Artists’ enclave or hotspot for the elite? You can choose your own adventure in the beautiful Hamptons, hears Caitlin Gunther.
East Hampton, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – East Hampton Brokerage
On the eastern tip of New York’s Long Island, the Hamptons have long drawn bohemian souls, from painters such as Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock to the charmingly eccentric Bouvier family, including its most famous daughter, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. With beachgrass swaying on windswept dunes, the landscape is captivating in a distinctly Northeastern way. Artistic enclave or beach destination for the elite? It’s always been both.
“At the turn of the 20th century, the Hamptons were a summer playground for the rich, mostly from New York City,” says Liz Doyle Carey of Sotheby’s International Realty – East Hampton Brokerage. “Mansions were built, private clubs were formed, the Long Island Railroad arrived and the arts infrastructure was born: theaters, museums and the artists who sought the exceptional light.”
Today, an unknown artist could no longer afford to snap up a barn and create the language of abstract expressionism here. Still, echoes of the past remain: the Hamptons Fine Art Fair is a highlight of the season and galleries have proliferated. Then there’s the aesthetic: car-free islands, forest-shrouded beaches and shake-shingle houses framed by blue hydrangeas.
Southampton, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – Southampton Brokerage
That creative legacy is evident in its interiors, says designer Damon Liss, who has worked across the region for decades. “We see a lot of natural woven materials such as rattan, rope, cane and linen, giving spaces a relaxed, coastal feel,” he says. “These elements are paired with earthy tones, creating a connection to the surrounding landscape.” The goal, he adds, is creating spaces that are comfortable, simple and rooted in the environment.
Essentially, the Hamptons are a collection of villages, each with a unique vibe. You choose your own adventure, says Carey. “You can live the life of a surfer dude, an organic farmer, a champion equestrian, a fishing captain, a lord or lady of the manor, a preppy old-money scion—there are many lifestyles available and the housing and infrastructure to support them.” As Liss says: “Every part of the region brings its distinctive character to the design process.”
Southampton New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – Southampton Brokerage
Southampton is where high society mingles—“old money at the clubs, new money at the restaurants,” says Carey—with top-ranked beaches and a charming center that hosts a steady stream of philanthropic social events. The village is home to the legendary Atterbury Estate, a fully renovated, 30-acre seaside compound designed by Grosvenor Atterbury with landscape architecture by Frederick Olmsted.
Also in Southampton is a 6,500-square-foot beach house built in 1989, which showcases striking contemporary architecture, with an open layout and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with light and frame sweeping ocean views. Highlights include an expansive sundeck, 40-foot pool and a private path to the beach.
East Hampton, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – East Hampton Brokerage
East Hampton, known for its jaw-dropping estates along Lily Pond Lane and Further Lane, is a village where the social scene tends to wind down by sunset. Here, you’ll find residences steeped in history, such as an Elizabethan Revival architectural gem commissioned in 1916 by philanthropists Lorenzo and Mary Woodhouse as a birthday gift for their daughter, Marjorie. With a 75-foot-long salon and 40-foot vaulted ceiling, the property earned the nickname the “Playhouse”. In 2020, its glassed conservatory addition won an AIA design award.
Also in East Hampton is Briar Patch, set on more than 11 acres of secluded land along Georgica Pond, with serene water views. The exterior of the 1931 principal residence is classic Americana—natural cedar shake, black shutters and white-trimmed windows—while the interiors channel breezy coastal elegance, like the set of a Nancy Meyers film. The property’s porches are ideal for summer evenings spent watching fireflies dance across the rolling lawn.
Bridgehampton, New York | Sotheby’s International Realty – Bridgehampton Brokerage
“Bridgehampton is very farmy and has a strong equestrian presence, with lots of riding stables and weekly Bridgehampton polo events,” says Carey. Steps from the beach, an eco-friendly villa here offers 8,000 square feet of sun-drenched space that feels contemporary but not austere.
Amagansett is on the laid-back end of the spectrum, a place where design increasingly bridges heritage and modernity. Liss recently completed a multi-house compound here that combines traditional Hamptons charm with modern sophistication. At the far eastern tip, Montauk is all about surfing, fishing and golden-hour parties. And Sag Harbor feels more like a year-round place to live, agree Carey and Liss.
Across the region, homeowners are thinking beyond the summer, Liss adds. “There’s been a shift towards making homes feel functional, even in the off-season, with more requests for fireplaces, cozy dens and heated terraces,” he says. The result is a high-end destination where old-world charm and modern creativity remain in constant, artful dialogue with the landscape.