circa bookcase lighting accentuate the purpose of the room, the books.

When a family hosts multiple children, the mud room becomes an important facet of any home. Mendelson’s pays homage to the local nautical mood with cream shiplap, in lieu of wainscoting, topped by a a map of the East End. The charming striped cushion by Zoffany has probably helped many a child tie their shoelaces and is topped by Quadrille pillows. The aluminum cage pendant with clear glass by Remains seems as if it came off a vintage ocean liner.

All of Mendelson’s work is the beautiful layering of unexpected color, material and texture. The family room again utilizes blue-toned walls and ceiling. The reverse sunken ceiling showcases a pendant lamp whose brass-edged detail is incorporated with matching-colored painted lines within the indent of the ceiling. It almost appears like in-laid brass and is reminiscent of vintage stained glass design. The Mecox Gardens floor lamp grounds the ethereal room.

The traditional yet overstuffed MBM sofa with fabric by Rogers and Goffigan and ottoman invites all to enjoy the sunshine streaming in behind them. The stately floor-to-ceiling drapes are also by Rogers and Goffigan.

Award-winning Mendelson owes a lot of his design genius to his late mother, also an interior designer. He studied architecture but the tug was there and after graduating from Columbia University, he founded the Mendelson Group in 2003. It’s in the blood, and we’re grateful for it.

To learn more about Gideon Mendelson, visit www.mendelsongroupinc.com.

Ty Wenzel

Co-Publisher & Contributor

Ty Wenzel, a recent breast cancer survivor, started her career as a fashion coordinator for Bloomingdale’s followed by fashion editor for Cosmopolitan Magazine. She was also a writer for countless publications, including having published a memoir (St. Martin's Press) and written features for The New York Times. She is an award-winning writer and designer who covers lifestyle, real estate, architecture and interiors for James Lane Post. She previously worked as a writer and marketing director for The Independent. She has won multiple PCLI and NYPA awards for journalism, social media and design, including best website design and best magazine for James Lane Post, which she co-founded in 2020. Wenzel is also a co-founder of the meditation app for kids, DreamyKid, and the Hamptons social media agency, TWM Hamptons Social Media.