Ahhh... In the opening lines of Frank O?Hara?s 1958 poem ?A True Account of Talking to the Sun on Fire Island,? the sun implores the poet to get out of bed already, insisting it doesn?t have all day to wait around. The poet apologizes, explaining he had a late night, and the sun scoffs that most people wait on it to make an appearance, not the other way around.
This moment of magical realism illustrates the close relationship residents of Fire Island, New York, have with the elements?the sand, the ocean, and, yes, the sun?and the pull of the outdoors there. That same spirit is reflected in the oceanfront beach house of Britt-Louise Gilder, her husband Jamal, and their four children (aged 4 to 15).

The home?s deck is enclosed by an outer barrier and door for added privacy.
The entryway, with a Sawkille bench, green storage boxes from Swiss brand It Design, and hooks, which interior designer Alexandra Angle incorporated throughout the home.

The pool, flanked by Case Study #22 rope lounge chairs and ottomans designed by Hendrik Van Keppel & Taylor Green (left), and two bright-yellow chairs.

As a child, Gilder spent time visiting Fire Island, a narrow barrier isle off Long Island?s Atlantic coast, and returned as an adult when she sought a getaway outside New York City. She wanted to find a place she could get to quickly, that was near the ocean, and where no cars were allowed. That Gilder also had fa...