The Hamptons: They Sing to Me with a Siren's Song

But alas, I have never been there.  I know they are south of New England and northeast of New York City.  I know names of towns - Southhampton, Sag Harbor, Amagansett, Sagaponack, East Hampton, Montauk.  I know the real estate is some of the most expensive in the US because it is so close to New York City and is so beautiful.  And I know I must visit there some day, but until that day I'll visit through books, magazines and films...

...films like Something's Gotta Give which featured the house every woman fell in love with.  The following images are from Hooked on Houses and they give a flavor of the Hamptons and a reason why I must go there someday.

The film was a definite charmer, and the house was a huge part of this charm.

But onto the real world.  Let's look at this Hampton house designed by Steven Gambrel.  (All images are from his website S.R. Gambrel.  It's so nice not to have to scan each one from my library of his work.)  Investment banker John Rolfes had seen Steven's own Sag Harbor home and had Steven do this redo for his house in 2002.

Love the house exterior - all the gray shingles redolent of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, and especially how the blue shutters actually fit the windows; they are not just ornamental.

All very different from the Something's Gotta Give house, but be patient.

Now to Steven's own 2001 house in Sag Harbor, the one his friend had seen and been inspired by.

Steven's sitting room.

Kitchen storage.

A designer's work appears never done even when relaxing in his Hampton house.

In 2004, note the changes.  Gone is the orange sofa replaced by this white one.  Gone are any bright, bright blue tones replaced by softer ones.

Love his kitchen (of course) and wide plank floors.

  Very funky wallpaper makes this powder room.

The designer, himself...

relaxing in his "great outdoors."  Really pretty, eh?

And now, to the changes as of 2008.

Guest room.

Master bedroom with sofa from 2004 living room.

Such simplicity here - plank door, unadorned window, rope handrail.

These images became slightly blurry when enlarged, but had to show the dutch door (why do we love them so much?), the new dining room chairs, and the topiaries for all you topiary lovers out there (Loi and Phyllis).

Great view of wide-board floor, and sweet antique table and chair.

I like this version the best.  What do you think?

Onto another designer - Robert K. Lewis.  For the life of me, I could not find the magazine which featured his house.  Thank goodness Mary Emmerling also covered his Sag Harbor house in her American Country Classics.   My article had a few more images so when I find it (which I know I will someday), I'll post them.  Till then, enjoy these from Mary in 1990.  This little Hampton house seems timeless.

I always loved the white trim against the rusticity of paneling and floors.  And the very neutral banquette.

Interesting antiques.  I think that is a whalebone crimper in the circular box.  Antique experts out there - help!

Again, the fresh whiteness contrasted with the antique-iness is great.  The object on the mantel is an antique eel fork which I might have left right there in the antiques store, but it is very unique.

The paneling on the island reminds me of Anthropologie's floors.  Very cool and funky and reclaim-ish.  I have a pot rack similar to this one in my own kitchen.  Could this very one have been my subliminal inspiration?  

Finally, the very pretty master bedroom - again, such a white contrast to the rest of the house is so appealing.

In my search for the article I could not find about the Hampton house above, I came across the following images from Cote Sud Hors Series.  Because of my blog's name and because I love kitchens so much, I always feel compelled to dwell more on kitchens so here's my compulsion fulfillment for today.

That's all for this post, my friends.  Next time, it's more Hampton houses.  

Till then-

b

I Love Maine, Especially in September

Very few tourists, moderate temperatures, period houses, galleries, harbors, islands, rocks, lobster rolls, blueberries, and good friends - all of this I experienced last week.  Hence the tardiness of my post.  So, even though Maine is out of my planned sequence, it's my topic today.  Come with me while I enjoy it all over again with you.

The view my friends and I awoke to every morning when the tide was in.  Wish I could remember the names of those distant islands.

Knowing my interest in Andrew Wyeth and all the Wyeths' art, we first visited the Olson house where Andrew Wyeth painted Christina's World.  Here, the docent explained how Christina Olson's slow crippling illness limited her life to this house and its surroundings.

