Tides of Utopia

Tides of Utopia: New York

The Hamptons are of course best known for luxurious holiday homes, golf resorts, and yacht clubs. Although you’re never far from this type of summertime opulence, this home offers something a little different. While only a twelve-minute drive from the centre of bustling East Hampton, it’s easy to forget when you’re staying five minutes from Cedar Point County Park, in a modernist retreat right on the waterside.

Architecturally, this coastal house is striking. Designed in a Gwathmey-esque style, the front of the home features curved walls and a tubular structure, while the rear is purely angular and glassy. We love the pale grey wooden planks, a subtle nod to beach hut aesthetics – which is pretty accurate, seeing as how you’ve got private steps from your terrace down to the sand.

Speaking of which, this terrace is a beautiful spot to barbecue local fish and sip pinot grigio. Its curved edge matches the upper terrace of the bedroom on the level above. And when you’re inside on this mezzanine-style floor, look down to the centrepiece of the home – an incredible, atrium-like lounge with a wood-burning stove, designer furnishings, and sea views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Certainly a beach house with a difference.

Home truths:
*The primary renter must be at least twenty-five years old
*Private, onsite parking is available for four cars in the driveway
*The entrance is private to your home
*The air conditioning is a window unit rather than a full vented system
*There is no air conditioning in the lounge but two portable units are provided
*The air conditioners are rather noisy
*A private trail with steps leads directly from your home to the beach, but the beach itself is public
*At full capacity, two guests will sleep in the second sitting room/office – there's a sofa bed with another pull-out bed below