Behind emphatically closed doors: peeking into celebrity houses
Quick descriptions of celebrity houses
Billy Joel
Lush setting on the double dunes of Further Lane. Huge house, renovated when Billy was married to Christie, has only two real bedrooms, the master and kid’s room. But separate guesthouse takes care of visitors. Oceanview music room with floor to ceiling cassettes and discs. The good ship Alexa is on the lawn.
Ron Perelman
On Georgica Pond and the largest estate in East Hampton Village. Built at the turn of the century by the Herters (Caruso sang here, Isadora Duncan danced here, in the private theater), later a hangout for artists when owned by Alphonso Ossorio (Jackson Pollock’s “Blue Poles” hung in the living room). But where else can the head of Revlon go when he leaves Lily Pond Lane (after divorce from Claudia Cohen)? Heavy security in place after kidnapping threat.
Martha Stewart
After fixing up the oldest house on Lily Pond Lane, she switched gears and bought a modern travertine classic overlooking Georgica Pond, the only residence designed by Gordon Bunshaft, guru of Skidmore Owens in their heyday of building skyscrapers in the international style. Bunshaft willed it to the Museum of Modern Art. Under the terms of the will they sold it but got to remove and keep the very important museum-quality outdoor sculpture collection, but had to repair the mess on the lawn prior to closing. Currently under renovation to make the crisp geometric marble edges even crisper—hey, this is Martha Stewart.
Steven Spielberg
One of the first Hollywood people in the Hamptons, literally led to his property by mentor, the late Steve Ross of Time-Warner, who lived nearby. “Quelle Barn,” his first house, was built on the site of the Georgica Pond teardown when he was married to Amy Irving. He’s since gobbled up neighboring lots and built additional structures (“Quelle Farm”) with lots of room for Kate, the many kids, and a few horses. The weathervane on the stables is in the shape of a dinosaur.
Larry Gagosian
Toad Hall, designed by Gwathmey-Siegel for Francois de Menil, then owned by Edgar Bronfman Jr. (during marriage to Sherry), then bought by Gagosian (after Bronfman divorce from Sherry). Superb modern architecture ideal setting for his considerable collection of contemporary art. Soignée screening room that makes any movie look good.
Calvin Klein
Kelly is in residence. Rambling shingle style house incorporating an old mill, totally renovated and expanded for the Kleins by noted French architect Thierry Despont. Spare and luxe inside. One of the very few properties with two gold coast frontages: the ocean on the one side and a cove of Georgica Pond (same cove as Spielberg) on the other. Quaint, picture perfect little boathouse on the cove.
Ralph Lauren
A pioneer in Montauk, he and Ricky bought one of the few really good modern houses there and brought it up to their lofty specifications. They tend to stay at home when in the Hamptons, and it’s not hard to understand why with that home. He’s sometimes spotted at his Polo Country Store on Main Street, East Hampton, chatting with customers and straightening the piles of shirts.
Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger
Started in a small house in Amagansett, then bought the 18th century homestead at Stony Hill Farm. North of the highway, it still has a country feel with farms and horses nearby. They kept the old house but added a movie star master bedroom (with his and a very large hers bathrooms) plus a screening room befitting an Oscar winner.
