Water Mill Marvelous: The Home of Jeff Pfeifle and David Granville

For retired fashion executive Jeff Pfeifle and real estate agent David Granville, it seems as though the party never ends. Indeed, calling them “the hosts with the most” would be a gross understatement, as evidenced by simply looking at the social media of the scores of stylish folks in their milieu. Clearly, this convivial couple consistently put out the biggest welcome mat in whatever town they happen to call home.

For the past 14 years, home, at least in summer and its shoulder seasons, has been a rambling house set on four idyllic acres in Water Mill, a property that includes an apple orchard and a large pool with a dramatic pavilion. In plain language, a pool house, it is lightheartedly styled to recall Pfeifle’s childhood hangout, Westhampton’s Swordfish Beach Club, right down to a replica of the club’s iconic decorative elements: a sun-bleached turquoise swordfish sign, cartoonish rolling waves and charming pennant flags capping the roof like a classic party tent.

These touches, and more, are the result of the homeowners’ own unique vision honed from long careers in the worlds of high-style apparel and real estate. Frequently, when someone says, “We did it ourselves …” it looks like it. Such is not the case in this beguiling home that is chock full of ideas and highly detailed execution — with input from industry pros such as their longtime friend interior designer Tom Samet and the expertise of architect John Laffey, along with Koral Bros., the renowned Hamptons custom homebuilder.

Tents, cabanas, and all things nautical are themes that run throughout the interior of the 5,500-square-foot house, which contains parts that date back to the 1800s. The entry hall is nontraditional, with the kind of seating — a sofa and a pair of armchairs — that makes this space the definition of multifunctional, a recurring aspect of pretty much every room in a house that belies its size and delights with every turn.

Over time, bits and pieces were added on to the original structure, which was moved to this location from nearby Bridgehampton, producing a meandering floor plan of rooms leading into others, with the centerpiece being the living room, a soaring beamed space drenched with sunlight courtesy of massive windows framing the verdant landscape. A diamond-paned triangular gable window is the cherry on top of this eclectic sundae of a room — which is decidedly more furnished than decorated, showcasing the pair’s collection of bits and pieces of their wanderlust-driven lives. For many years, that was made possible by a classic 112-foot motor yacht, now replaced by a winter home in Palm Beach. But all of the vernacular of a life at sea has been packed into this one house: model ships, anchor door knockers, nautical paintings, large pieces of branch coral and, in the equally soaring kitchen, a large display of sailors’ knots.

Upon purchase, the house was clad in the weathered gray cedar shingles indigenous to the Hamptons. “We painted it white and added black shutters and trim to create more of a Connecticut feel, which we both like,” Pfeifle said. “We added railings, some windows along with awnings and outdoor curtains, and converted an existing garage into a den, which we use the most. The original den became our dining room.” It’s a room that harks back to the house’s humble farmhouse origins, what with its beadboard walls and ceiling, along with a staircase leading up to three out of five guestrooms. With the ability to seat 14 with ease, maximalist chic abounds, with nary an inch of wall space not adorned with more nautical paintings, portraits, clocks, mirrors and framed semaphore flags. It works.

The primary suite occupies its own wing and mimics the living room’s architecture with another triangular gable window and exposed beams. It’s cozy and copious at the same time, with a comfy seating area perfect for winding down or up. And when one has five guestrooms, it provides a necessary getaway, even for the most easygoing of hosts.

As is typical in so many houses of this ilk, the kitchen is Ground Zero. This one, however, is definitely not just for show. What else would explain not one, but two dishwashers? An antler chandelier dominates the room, along with towering cabinetry housing endless amounts of china, glassware and serving pieces. And anyone who has experienced the Pfeifle/Granville style of hospitality knows that no one ever leaves their house hungry. Either made by the homeowners, brought in from their roster of local sources or professionally catered, this is a household that takes entertaining seriously, whether it’s a backyard barbecue or clambake for a few friends (their “few” needs to be taken loosely; dinner is usually prepared for at least a dozen) to charity benefits and wedding receptions for hundreds. Nothing fazes them, as evidenced by their unique ability to somehow, someway concoct groaning boards of food and drink at a moment’s notice, usually featuring glamorous amounts of caviar accompanied by piles of potato chips.

Even the lowly powder room has been given the star treatment, with walls papered in nautical charts, a lavish shell-encrusted mirror, accents of a stylized zebra motif and a bulletin board loaded with scores of invitations and thank-you notes — proof that this ultimate party house is as much-loved by its guests as it is by its owners.