Neal Beckstedt Studio

If you were to sum up the interiors of New York designer Neal Beckstedt in one phrase, it might be “visually compelling yet utterly comfortable.” This living room in a contemporary beach house on Long Island’s South Shore exemplifies that signature style. An intriguing array of contemporary artworks, with an Alex Katz painting at center, surrounds a striking minimalist limestone fireplace of Beckstedt’s own design, which anchors the room. A pair of oversize bespoke sofas, crisply upholstered in a white linen with the slightest ruffle of a hem, sound a note of welcome, while an assortment of other furnishings, sleek combined with rustic, divert the eye in a pleasing way. The Josef Frank bentwood chair, the pair of vintage FK 6720 lounge chairs and the antique teak table were all 1stDibs finds. “The Frank chair makes a great contrast to the fireplace,” says Beckstedt. “Both are simplified forms of their respective categories, one more sculptural and one more hard-edged. Juxtaposed with the colorful art directly above, they create a moment that is fresh, clean and interesting.”