Some people just cook, and then there are people who make cooking feel like an entire lifestyle. Ina Garten, the woman behind the popular Barefoot Contessa cookbook series and Food Network show, has always been both.But beyond the roast chickens and perfectly poured cocktails, she does something else extraordinarily well. She makes a home feel like somewhere one would genuinely want to be. Her space is warm without being fussy, elegant without being cold. Welcoming without looking messy.Ina has been quietly building one of the most admired homes in the Hamptons for decades. Her East Hampton property, including the famous cedar-clad “barn” she uses as a studio, designed by architect Frank Greenwald and styled by interior designer Robert Stilin, has become like a reference point for anyone who loves uncluttered, neutral, and genuinely beautiful interiors. The kind of home where everything has been chosen with intention, and nothing is there just to look good.
Ina Garten (Photo: YouTube)
Here are some decor inspirations to borrow from Ina Garten’s home
Build your home around a neutral, earthy palette
Ina’s spaces never feel stark or cold, even though they are painted and designed heavily on neutrals. The entire aesthetic of her home is elegant and welcoming and non-monotonous, with warm neutrals, bright whites, and cozy natural materials.Her kitchen decor includes a neutral palette of soft grays, whites, and creams that create a calming, coastal backdrop with pops of blue appearing in her iconic striped dish towels, pottery, and kitchen accessories.
Let open shelving do the decorating
One of the most instantly recognisable features of Ina’s kitchen is the storage, and it’s one of her most inspirational ideas. Ina shared on her recent Instagram post, “I love working in a kitchen with beautiful things, but I hate anything that’s purely decorative. If you display dishes and trays that you actually use and love, your kitchen just feels alive.” Her shelves hold ceramic pitchers, copper pans, cookbooks, and glass cake stands, all things she actually reaches for.
Mix old and new with your choice
Ina has a very specific philosophy when it comes to putting a room together; she doesn’t chase trends, she mixes eras. She suggests mixing old and new items, varying the heights and sizes of objects, and sticking to a small colour palette when styling shelves, which is visible throughout her home in antique saucers placed along with contemporary ceramic plates. According to Dinner Party and Cookery podcast host Suzy, as quoted by Rent.com, “Ina enjoys blending vintage elements with modern touches, pieces that tell a story, whether it’s a cherished cookbook, a family heirloom, or a piece of art add character and make the kitchen feel truly special.“
Take the Belgian barn design for your exterior
The outside of a home sets the tone before anyone steps through the door, and Ina’s Belgian-inspired barn is a masterclass in understated exterior style. The barn has an exterior cedar cover left natural, allowing it to age to a silvery grey. Side by side is a large A-frame roof, exposed rafters, and eclectic Belgian and French farmhouse touches in the decor and furniture. According to Ina, speaking to The Cut, she was inspired by Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Belgian style when designing the barn, “I spent a lot of time in Belgium.” The barn was designed by architect Frank Greenwald, with interiors by Robert Stilin.
