Hampton House Must-Haves

It used to be that a media room was de rigueur in the upscale Hamptons residence. Not so any longer. Ditto for wine cellars. While awfully nice (especially for oenophiles), they’re a bit passé. Gyms are still the norm but yoga rooms are much more now. Homeowners on the South Fork are nothing if not trendy. In fact, they often dictate house trends for everyone else. Here’s a rundown of what’s hot in Hamptons houses.

Lower Level
With limited footprints available and oversize square footage desired, the top Hamptons must-have is a “splashy lower level” according to Beth Marano of Corcoran’s Southampton office. (Hamptonites haven’t called them “finished basements” for eons.) That means 10-foot ceilings and access by an “open staircase” so as to negate any possible cavernous feel. And the “foundation must be taken as far out of the ground as possible so that basement windows supply natural light,” according to Chris Chapin of Douglas Elliman. “Four feet is allowed.”

Home Automation
“It’s all about creature comfort,” says Chris Burnside of Brown Harris Stevens. “Turn on the hot tub or pool heater from the road, turn down the A/C, or check the cameras for the packages that were supposed to be delivered. With home automation the house is virtually ready for having a party.”

Outdoor Living
“People want to enjoy the outdoors at their homes during those precious eight summer weeks,” says Town and Country CEO, Judi Desiderio. She has seen outdoor living rooms and kitchens that double the entertaining spaces. “Buyers are looking for outdoor fireplaces, fully stocked kitchens and places to lounge while watching TV or listening to music at the pool or spa. It’s a case of what she calls “nature’s therapy.”

En Suite Bedrooms
Could it be that in the Hamptons we once walked down the hall to use the bathroom? That feels so midcentury. These days “every bedroom must be en suite [with a bathroom],” says Chapin. Not only that, there should be more bathrooms than bedrooms: “at minimum an extra powder room, but preferably another full bathroom.” At least.

His and Hers WCs
Privacy is a must. Enough said.

Outdoor Shower
“When people come to their homes from the city, they love the idea of showering outdoors,” says Jennifer Wilson of Sotheby’s in East Hampton. “It’s also a must-have for sandy kids after the beach!”

Two-Car Attached Garage
“People want to get out of their cars and already be inside, especially after the last two bitter winters,” says Chapin. And you thought the Hamptons weren’t suburbia.

Elevator
You might think of an elevator as a luxury, but builder Alan Schnurman who doubles as an agent at Saunders, says: “Believe it or not an elevator at the high end is a necessity.” Not only do wealthy homeowners not want to carry their luggage upstairs, a lift is also a boon for older parents. “I would not build a house without an elevator,” he says, adding that he builds elevator interiors with the same craftsmanship as the paneled walls.

Spa in Pool
No Hamptons’ pool is complete without an accompanying spa embedded into it, the water from both intermingling, according to Rich Perello of Perello Building in Southampton. He’s also building a lot of “beach entrances” into pools. That’s a cement slope (as opposed to stairs) that leads to a one-foot wading area where lounge chairs are placed. “You also see these a lot in resorts,” he says.

Loggia
“There is something special about a midsummer night in the Hamptons sitting outside in a loggia or covered porch, feeling the ocean breeze, looking at a sunset or water view,” says Corcoran broker Susan Breitenbach.

Water View
In Montauk, especially, the goal is to “capture any water view,” says Lois Moore of Corcoran. There are properties in that hamlet that offer not only “peek-a-boo” ocean views but bay, sound, lake and pond views as well. “Third floor viewing platforms are becoming quite popular and are replacing the rudimentary crows nest of the past.”

First-Floor Junior Master
With the aging of the population – another thing to thank the baby boomers for – it’s become essential to build a junior master suite on the first floor, the easier for “converting it into a master,” says Vincent Horcasitas of Saunders. “While “the real master is still upstairs,” junior masters are becoming as large. And they’re being built on the “south side of the house” to capture the rising sun.