After dwelling and working in the Philippines and Hong Kong, lifestyle writer and entrepreneur Blue Carreon sought to move away from the frenetic pace of city life. He takes us on a tour of his cosy East Hampton abode

"I found my footing in Philippine Tatler,” says Blue Carreon when asked about the beginnings of his creative journey. “It was my first full-time job post-graduation; prior to that, I was contributing work on a freelance basis to various publications. When I came in as a staff writer, the magazine was still in its earliest stages. We were a small staff well-versed in multi-tasking and thinking on our feet. Necessity, after all, is the mother of invention—and boy, did we have to do a lot of inventing!”

Carreon rose through the ranks to become the publication’s features and style editor, eventually ending up at Asia Tatler’s head office (“They got wind of me leaving and extended a job offer so I could stay in the group.”) as style editor for Hong Kong Tatler. He later left Asia Tatler to serve as editor for other publications and to pursue other passions including writing his own book (Conversations: Up Close and Personal with Icons of Fashion, Interior Design, and Art, published in 2014) and launching his home décor and furnishings line, Blue Carreon Home. 

Tatler Asia
Above The foyer, where a stunning peacock takes centre stage

“My partner [Bruce Bromberg] and I had lived in Hong Kong for a decade and in Singapore for about two years,” Carreon shares. “Initially, we planned to settle down in Manila—Bruce had just retired, and I opened a store there. Then he changed his mind and got a job in New York, where he is from originally. We kept a small apartment in the city, but I found myself wanting more space, a garden, and easy access to a tennis court.” Their thoughts turned to the Hamptons, an area they loved to visit due to the beaches and the laid-back lifestyle. After looking from property to property, they decided on a home that was still under construction when they saw it for the very first time. As an advocate of home design, Carreon was eager to get to work in realising his vision of a dream home, stating, “I love staying at home and being surrounded by beautiful things, so it was important to me to have a nice one done according to my and my partner’s tastes.” 

Tatler Asia
Above Carreon with his beloved pet, Brighton

The structure is characterised by a spacious main floor that opens up to other common areas, with a large staircase leading to the upper and lower levels. Carreon went with a soft, soothing design scheme, opting for taupe, white, and grey, with bright blues and striking greens serving as welcome pops of colour. And while quite a bit of his furnishings and decorative pieces are purchased, he also has a multitude of items of his own design that were custom-made by craftsmen from the Philippines. There is art to be found in many nooks and crannies of the home, too (a Jeremiah Goodman print that holds a place of honour above the living room sofa celebrates Carreon’s friendship with the late artist); carefully chosen paintings and prints add character to the already charming spaces. 

Tatler Asia
Above The library with its Kelly green walls
Tatler Asia
Above Carreon's home office

One of Carreon’s favourite rooms is the library with its Kelly green walls and palm tree motif. Aside from being a cosy space to relax with a cup of tea and a good book, it is the stage for some of his most striking finds: a Curtis Jeré sculpture on the ceiling, a blue Jonathan Saunders rug, and a toy sheep he found at the New York gift show. His home office, too, is a whimsical space; its peacock blue walls, avian-theme décor, and ping-pong table top desk make for many a conversation piece. 

It is in the gardens, replete with bountiful flora and a gazebo by the pool, where Carreon finds himself most often these days. He leads a busy life (“I tend to my store and have several decorating projects lined up. I am also joining a few equestrian shows and tennis tournaments.”), and moments of respite can be hard to come by. He sought the expertise of landscape architect Mario Nievera, who helped  lay down the pea-gravel paths and hiding any visible pool paraphernalia. But the horticulture is Carreon’s handiwork: gardening has become a hobby now, and he loves that the Hamptons weather agrees with it. 

Tatler Asia
Above Carreon tends to the garden as a hobby

This East Hampton home is certainly paradise found for Blue Carreon, but there are times when he finds himself missing the hurly-burly of his old life. “I miss doing photoshoots and seeing my ideas come to life; I still get to do them every now and then, but it’s nothing like what I used to do,” he admits. “But I am happy and remain grateful for all the wonderful opportunities life has accorded me. I live somewhere where it is so beautiful no matter what time of year. I love that we can have the beaches to ourselves on certain days. And the light is incredible—no wonder the artists have loved it for so long.” 

Credits

Photography  

Doug Young