Hamptons Speculator

11/22/2025

Luxury home developers across the East End are in a constant pursuit of what’s next — the wow moments that separate a property from mere homes and elevate them into experiences. It’s a competitive arena where innovation and style must strike a delicate balance: fresh enough to feel exciting today, yet refined enough to remain desirable for years to come. Buyers, too, are driven by inspiration — often discovering their dream aesthetic while flipping through the glossy pages of high-end design magazines, where a single idea can ignite emotion and imagination.
But here lies the real design dilemma:
Is a particular trend destined to become a regrettable fad by the next election cycle — or will it evolve into a visual legacy that stands proudly over time?
That question is answered boldly in this audaciously curated guest suite — a fearless collaboration between designer Isaac Brest of Practical Arts and the celebrated NYC designer Michael Bargo. The duo stepped far beyond conventional comfort zones and crafted an environment that commands instant attention and admiration.
The moment you enter, you’re greeted by a vibrant yellow palette, unapologetic in its brilliance. The color doesn’t just decorate the room… it electrifies it. Layered textures, eclectic furnishings, and hand-selected vintage accents come together as though each piece was collected from world travels — each with a story to tell. The room has personality, confidence, and that elusive signature: originality.
Then there’s the standout centerpiece — an Art Deco–inspired vanity so finely executed it reads as a sculptural work of art. Its presence turns a functional space into a gallery-worthy moment, reminding us that great design can live anywhere — even where we least expect it.
This isn’t a room that nods politely to trends.
It leads them.
Brest and Bargo demonstrate something essential about luxury design: True style isn’t defined by safety or sameness. It’s defined by the courage to embrace color, contrast, humor, boldness — character. And in doing so, they remind the market that timelessness is not about being quiet or neutral… it’s about being memorable.
This guest room is more than a design success —
It’s a statement of vision, and a glimpse into the future of East End luxury living.

11/20/2025

As the business year winds down for our local tradesmen and women, it’s truly inspiring to see those who choose to give back to the community that supports them. This week, Michael Derrig of Landscape Details made a generous contribution to the East Hampton Food Pantry, specifically to help provide Thanksgiving turkeys for local families in need.
The East Hampton Food Pantry serves well over 1,000 meals every week to hardworking families, seniors on fixed incomes, and neighbors facing difficult times. Michael’s donation will go a long way in ensuring that these households can celebrate the holiday with dignity, comfort, and a warm meal on the table.
Acts of kindness like this remind us what community is all about. We’re hopeful that more local contractors and businesses will follow Michael’s lead and join in supporting the vital organizations that help our neighbors throughout the year — especially during the holiday season.

11/19/2025

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10/25/2025

In our continuing “Go Big or Go Home” series…
Few properties have the raw potential—or sheer audacity—of 30 Hunting Lane. It’s what we’d call a diamond in the rough—the kind of project that makes seasoned developers and sharp-eyed spec builders perk up and start sketching on napkins. Beneath its current, somewhat tired interior lies a chance to resurrect a true trophy home that could once again command attention in one of the East End’s most desirable neighborhood.
We estimate it’ll take about $2.5 million clams to bring this beauty back to life and elevate it beyond its former glory days. Picture this: the house lifted off its existing foundation, a brand-new 10-foot basement carved below, complete with two additional bedrooms and baths, a recreation space, laundry, and—because no East Hampton revival is complete without one—a wine cellar worthy of bragging rights.
Now, the garage out back presents a few challenges. Due to lot coverage and GFA (Gross Floor Area) restrictions, its expansion potential is somewhat limited. But where there’s constraint, there’s creativity. Here’s what could likely be done: split the structure into two smart zones—one serving as a garage-gym hybrid (because who doesn’t want to exercise before a walk or bike to the beach ?) complete with a sauna, and the other as a pool house oasis, fitted with a steam room and full bath for that resort-like touch.
Top it all off with a 16' x 36' pool featuring an integrated spa, set within a beautifully landscaped backyard that whispers understated luxury. When it’s all said and done, this could easily be the kind of property that makes agents grin and whisper, “That’s a $16.5 million listing—and no one’s laughing at the size of that catch.”
So whether you’re a visionary developer or a dreamer with the means to make it happen, 30 Hunting Lane isn’t just a project—it’s an opportunity to turn potential into prestige.

