Inside a Timeless East Hampton Compound

November 5, 2024

On the banks of Georgica Pond, this grand compound boasts a stylishly renovated residence dating to the 1930s, and an emerald expanse of private water frontage.

Although ocean beaches top the list of the elements that have long lured people to the Hamptons, tranquil Georgica Pond remains one of the most coveted and picturesque locations for a luxurious getaway. On its emerald banks, in a prestigious area of East Hampton familiarly referred to as “south of the highway,” indicating a location closer to the sunny seashore, this secluded sanctuary revels in nearly a quarter mile of private water frontage and improbably colorful open vistas. Dating to the early 1930s, the 13,800-square-foot home and guesthouse exemplify the timeless style of an elegant escape on the east end of Long Island.

East Hampton, New York | Harald Grant, Bruce Grant, Sotheby’s International Realty – Southampton Brokerage

The home was designed by architect Arthur C. Jackson, a graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris who worked on the plans for the New York Public Library before dedicating himself to fashioning private country retreats. A classic façade of stately shingles; elegant shutters; dormer, porthole, bay, and eyebrow windows; and covered porches merely hints at the sophisticated ambience of the bright, light-filled interiors, which—following a painstaking renovation in 1990 by esteemed designer Peter Marino—blend artful classicism with modern finesse.

Generous living areas, conceived with grand-scale entertaining in mind, feature such enduring details as wide-plank floors of reclaimed wood, handmade wall coverings, hand-stenciled ceilings, and four fireplaces, all of which help retain the home’s early-20th-century character. Each of the six bedrooms is a peaceful, restful retreat. In many rooms, French doors give way to covered patio space ideal for alfresco living, lounging, dining, and celebrating while appreciating sweeping views of the pond, cinematic sunsets over the water and treetops, and the Atlantic in the distance.

Marino’s renewal of the compound also included the creation of a charming guesthouse, thematically consistent and enchanting in its own right. It offers four additional bedrooms, four and one-half baths, a chic cook’s kitchen, and a living room with coffered ceilings and a fireplace. As two august brick paths lead back to the main residence, they pass the estate’s heated gunite swimming pool and spa, which along with a handsome wood sundeck, gazes out toward the water. Nearby is a discreet changing cabana. Further afield—on just under 12 acres of lush lawn and century-old sycamore, beech, and linden trees—are a tennis court, a four-car carriage house, and meandering nature trails.

Beaches and the shops and restaurants of East Hampton are a short drive away. On more adventurous days, an invigorating sailboat or kayak ride across Georgica Pond arrives, ultimately, at the sand and seaspray of the ocean, always alluring.