White Pines and History
Northwest Harbor appears to us pristine and beautiful, with houses generally well hidden and set back from the wetlands. But in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when whale oil from offshore whaling was East Hampton’s major export, wharfs and warehouses, as well as a tide mill, created an active commercial atmosphere. After the construction of the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor, the community at Northwest Harbor gradually vanished.
Architecture: Porches, overhanging roofs and asymmetrical shapes lend a decidedly shingle-style flavor to this 4,000 square foot house.
Site: Eight acres off Swamp Road, which runs through the woods that abut the wetlands of Northwest Harbor. One of the few places locally with white pine forests.
The inside word: Seclusion is a big asset here for those who want to be away from the bustle of the villages. The 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath house is well detailed and landscaped. The screened porch is a big plus in an area that can get buggy at certain times of summer. Offered at $3.9 million.
Ease Out
The area in Wainscott north of highway, but more particularly north of the railroad and north of the airport used to be nowheresville, but with the increasing scarcity of lots, even once marginal areas are now being developed with substantial homes. There is hardly a neighborhood left on the East End of Long Island that is immune to the attack of the shingled mansions.
Architecture: A friendly and congenial appearance is the strong suite here. We like this far better than trying to be bold and highly original, and winding up with nightmarish facades.
Site: Second floor long distance water views result from being sited on 2.5 acres on a rise in north Wainscott.
The inside word: The entrance and the front elevation are quite welcoming, and the interior is spacious and unfussy. This is a low-pressure kind of place, best for a buyer who prefers comfort and ease to formality and rank. Offered at $2.950 million.
Near and Deer
“Give me a home where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play.” We have not seen any antelope frolicking or buffalo wandering in the Hamptons, but we do see plenty of deer, nowhere more than North Haven. You might view them as pests or as adorable Bambi creatures, but they have not hurt real estate values.
Architecture: Along with the Lauder house in Wainscott, this is one of the largest and best examples of Greek Revival in the Hamptons. Built around 1830, it’s a superb house, beautifully proportioned and totally restored.
Site: Four and a half acres on Shelter Island Sound, in North Haven, just outside Sag Harbor. We have not seen any other house of this period, in this style, with this size property, on the water—let alone on the market.
The inside word: This house has it all—style, location, pedigree. There is virtually nothing to complain about, except, as with most things in the Hamptons, the price. It’s a stunning property with an equally breathtaking price tag of $15 million. But the quality is there to justify it.
Clean House
Have we been around too long? Does our memory go back too far? When we see certain houses our mind flashes back, sometimes decades back, to the various owners. A part of our mind seems reserved for deed transfers and real estate deals, but also for all the human aspects in this unfolding story of the Hamptons.
Architecture: With lean modern lines and good materials, this is an interesting, sophisticated version of a glass box.
Site: Bordering a 17 acre reserve close to Georgica Pond in East Hampton, this 1.4 acre property is prime real estate. Pool, poolhouse and mature landscaping.
The inside word: It’s refreshing to see a finely maintained modern house in one of the estate areas. While the house might not have the size or the hulking proportions in fashion right now, nor the profusion of amenities, it offers instead an abundance of style and spirit. Offered at $4.995 million.