Paul Smith has brought his distinctive eye for color and pattern to Shelter Island, reimagining the Sunset Beach Hotel for a summer residency that runs through the end of June. The British designer has infused the property with his signature eclecticism, from the lobby’s curated book selection to the guest room textiles.
Shelter Island occupies a particular position in the Hamptons ecosystem — quieter than Montauk, more relaxed than Southampton, and beloved by a creative set that values discretion over display. Smith’s intervention respects that character while adding layers of cultural programming.
The residency runs through the remainder of June, with potential for extension. For New Yorkers escaping the city’s rising summer temperatures, Paul Smith’s Sunset Beach offers a British-accented alternative to the Hamptons’ usual rhythms.
The Shelter Island residency follows a pattern of hospitality collaborations that Smith has refined over the years — he has previously taken over the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux and Villa La Coste in Provence, each time applying his design philosophy to the context of a specific place.
The intervention is comprehensive: Smith has redesigned the hotel’s public spaces, introduced a rotating art program featuring emerging British artists, and collaborated on a limited-edition capsule of resort-ready pieces exclusive to the hotel boutique. The result is less a brand activation than a total environment.
