'Insider's View' Is On Saturday

The annual “Insider’s View of Southampton Homes” tour, sponsored by the Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center, will be held at various homes in Southampton and Water Mill on Saturday, May 12, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

The six homes on the tour include a Classic Hamptons Beach House and The Miller’s House in Water Mill, plus E.T. Howell’s “Wayside,” a Shingle-style Cottage, the Josiah Foster House and a House of Color in Southampton.

The Classic Hamptons Beach House is exactly what one would expect from the description—it has traditional architecture and spectacular ocean views. The home, built circa 1910, has been featured in the films “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” and “Something’s Gotta Give.”

E.T. Howell, whose forbears were among Southampton’s early settlers, built “Wayside” circa 1840 in the Greek Revival style. In 1911, it was enlarged by Aymar Embury for the artist/ceramist Marshall Fry. The house retains its original Greek Revival entrance, with sidelights and transom, and stands today as one of Southampton’s architectural and historic treasures.

The Miller’s House in Water Mill, which was built to accommodate the manager of the water mill next door, dates back to the mid-17th century and today houses the Water Mill Museum. The post-and-beam construction of the house can still be seen today, as can the curve in many of the beams, revealing their original use on whaling ships.

The Shingle-style Cottage was designed by Kitty McCoy, with interiors by Greg McKenzie and landscape design by Tish Doherty. For all its luxuries, it is a house that is lived in and used to the fullest.

The Josiah Foster House was built in 1807. It has been used as a post office, tavern and inn where Daniel Webster and James Fenimore Cooper were known to have stayed. The current owners have created a balance between old and new, which is particularly evident in the kitchen, where modern appliances are at ease with more ancient elements.

The House of Color, a hidden gem painted “Russian green,” was designed by architect Jacqueline T. Robertson and boasts an interior that reflects the owner’s lively personality.

After the house tour, a champagne reception catered by Sant Ambroeus Restaurant and featuring a private preview of 
Chris Murray’s paintings of New York, follows from 4:30 to 6 
p.m. at the Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center’s Rogers Mansion in Southampton Village. Tickets are $75 in advance and $90 on the day of the tour. For reservations, call 283-2494.