Golden Calf
The epitome of a perfect country lane in the Hamptons, the appropriately named Bay Lane, in Water Mill, winds through farm fields right down to Mecox Bay. At least it did for a couple of hundred years. Now it winds through some typically expensive luxury homes and estates, right down to Mecox Bay, the epitome of a perfectly manicured, highly desirable, Hamptons residential street.
Architecture: Historically Bay Lane contained some old farmhouses and a few summer colony estates. So this 1920s shingled traditional house is both attractive on its own terms and contextually just right.
Site: Waterfront, on Calf Creek, a small estuary leading to Mecox Bay. The 2.74 acres are developed with the main house, creek-front guest cottage, pool and tennis court.
The inside word: A fine, old estate in an excellent location. It’s the sort of place where we could settle in for the summer and forget about the world outside. The price of $5.995 million is striving, but we expect the buyer of this property to be an aspiring, ambitious type who understands goal-oriented prices.
Curve Appeal
Styles are reflective of their times. We look at certain houses and can almost give the year of construction. Tastes change and styles change, but we don’t think it is necessarily a detriment for a house to be expressive of a period. Just the way smart people can make their own age seem like the best age to be, a house that was interesting to start with and maintains its integrity, will always be a sound choice.
Architecture: The clean lines express a Hamptons spin on the International style, popular here in the 1980s. A later addition followed the original lines. Driftwood color cedar siding, curved corners, a strong, wide fascia, pipe rails, and sliding doors and windows all speak to a particular time and place
Site: The south side of Surfside Drive in Bridgehampton runs along the beach. This property, across the street on the north, has some ocean views and easy access.
The inside word: In spite of the current vogue for shingles, there seems to be decided interest in big, boxy, beachy houses like this. We are always skeptical about real estate prices, and we are constantly proven to be too conservative. This property just went on the market for $3.45 million, and buyers are responding. It ought to sell quickly.
Bespoke Living
Even those of us who wear bespoke clothing and travel by private jet generally have to fit into existing houses and apartments. Few are lucky enough to be able to create an environment to their exact tastes, and fewer yet have the means, the time, the knowledge and the tenacity to do it on a large scale. We recently visited a major East Hampton estate that is the perfect expression of its owners.
Architecture: What started out as a typical 1950s modernistic structure has been rebuilt and greatly expanded. Original parts of the house have been juiced up, and the new parts, while quite different in style, have the correct balance.
Site: A lush, extraordinarily private two acres on Further Lane in East Hampton, with a serious waterfall feeding into a huge free form pool.
The inside word: The kitchen equipment might put some restaurants to shame. The screening room is almost too comfortable to stay awake for the movies. The master bedroom could be a generous sized New York apartment. The mechanical systems could power an office building. And it goes on and on. Offered at $11 million.
Got Milk?
The idea of living on a dairy farm in the Hamptons may at first sound a bit like recreating Marie Antoinette creating her milkmaid days. But this house on a former dairy farm in Bridgehampton has been restyled into a chic country cottage with outbuildings. No need to get up early and milk cows. And no need to worry about losing your head.
Architecture: Plain and simple late nineteenth century farmhouse, distinguished by its age and authenticity rather than any unusual features.
Site: One acre on Butter Lane, on the north side of Bridgehampton. Three small outbuildings add usable space and charm to the property.
The inside word: There is still farmland close by, but you have to imagine what the whole area was like before housing replaced the fields and farmhouses and barns and outbuildings. This property can help jog your imagination. We like the combination of a genuine old house redone for our time, with higher ceilings and an open floor plan. Offered at $1.695 million.