New York studio T W Ryan Architecture has renovated a black house in the Long Island beach town of Montauk, using pale finishes inside to contrast the dark exterior of the gabled forms.

Surf House comprises a couple of connected pitched-roof volumes on a sandy lot in Ditch Plains ? a famous surf spot in Montauk ? and spans 1,905 square feet (177 square metres). Two rows of houses separate the project from the beach.

T W Ryan Architecture gutted and transformed the home for a young family, originally from coastal Ireland and now based in New York City's West Village.

The studio retained much of the exterior, but altered the layout ? initially a garage in the lower gabled section and three small rooms squeezed into the top of the two-storey portion.
A new wrapping stairwell housed inside a small extension now leads up to the upper floor, where the main living areas are located. Below are three bedrooms and a large bathroom, complete with an outdoor shower.

"The new stair location allowed space for a new entry hall, indoor/outdoor bathroom, and for the garage to be converted into a bedroom," studio founder Thomas W Ryan told Dezeen.

Upstairs is a sitting area with a wood-burning fireplace and a powder room. A kitchen and dining table are situated on the opposite end, with an uncovered terrace adjacent.

"The rabbit-warren of rooms on the top floor was completely opened up, exposing the structure and opening toward the beach with a new series of slidi...