A glimpse of my host on the right.

Rear of the house.  Owned by the Farnsworth Museum, there is discussion concerning how much to renovate the structure which Andrew knew so well and painted so often.

The view from this upstairs window...

before the trees grew and blocked the view, inspired this painting.

The famous Christina's World.  Betsy Wyeth was often the actual model for much of this painting, but it was exactly how Christina Olson actually navigated her limited world.


Andrew's grave just down the road from the Olson house.  The site is peaceful with ocean views through the trees.  The fact that this graveyard is where he wished to be buried speaks to the connectedness he felt with the Olsons.

Moving on, we took in more ocean views and more amazing boulders that make up much of Maine's shoreline.

Years ago, I read of a couple who retired to an island, Swans Island, in Maine.  Here they raised sheep without fences, spun their wool and wove wonderful wool blankets.  Their work won many awards, but when the wife developed Alzheimer's disease, the couple sold the business to an onshore company.   This company still weaves the blankets on hand looms and has kept the original name.  This was a really interesting stop in Northport, Maine.

Part of the showroom.  The insignia above the name is woven onto all their goods.

Looms with organically dyed wool.  Peeping over the loom is the other half of my host couple.

Sample of a Swans Island blanket and assorted pillows.

Just down the road, our next stop was Windsor Chairmakers in Lincolnville, Maine.

Beautiful furniture made to the buyer's specifications.  I took lots of photos here because the furniture was so lovely, but am restraining myself and posting only a few, like this tiger-maple highboy...

or the built-in cupboards and drawers unit custom made to the specifications of your room...

or a tiger-maple chest of drawers...

or just a simple candle or pipe box.  It was all beautiful.

Another day in Camden, Maine we visited Leslie Curtis Designs.   Her shop is full of all things Maine, but her design specializes in wicker.

Here we see Leslie talking about a wicker piece once belonging to Bette Davis.  (I believe Leslie was once married to film star, Tony Curtis.  Not to drop any names.)

Such pretty things.

Of course, everyday required a lobster roll and, for me, cole slaw so crucial to the eating of lobster rolls.

Everyday!

Preferably eaten while overlooking a harbor.  (Thought this photo really came out well.)

Or this one.   My friend says, "Everywhere you look in Maine is a painting."  And it's true.

Knowing I admire the design of Hugh Newell Jacobsen, we drove by one of his designs in Maine.  How great is this - a Hugh Newell Jacobsen house in Maine!

And note the view they have.

So pure, so Maine, so Jacobsen.

Their harbor view at dusk.

A sweet little Maine house we saw at the end of our day all ready for autumn.

While on the subject of Mid-Coastal Maine, I thought now might be an appropriate time to include a house and shop I have always loved in Wiscasset, Maine.  All the photos have come from  the website MarstonHouse.com.  Every time I pass this shop and home, people like me are taking photos of it.  If you have not seen it, enjoy these images.  If you are in Wiscasset, stop in the shop or at least take a photo.  Living room below.  (The painting on the mantel is a Jamie Wyeth; he traded the painting for a Marston House antique.)

Sharon and Paul Mrozinski, owners of the Marston House.

Dining area.

Another view.

Another view of living room.

Their kitchen is one that fits the title of my blog - it is one "I have loved" for years.

Their home which is atop their shop is full of great Maine antiques, like the blue cupboard on the left.  And note the wide plank floors.

Master bedroom.

Master bath on left and bedroom again on right.

Bedroom mantel detail.

Views of shop's antiques.

You can even stay in the Mrozinskis' bed and breakfast, or rent a cottage, or their flat in Paris.  Famous people have been in the Marston House - Jamie Wyeth and his painting and Martha Stewart had lunch with the Mrozinskis in their wonderful dining room.  She said it was like being in a Vermeer painting - high praise indeed.

Well, it's getting to be bedtime for this blogger.  Before I end, I thank my friends for a most delightful visit, and I  leave you, my faithful reader, with two more images of Maine.  Blueberries, of course.

And now, good night.  Till the next time in the Hamptons.

b