Un petit peu de Cap D’Antibes
A swan song for the Hamptons? We don’t know why Denise Rich has listed Swan’s Way, her Southampton estate. The property is extraordinary—but so is Denise and we hope she is not planning to leave the Hamptons. . We‘re sure she could not be thinking about trading up because there is no place to go that is more fabulous.
Architecture: Symmetry, pastel stucco and the repetition of French doors give this a European feel. It could fit in gracefully among the estates at Cap D’Antibes, just as it does in Southampton.
Site: Almost six acres composed of two lots, fronting on Cooper’s Neck Pond and across the street from the ocean. How much more posh and prime can you get?
The inside word: A spectacular renovation included just about every luxury members of the privileged classes have come to expect. Scads of bedrooms and baths, fireplaces, media room, gym—all in refined good taste—are there. The price of $23 million is certainly not cheap, but it’s in line with the quality and the competition.
Sand Castles
Napeague is a narrow and low-lying stretch of sand dunes and wetlands between the Atlantic and Gardiner’s Bay, east of Amagansett and west of Montauk. It was traditionally known more for high tides than high prices, more frolicking in the sand than living in something grand.
Architecture: Two big, angular, modern homes, bold and assertive and eye-catching, perhaps more coordinated with one another than the surroundings, but forming a handsome compound.
Site: On about an acre each, these houses are part of a small subdivision on the ocean with unobstructed views. Five undeveloped lots are also for sale. It’s the beachiest place in the Hamptons, but we wouldn’t want to be there in a hurricane.
The inside word: The views are great, and the houses are far more interesting than the bloated McMansions we see. They are suggestive of a sumptuous but slightly dated modernism rather than brand new construction. We see the buyer as a wealthy beach bum, your surfer who succeeded, and not your normal, prestige conscious arriviste. Offered singly, or as a package for $16.3 million.
Carriage Trade
Several generations of the Woodhouse family were responsible for creating one of the great estates in East Hampton as well as building Guild Hall and the East Hampton Library. The Japanese water gardens on the estate now form the core of the Nature Trail, the main house is now home to philanthropists Susan and Alan Patricof, and various outbuildings have become important homes around Huntting and Davids Lanes.
Architecture: The family called it the barn. You might call it a carriage house. The rooms on the ground floor are enormous with twelve-foot ceilings, a legacy of the stables and carriage storage. The upstairs was originally the hayloft.
Site: One of the few Woodhouse estate structures remaining on the site where it was built prior to the estate being divided. On 1.2 acres abutting the Nature Trail.
The inside word: The barn was built in 1894, and in 1937 became a school of acting where plays were performed. In 1945 the school closed after losing young actors to the war effort and the property reverted to the family. In 1951 the barn was converted to a residence. Those interior details from the 50s are not worth saving, but it’s just as well. Someone will have a terrific time restoring the place. This is a great historic building just waiting for a renaissance. Offered at $4.350 million.
On the Edge of the Bay
Current zoning setbacks would never permit some of the houses built in the past. It has to do with public and private safety, with maintaining the integrity and aesthetics of neighborhoods and preserving resources. We can’t argue with the goals, but we do miss some of the quirky structures and dramatically sited homes of the past.
Architecture: An older cottage that was renovated under the direction of architect Gene Futterman in the 1980s. It has characteristics of the old structure in the core, but thoughtful additions like the wraparound porch for sunset views.
Site: You might as well be in a boat. The house is perched on a rocky revetment on Peconic Bay.
The inside word: This house strikes just the right balance between what we used to think of as a beach cottage—something with personality—and the oversized, generic waterfront houses that seem to be in fashion right now. It has all the features—four bedrooms, 3.5 baths, two fireplaces, and a pool—organized on a more human scale. Offered at $3.25 million.