The 2003 romantic comedy "Something's Got to Give" featured Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Frances McDormand, and Keanu Reeves. But for many people, the real star of the film was the sprawling Long Island beach house that provided the backdrop for much of the action. Its warmth and tranquility earned that house a fan base all its own. Kim Hugo was one of the many people who fell in love with the house.

The foyer of Kim and Jay Hugo's home is furnished with Mitchell Gold for Storehouse chairs. The blue and sand colors are repeated throughout the interior. Painting by Kathleen Markowitz.

"That's my wife's favorite movie," says Jay Hugo. It's no surprise, then, that the Hugos' house near the University of Richmond reflects the best elements of Hamptons chic.

Not that the house has that much in common with the Vera Hagen-designed movie set. Built in the 1920s, the house's past is a bit checkered. Had it been a frat house? No one is entirely sure. But given the house's oversized rooms, it's not hard to imagine rowdy groups of singing fraternity men gathering in the kitchen for a late-night snack.

While the house's former history may be cloudy, one thing was perfectly clear. The house, which the couple acquired in 2003, hadn't seen any major work in 30 years. The whole house needed attention.

That's where Jay and Kim Hugo's talents came into play.

Jay, an Ashland native, is a landscape architect, a registered architect, and an interior designer. A partner in the prestigious firm 3north, he's also a principal in Grace Street Home Additions, specializing in turnkey home expansion projects. He needed all of his training to turn the house into the serene and tranquil refuge he and Kim -- a lawyer and former medical student and an active volunteer with the Fan Free Clinic -- had in mind.

The third-floor master bath had functioned as both bathroom and laundry space. Relocating the laundry allowed them expand the bath. To get adequate storage space, they co-opted several smaller spaces to create a larger master closet. They opened the attic stairway to make the third floor friendlier and more accessible.

ABOVE: The kitchen epitomizes casual elegance. Bar stools by Maine Cottage. Schumacher linen fabric on windows. Countertops are Absolute Black honed granite. Restoration Hardware pendant lights. RIGHT: The backsplash is Tiberon Tileworks by Walker Zanger subway tile, which has a crackle finish. Gas stove by Viking.

Working their way down, the couple eventually turned their attention to the kitchen.

The kitchen presented a towering challenge. "It was pure vintage 1970's, complete with yellow ochre tones and wood grain plastic laminate," Jay recalls. "And there was a real disconnect between the kitchen and the dining room." The separation of the traditional breakfast area from the formal dining space just didn't speak to the couple's idea of casual elegance. To borrow a phrase from the movie, something had to give.

Jay was lucky. The kitchen's oversized proportions gave him a little wiggle room. "In older homes, you often have to shoehorn [kitchen upgrades] in," he says. "We had a gracious footprint to work with."

New glass-paneled pocket doors can close off the kitchen (when they must), and now the dining area works for both formal and informal events. When the pocket doors are open, light pours through the original windows, illuminating the entire house. "It was one of the things that attracted us to the house," says Jay, speaking of the tall craftsman windows. "The play of light is incredible." Matchstick shades make the most of the light.

The original floors are stained a dark shade, which gives them great warmth. "The general idea was to keep things quiet and simple, to run with the original palette of materials" -- neutral sands, calming shades of white, with the occasional touch of blue.

The gardens and grounds reflect Kim's influence in the project. "She's done a ton of work in the yard," Jay says, "amending the soil, choosing plants, digging them in." Horticultural expertise runs in the family: Jay's mother is noted plant expert Nancy Ross Hugo.

In the finest tradition of beach retreats everywhere, Jay and Kim's house is inviting and warm, airy and serene, despite the best efforts of the rest of the Hugo clan -- Adam, 10, David, 8, and Grace, 3. The house simply works that well.

Now that the work is done, what do Jay and Kim think about their updated urban beach house?

"We just love it."

RIGHT: The new kitchen has a vintage mood that fits the 1920s house. Cabinets by J.M. Custom Cabinetry. BELOW: The family room must hold up to the activities of five people. The sectional sofa is from Restoration Hardware. Mitchell Gold chair upholstered in Lulu DK stripe fabric. Rug from Crate & Barrel. Linen draperies match the wall color.