Water Mill New York
Set on 6.9 private acres with 360 feet of coveted Mecox Bay frontage, Listowel is a once-in-a-generation waterfront estate where timeless architecture, magnificent gardens, and unforgettable western sunsets create one of the Hamptons’ most enduring family legacies.
Words By: Jessica Hall
Every evening, Listowel quietly reminds its owners why this stretch of Mecox Bay has captivated generations. As the sun begins its slow descent, the bay turns from brilliant blue to molten gold before softening into amber and lavender beneath an expansive western sky. Sailboats drift toward their moorings, the surrounding farmland catches the day’s final warmth, and the landscape seems to pause for a few remarkable moments. From the covered porches, private dock, English gardens, and nearly every principal room of the residence, the changing light becomes part of daily life. It is a privilege reserved for only a handful of waterfront estates, and one that has become increasingly rare in the Hamptons.
Occupying 6.9 private acres with an exceptional 360 feet of Mecox Bay frontage, Listowel stands among the Hamptons’ most distinguished waterfront properties. Fertile farmland surrounds the estate, preserving an openness that has largely disappeared from this celebrated coastline. While neighboring communities have continued to evolve, this remarkable landscape has retained the character that first established Water Mill as one of the East Coast’s most desirable addresses. Wide skies, uninterrupted views, and an enduring sense of privacy define the experience long before the front door comes into view.
“What makes Listowel so exceptional isn’t one feature,” says Tim Davis of Corcoran Group. “It’s the way everything comes together. The western exposure,the Mecox Bay frontage, the native farmland, the scale of the property, and a home that feels completely at ease in its setting. Opportunities like this simply don’t come along very often.”
The rhythm of life here follows the landscape rather than the calendar. Early mornings begin with a light mist rising above the bay while cool coastal air drifts across the lawns. French doors stand open as birds move through the gardens and the scent of salt water mingles with flowering borders. There is little urgency. Coffee naturally lingers on the porch, conversations unfold without watching the clock, and quiet walks toward the shoreline become part of the day before anyone notices the time. It is a pace that feels increasingly uncommon and entirely natural.
The approximately 10,000-square-foot residence was never intended to compete with its surroundings. Instead, it was designed to celebrate them. Offering seven bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms, the home unfolds with remarkable ease, each principal room oriented toward the water, gardens, or open farmland beyond. Expansive windows borrow the surrounding landscape as part of the interior, while soaring ceilings, handcrafted mill work, warm oak, limestone, and beautifully restored finishes creates paces that feel quietly luxurious rather than overtly grand.
“The home itself is of incredible quality and architectural design,” explains Davis. “The craftsmanship displayed throughout is pure artistry,and the way the interior walls and windows frame the views allows the light to reflect the outdoors like a frame from a camera or an exquisite painting.”
Natural light becomes an architectural element in its own right. Morning sunlight fills the eastern rooms before gradually moving through the house as the day progresses, changing the mood of each space almost imperceptibly. A dramatic library provides a quiet retreat for reading or reflection, while gracious living and dining rooms invite conversations that linger well beyond dinner. Throughout the home, the relationship between indoors and outdoors remains constant, reminding its owners that the estate’s greatest luxury has always existed just beyond the windows.
At the heart of the home, the chef’s kitchen is thoughtfully designed for gathering as much as cooking, creating a natural focus for everyday living and entertaining. Family breakfasts effortlessly linger into relaxed mornings, while evenings begin with cocktails in the covered lounge or on the oversized swing as the sun sets over the bay. Whether hosting an intimate dinner or a lively celebration, entertaining flows with ease, allowing guests to mingle comfortably without disrupting the home’s relaxed coastal ambiance. Despite its impressive scale, every space feels warm, inviting, and beautifully livable — encouraging family and friends to settle in, unwind, and savor the experience rather than simply admire the surroundings.
Beyond the residence, the landscape is tiered with the quiet confidence of a classic English country estate. Clipped hedges define intimate garden rooms, flowering borders soften winding gravel paths, and mature specimen trees create welcome shade on warm summer afternoons. Rather than revealing themselves all at once, the gardens encourage exploration. A secluded bench appears beneath the branches of an old tree. A path gently curves toward an unexpected view of the bay. Wide lawns gradually dissolve into the shoreline, creating the impression that the gardens have always belonged to the landscape around them.
The property’s history adds another dimension to its sense of place. “The original farmhouse, which dated to the 1600s, was taken down, and this extraordinary estate was built within a setting of nearly seven unique acres and an interior salt and fresh water pond,” Davis continues. “It is a truly remarkable and historic location for a remarkable estate. A rare find indeed.”
Covered porches become outdoor living rooms through much of the year, while the waterside dining porch transforms even an ordinary meal into something memorable. Nearby, the heated gunite pool mirrors the changing sky, the orchard quietly marks the passing seasons, and the carriage house with its studio office provides flexibility for extended family, creative pursuits, or private business. Nothing feels excessive. Every element serves a purpose, supporting a lifestyle that values comfort, privacy, and time spent together.
Eventually, every path leads toward the water. Gravel gives way to lawn before the private dock extends quietly into Mecox Bay. Summer mornings begin with paddle boards and kayaks gliding across glass-like water, afternoons invite leisurely cruises beneath open skies, and evenings draw everyone back to the shoreline as the western horizon begins its nightly transformation. It is often in these unplanned moments that the estate is at its most remarkable, when conversation slows, the breeze settles, and the only sound is the gentle movement of water against the dock.
“What stays with people after visiting Listowel isn’t simply the house,” Davis reflects. “It’s the feeling of the property. The light, the openness, and the quiet are things you can’t replicate. They’re the qualities that make an estate like this truly timeless.”
The value of Listowel cannot be measured solely by its architecture, acreage, or waterfront. Those qualities are extraordinary, but they are only part of the story. What truly distinguishes the estate is the landscape that surrounds it and the confidence that it will remain much as it is today. Fertile farmland, broad western skies, and an uninterrupted relationship between home and bay have become increasingly difficult to find anywhere in the Hamptons.
Over time, the details people remember are rarely found on a floor plan. They remember breakfast on the porch as the bay slowly awakened, children racing across the lawn toward the dock, dinners that stretched comfortably into the evening, and the familiar glow that settled across Mecox Bay at the close of every summer day. Those moments become traditions, and traditions become family history.
Listowel offers more than one of the Hamptons’ finest waterfront estates. It offers the opportunity to become part of a landscape whose beauty has endured for generations, and whose greatest luxury is the certainty that it will continue to do so for generations yet to come.
258 Horsemill Lane, Watermill, NY is currently available. Price upon request.
For more information and a private showing,please contact:
Tim Davis, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
Thomas P. Davis, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
Corcoran Group Real Estate
24 Main Street Southampton, NY 11968
T: 631.702.9211 or 516.356.5736
E: [email protected]
