“I inherited the name, but there’s a nice ring to it,” Chris Benz says on the moniker associated with his Bellport, New York home. “’The Oaks’ is the name of the house. I don’t know if it’s the original name or when it got coined but there are a ton of beautiful oak trees on the property, so I like it.” In the last few years, there’s been a seasonal transition of sorts in Benz’s life: one from the world of designing clothes to his newfound passion (and profession) of creating dynamic and unique spaces.
After growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Benz studied at Parsons School of Design. Then, while working under the direction of Marc Jacobs, took home the CFDA Emerging Designer Award. All eyes were on Benz. From his namesake collection, which debuted in 2007, he caught the eye of the global fashion houses due to his unfussy approach to getting a woman dressed. He’s since expanded his repertoire to expand his design vision to toys, beauty, television and – most importantly – interiors.
Benz, who catapulted to fashion it-boy stardom in New York City, was recognized for this colorful and eclectic approach to American style. He interpreted fashion through his refreshed lens: designs infused with a carefree spirit that catered to the modern woman. It was pure sophistication infused with ease, and embedded within the DNA of his clothing was his ability to not take himself (or his clothes) too seriously. After all, he did dye his hair vibrant pink. To Benz, the move to interiors was a natural one.“
To me, it’s all the same. It’s all about texture and proportion and I approach a space in the same way I do clothing,” Benz remarks. “It’s additive and so much editing is involved. The thing I like about rooms versus clothes is that there’s a lot more physical and emotional weight to it. Committing to a couch is a big deal and there’s a formula to how many couches you need. And then, like any good outfit, I accessorize. To me, a room is an outfit, just with a different approach.” With his partner Peter Toumbekis, Benz purchased the Victorian shingle-style property (and the three acres of greenery) in 2017 as they continued the weekend commute to and from their Brooklyn townhouse, enjoying three-day weekends in their maximalist retreat out East. Eventually, in 2020, their weekend and summer abode turned into their permanent home. Here, Benz takes us inside his home and tells us about what makes the community so sacred, the benefits of a large dining (and working) table, and why the best pool parties always start at 10 PM. Dive in.
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GRAZIA USA: What do you love most about Bellport?
Chris Benz: For starters, it’s an hour away from Manhattan. And that’s why I think people are dubious about talking about it because it’s such an amazing getaway and you can be in the city in 60 minutes. The proximity is remarkable. The town is quite small; you blink and you’ve driven through it. It’s such a picturesque and nice place to be and it’s incredibly charming. In fact, it’s really a fetishized version of country living and there are so many creative types and artists who live here that it seems everyone is on the same page to keep it as authentic as possible. That, in my opinion, is what’s so special about this small town.
GRAZIA: And what about the community?
Benz: There isn’t a huge social scene. It’s all about farm stands and there are about two restaurants. It’s more about hopping around to people’s houses and in the summertime, it’s all about BBQ’s and pool parties. There’s this incredible Slim Aarons tongue-in-cheek quality to life here. We all seem to lean into the country aesthetic.
GRAZIA: Let’s talk a little bit about your home. It’s a maximalist’s dream!
BENZ: I moved in at the end of 2017. I bought this great home in Bed Stuy and renovated it and when I wanted to escape during the summer or on the weekends, I would come to Bellport. My boyfriend and I were looking everywhere for a home outside of NYC and I’m not afraid of a project or a big renovation. I grew up near the ocean so being near water was super important to me. Initially, we looked at a 1700’s English Country house that was around the corner from where I’m living now. It was a house that was way outside of our budget but I thought, Why not? Lt’s go take a look. The second we drove in, we knew it had to be ours and we’d have to figure out a way to make it work. It’s a big piece of property that is quite rare for the neighborhood and initially we only used it as a weekend out. We’d drive out and we’d dedicate a day to a certain task – painting the living room, working on the cabinets and so on. I realized I was so much happier when I was in Bellport and the drive to the city was so easy. We decided to sell our place in Bed Stuy and make Bellport our permanent home. We sold and closed within 30 days and here we are.
GRAZIA: What is it about the space that you find unique?
BENZ: Victorian farmhouse. It doesn’t have any big extensions added to the back or any crazy structural changes over the years. It’s very pure. The only thing that’s been added are some postmodern windows towards the back of the house that were done before my time but that’s something I can deal with. I love that it’s been preserved and in its original incarnation.
GRAZIA: Do you have a favorite part of the house?
BENZ: I like the dining room, which has also turned into my office during the daytime. I love working at a big table where I can spread all my stuff out. And now that I’m working on other people’s houses, I have so many strange swatches and tiles that I can spread out. The room is also so comfortable and it lets me be as creative in the space as I can. Each and every item in the house exists because it’s inspirational to me and has some beloved quality to it. Many of which I can see from this room.
GRAZIA: Everyone who has been to The Oaks leaves feeling something ineffable. It’s impossible not to. Do you want them to leave feeling a certain way?
BENZ: I want them to feel inspired and that they just walked into what I’ve always dreamed would be my fantasy of a country house. There are so many different versions of how country living can be interpreted, but I want people to respond to the fabrics and the textures.
GRAZIA: What’s the best compliment someone could give you about your space?
BENZ: It’s very comfortable. There is often a fuss about old houses and I don’t want anyone to feel like things are too precious. I want anyone to just plop down and feel totally comfortable.
GRAZIA: The gardens are remarkable. What’s the upkeep like?
BENZ: The nice thing is that everything is so old that I don’t have to do a lot. It’s a lot of self-sustaining and naturalizing. It’s more about maintenance. We have so many deer that every summer it’s like full on ‘deer assault.’ Our garden is like their salad bar; they just go for it. Every Spring and Summer I want to go wild with the nursery, but the deer will just have their way with it immediately. Little known fact: Deer love a tulip!
GRAZIA: What are the key ingredients to a Chris Benz pool party?
BENZ: Hmmm. A free-flowing serve-yourself bar. Loads of towels. I love having big baskets of towels. And, no hard outs. I always feel like the best pool parties start at 10 pm and that’s when everyone gets in the pool.
