There’s a popular decorative cushion that reads, “You never know how many friends you have until you own a beach house.” Fortunately for the owners of this compound, in the far-flung Hamptons’ hamlet of Montauk, they have plenty of places to stow friends, family, vague acquaintances, and that guy you used to work with who you never much liked but still has your phone number and apparently plans to stay in your life forever.
Back in the day, the property was the site of two battered old-school cottages. They were sold in 2012 for $2.15 million; the siren song of the bulldozer was soon heard and much construction followed. Now, packed on the two-thirds-acre plot are a four-bedroom main house, a two-story guesthouse, a gunite pool, and a pool house. A fourth structure, a detached garage, has been rebranded in promo materials as a “recreational structure.” (Yoga pavilions are big in the Hamptons right now, as are art studios, so presumably the sell here is that there’s room to accommodate trendy hobbies and/or even more weekend guests.)
The location is amazing, just one house down from what many locals consider the best beach in Montauk, so considered because it’s uncrowded even on a hot July 4th afternoon, and the ocean views from the second story are terrific. Two thousand square feet of exterior decking make the most of summer, while a bluestone patio with two outdoor fireplaces is perfect for chilly spring evenings and damp autumn mornings.
Inside, the cedar-shingled main house was designed for entertaining. A custom 15-foot bar is complete with wine fridge and ice maker, while the kitchen includes a huge island, a butler’s pantry, and a dining area with cozy banquette seating. The living room has ocean views and a fireplace, the dining room is perfect for holiday meals and weekend buffets, and a main-floor bedroom with private bath and fireplace works well for older guests.
Upstairs, the master suite boasts another fireplace, along with a dressing room and, of course, its own luxury bath. There’s also access to a deck with ocean views. There are two more en-suite bedrooms on this level, along with a casual den that offers lots of bookshelves, a TV, and a beverage fridge.
The guest cottage contains two more bedrooms and two more baths, plus a full kitchen and a living room with wood-burning fireplace; the ready-for-a-pool-party pool house offers a well-equipped wet bar, a half bath, and an outdoor shower; and don’t forget the recreational structure that’s easily converted to a home office, a fitness room or, for those who really like a crowd, a bunk room. The property is listed with Chris Coleman at Compass, and the asking price is $8.5 million, quite a drop from the initial ask of $10.8 million when it first came for sale in 2018.
All this, and a two-minute stroll to the beach. Just don’t tell anyone you know or you’ll never have this place to yourself.