This turn-of-the-20th-century photo shows the James Huntting house in the village in its original majesty, ghosts or no.

10/23/2025

Today’s SGN (Some Great News):
The East Hampton Building Department is getting some much-needed reinforcement! After months—if not years—of delays and mounting frustration from homeowners, builders, and architects alike, the department is bringing in new faces and skilled support to help unclog the permit pipeline and ease the bottlenecks that have slowed the home improvement and construction process to a crawl.
While some continue to argue that the department’s systems are outdated and in need of a full-scale technological overhaul, these staffing additions mark a promising first step toward restoring efficiency and responsiveness. Considering the Building Department is likely one of the Town’s largest revenue generators outside of property taxes, investing in its modernization is long overdue.
Expect the future of the department—and how to best streamline it—to become a key topic in this November’s local elections.
Whether you stand for tighter limits on new construction or support responsible community development, one fact remains: a majority of East End homes need modern upgrades. From improved energy efficiency and sustainability measures to long-overdue maintenance, revitalizing the local building process benefits everyone who calls this area home. ❤️

10/03/2025

https://outeast.com/homes/16-amys-ln-east-hampton/413738

Fixing & Flipping: When One Man’s Trash Becomes Another’s Treasure..

About three years ago, my clients purchased the home mentioned above for $5.2M. They then spent another $300K fast-tracking a set of impractical plans from a high-priced NYC architect—plans that, frankly, weren’t worth the paper they were printed on.
When they asked me to review the design, I offered a completely different vision: a modern farmhouse with vaulted ceilings, a finished basement, and a primary suite on the first floor. They loved it.
We developed plans for a ground-up, 7,500-square-foot build with a projected budget of $2.85M. In that South of the Highway neighborhood, the anticipated end value was between $14.5M and $15M.
But with a 24-month timeline from permitting to completion, they ultimately opted for something turnkey. They purchased another property—this one on a prestigious street in East Hampton Village, also South of the Highway—for $8.5M. All in (including both homes and closing costs), their total out-of-pocket exceeded $14.5M.
After closing on the coveted Egypt Lane property, they brought me in for an extensive makeover project, with/ some unexpected changes that included some serious gut renovations.
As for the original house on Amy’s Lane? They were stuck with it, so they hired a GC crew to “spruce it up” for a quick flip. That meant repainting and redoing the bathrooms—another $200K spent.
Eventually, Amy’s Lane sold at a loss for $5.4M.
They justified it by pointing to the equity gained on Egypt Lane, now valued between $14.5M and $16M after renovations.
Here’s the punchline:
The couple who bought Amy’s Lane? They tore out the brand-new bathrooms, redesigned the kitchen and baths (again), refinished the floors, moved some walls, repainted, and furnished it beautifully. By the looks of it, they likely spent about $700K in total. After enjoying the home for two summer seasons, they just sold it for $7.7M.
Moral of the story?
Vision, creativity, and patience pay off.
Sure, having a big wallet helps—but in my clients’ case, that alone wasn’t enough.
In the end, both parties left serious money on the table.
Why? Because neither was fully committed to what the property really needed: a teardown and a proper, ground-up new build.

Out East has 41 photos of this $7,895,000 4 beds, 5.5 baths, 3,288 square feet single family home for sale located at 16 Amys Ln, East Hampton, NY 11937 built in 1988.

09/27/2025

It's not rocket science. In most cases it's just common sense. Curb appeal comes down to simple staging: a few landscape features and some furnishings or your favorite lifestyle toys. We've seen it all — carefully placed surfboards, a vintage pickup, a hanging swing, and Adirondack chairs.

The good news? They don't take a lot of time or money to achieve.