25 Sep Hamptons style
I couldn’t wait to return to the Hamptons last week for another vacation and now it’s coming to an end and I’m feeling a little deflated. You know the feeling. While I’m ready to get home to Nashville, this time spent near Sag Harbor, New York has been perfect. We’re lucky ’cause we get to stay with my husband Keith’s cousin, Missy and her husband, Andrew in their gorgeous retreat in the conclave known as North Haven. The stately home is a Federalist style seen throughout this region.
And it’s an oasis in back with deep blue hydrangeas and towering trees forming a dramatic backdrop.
Each time we’ve been here, we’ve had near perfect weather. Bluebird skies and cool evenings. Which means they can leave their back doors wide open while we’re here to enjoy the equally gorgeous back yard with a covered porch and pool that transport me to a European destination. There are so many lounging areas, depending on whether you want sun or shade. Decisions, decisions.
This photo was taken last June but since then, Missy has gotten navy and white striped curtains that are draped around the porch.
When we visit them, I’d say we spend 75 percent of our time out here, which really says “Hamptons style” to me. The grey shingled home, the navy and white accents and gardens are all examples of a look you see in this area. Here are some other examples.
When I was visiting last summer, we did a tour of Hampton’s gardens which often had a pool as the centerpiece. And always, striking hedges abound.
Boxwoods are used extensively. They are known as “man’s oldest garden ornamental,” according to the American Boxwood Society. They arrived in the U.S. from Europe during Colonial times.
This was one of my favorite houses on the garden tour, known as “Bee cottage.” Magical. And it was for sale. If I could have bought the dreamy retreat with one of the prettiest back terraces I’ve ever seen, I would have but not meant to “bee.”
But back to the resort style home where we get to spend our time!!!
The Dewing home is stunning from the moment you step inside with the sexy curved bannister, steep staircase and soaring foyer ceiling. The back wall of windows and doors bring the lush outside in.
Missy is an artist and has painted quite a few of the abstract pieces throughout their home, including the piece over the fireplace in the den off the kitchen that she created in one night. It represents streamers. To me, it says “happy.”
Besides, the porch, I’d say most of our time was spent in the kitchen. And it’s a beautiful place to be since you see so much of the house and pool area from here. When Missy and Andrew purchased this house, they completely renovated the kitchen, along with knocking out walls here and throughout the downstairs to open up the home. New light fixtures were also added. Most of them came from Suffolk Lighting in Southampton.
One of my favorite pieces of furniture has to be the zinc dining room table purchased in Sag Harbor at Black Swan Antiques. It is divine.
All the white linen window treatments came from Restoration Hardware. You’ll also notice that Missy uses geometric designed rugs that give the house a more modern edge.
She also pulls in silver trays and crystal glasses that add the classic touch. And then there are dozens of beautiful coffee table books along with sculptures that add height and interest to various rooms.
This larger den near the master bedroom is more muted except for a few pillows and the rust colored sculpture. Missy also painted the large canvas over the couch. This is the only room downstairs with a television. Nice. The larger guest suite upstairs also has a television but I rarely turn it on ’cause I just want to lounge in here!
When it comes to setting a table for a lobster dinner at the Dewing house, it doesn’t get any better looking than this one she set for a fun dinner party with friends.
The lobsters added the nice pop of red to the festive table. The tablecloth that looked like a painter’s dropcloth came from one of my favorite places to shop when we visit, and that’s Marder’s. They have an incredible inventory of trees, plants, flowers as well as beautiful accessories for the home at their location in Suffolk County.
When we’re not lounging, eating and drinking, we do go into Sag Harbor and shop. One of my go to spots is Joey Wolffer’s. I love her bohemian style. This time I found some sunglasses. They’re made by a company called Pared out of Australia.
The people watching is fun behind these sunglasses too. And I’m not giving out any secrets when I show you where the “piano man,” lives. It’s a well known fact that Billy Joel has a home here.
Yep. That’s his shingled house in the background, and several of his boats, including the one named “Alexa,” presumably for his daughter with Christie Brinkley. My favorite view of the house from the street is the side with buoys hanging off the shingles. How clever.
He’s out and about in the charming town. We’ve seen him at dinner and he was very friendly when my husband asked him about one of his larger boats that was featured in a yachting magazine. Joel just received the thumbs up on renovation plans to this home which had been a contentious 18 month review. Anyway, he and the other celebrities that have homes here seem to be left alone, kind of like in Nashville. That’s a good thing.
I hate that our vacation there is over, but it ended on a beautiful note, with a gorgeous sky on one of the last nights.
We always have so many laughs, whether hanging out at home or at one of our favorite restaurants, like Sloppy Tuna in Montauk. This trip was a real transition from summer to fall, but the cooler temps were a great relief from the 90’s we left behind in Nashville.
And if we do invite ourselves back this winter, this is what we might find.
Pristine and beautiful but I’ll probably wait til next summer for my Hamptons fix. Until then, the pictures and memories will have to suffice. Thanks so much to Missy and Andrew!
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