Gin Lane sits at the top
Within the Southampton Estate Section itself, there lives a hierarchy. And Gin Lane sits at the top — an estate-studded street running parallel with the ocean, home to many elite families and their cover-worthy mansions and homes.
Among them is 281 Gin Lane, undoubtedly one of the top addresses in all of the Hamptons and listed with The Corcoran Group for $12.95 million.
“When you say, ‘I live on Gin Lane,’ it automatically puts a value on your residence,” according to Tim Davis, listing agent and premier Hamptons broker with the Corcoran Group. “It’s a statement.”
The allure of the privet-lined Gin Lane is built not only on its architecture, but also its history, and with that comes a certain status. Since the 1880s, the affluent and influential have gravitated toward the Estate Section, from celebrities and politicians to artists and fashion designers, such as the previous homeowner of this manse.
Formerly Vera Wang’s house, “It’s a great house” Mr. Davis exclaims “The current owners purchased the home from her, made a fair amount of changes and improvements to the house and coveted 2.2-acre parcel. I think it’s arguably one of the best buys on the market, at this price point.”
Set back behind tall privet hedges, the estate foyer opens up to a sprawling floor plan, made for luxurious seaside living with generous room for family, friends and entertaining. The 7,000-square-foot, chic-styled home boasts principal rooms with vaulted ceilings, allowing for great light and a sense of air and space.
“It’s not overwhelming in size, so it’s quite manageable,” Mr. Davis said. “It’s ideal for four-season living.”
Nine bedrooms and 101⁄2 baths are evenly distributed between the main house and the north-and northeast-facing wings, allowing for ease of hosting and simultaneous privacy.
“It lays out rather nicely,” Mr. Davis states, “If you live in this home and just the two of you come out for a weekend, you can close off the rest of the house and not think about even using it. There’s an intimacy to the space that exists without that. At the same time, if you have guests and family or children, to have that space and have it away from the main areas of the house is quite nice.”
The living room, library, media room, office and kitchen —“It’s large, it’s eat-in, it has two islands, and you could cook for a soccer team in there,” Mr. Davis said with a laugh — all open to the courtyard terrace and 60-foot swimming pool, with a built-in spa and limestone surround.
“The swimming pool is only a couple of years old,” Mr. Davis said. “It was rebuilt and expanded. I would call that quite generous in size for any house in the Hamptons. A 60-foot pool is a big deal. It is an exceptional focal point to the property unlike the tennis court which is hidden away from view.”
Additionally, outside among the 2.2-acres of cleared land — featuring established evergreens, flowering fruit trees and mature, perimeter landscaping — are a tennis court with climbing roses, a tented tennis pavilion, detached two-car garage with a breezeway, and an outdoor shower.
Access to the ocean beaches, miles of white sand and a wealth of natural beauty are just a short distance away — the heart of what made the Estate Section desirable centuries ago.
“It’s also an ideal site if somebody with this house thinks it’s not large enough,” Mr. Davis said. “You have the ability to do a substantial addition to it. One could add a second story, so there’s flexibility — and flexibility with architecture, as well. You’re not restricted with what you would want to build here. A designer and architect’s dream. ” It’s definitely a “must see” amongst the select current inventory for sale in Southampton.
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