Paola Lenti, the acclaimed Italian furniture brand, is set to transform LongHouse Reserve with its contemporary designs in June. During this event, visitors will be invited to view a collection of over 100 pieces of innovative furniture, carefully organized into five distinct areas throughout the 16-acre garden.
Events like this are part of what makes LongHouse Reserve such an attractive destination in the East Hamptons. Founded by artist and textile designer Jack Lenor Larson, the Reserve is known for its displays of art and culture set in a natural vista rich with history. The thoughtfully designed landscapes and diverse art and sculpture collections are open to the public.
The Paola Lenti exhibition will feature a selection of armchairs, sofas, poufs, tables, and parasol umbrellas. These pieces, made from natural woods and rich textures, boast weather-resistant fabrics and eco-friendly fibers. The exhibition marks Paola Lenti’s 30th anniversary.
“LongHouse is a union of art and nature, with a mission to inspire living with art in all forms,” says Carrie Rebora Barratt, the director of LongHouse Reserve. “Our collaboration with Paola Lenti is a true fulfillment of that mission.”
“My sister Anna Lenti and I had the honor and pleasure, a few years ago, of meeting Jack Lenor Larsen,” says Lenti. “A sincere understanding immediately formed between us, based on a common vision of nature, its importance for humans, the benefit derived from enjoying art in all its expressions, and the role of craftsmanship as a privileged means to give soul to things.”
Visitors will encounter the warm tones of Kaba, Orlando, Harbour, and Vespucci sofas in the Pavilion and Breezeway areas, enhanced by the orange-bordeaux accents of Telar armchairs and Maglia Rasata cushions. The Giro table tops, crafted from chosen woods, complement these furnishings.
On the exclusive first-floor terrace, a spectrum of green defines a space with a strong personality. Ami armchairs in the new Moss fabric, Tobit poufs, and Giro and Strap tables furnish the lounge area, separating two symmetrical dining spaces. Sunset tables with sassafra wood tops and Telar chairs woven in turquoise-green Rope belts complete the setting.
Outside, Lenti’s designs create inviting formal spaces—Otto poufs and Telar armchairs in shades of green surround the pool, offering a relaxed atmosphere. Near the large pond, more Telar armchairs in vibrant yellow, fuchsia, and orange harmonize with the natural surroundings. Under the Fly’s Eye Dome, designed by Buckminster Fuller, various Otto poufs punctuate the lawn with shades of blue, cyclamen, and purple.
“Paola Lenti is a master of color who took inspiration from LongHouse’s habitat to curate the palette for the exhibition,” says Barratt. “The spaces will offer LongHouse visitors a very special respite from the summer sun.”
Larsen designed LongHouse Reserve’s gardens, which present the landscape as an art form. Larsen’s vision for the property, inspired by the Shine shrine at Ise, Japan, includes majestic cryptomerias, established lawns, and ornamental borders. These elements provide a serene backdrop for Lenti’s contemporary furnishings.
This collaboration between Paola Lenti and LongHouse Reserve exemplifies a union of art and nature. Visitors can look forward to experiencing a unique blend of innovative design and natural beauty, reflecting the shared vision of Larsen and Lenti.
