Must-Have Beach House Amenities
on Long Island's East End
by INHABIT EDITORS
The joys of summer are so much more
with these exceptional home features.
Tennis anyone? How about marshmallows roasting on an open fire? Or maybe you’d simply like some solitude by the sea? Read on for our favorite summer amenities and the homes across the Hamptons and North Fork — currently for sale — that deliver them.
Tennis Court
You’ll love this ace amenity, one that’ll turn summer into a smash. Whether for some high-intensity, friendly competition or just to perfect your developing slice serve, a tennis court can make any home as grand as the All England Club — even if you’re not playing on grass. Case in point, lush flora surrounds this five-bedroom Water Mill home, creating a singularly serene center court. After some ferocious and bombastic forehands and backhands, it’s a short walk up to the pool and expansive deck for picture-perfect relaxation atop this acre-plus property. Inside, wooden beams and vaulted ceilings only enhance the feeling of tranquil escape.
Outdoor Shower
For whatever reason, being able to shower outside always feels like the ultimate summer luxury. There is a magic to the sun shining overhead, nature’s symphony playing all around, and not needing to worry about fogging the mirror while the soap suds flow that is indefinable. You likely won’t find a more chic outdoor shower across the East End than at this stupendous East Hampton home, one mixing a traditional wood plank stall milieu with ultra-modern fixtures. After a day in the sand — either at nearby Egypt Beach or, if your swing is bad, nearby Maidstone Club — or hours spent in and around the pool, hitting the showers outside sounds divine.
Bayfront Dock
Who’s to say it isn’t better by the bay? It’s there where East End homes sport private docks, allowing ventures into calm waters at one’s own pace, whenever. Crafts of all types ply placid seas from bayfront landings, supplying a special experience where sailing into port always means finding the comforts of home. This shingle-style manse sits shoreside of Mecox Bay, boasting 220 feet of bulkheaded frontage. There are many aquatic avenues to explore on the Mecox, but sticking close to these shores is never a drag — whether you’re catching views from the sprawling backyard terrace or entertaining in the waterside dining room.
Fire Pit
When the day winds down into a low-key evening, gathering around a fire pit is the ideal nightcap. However, providing warmth after the sun has set is only an aspect of a backdrop so versatile for other activities. Chat with friends over drinks, roast marshmallows for s’mores, or even bust out the guitar for some singalongs. At this refined East Hampton home, a wood-burning fire pit tucks into a corner of the bucolic backyard shaded by towering white pines — really, a picture-perfect setting. Flairs like a saltwater pool, a home gym with heated floors, and masterful room-to-room flow ultimately make this residence beyond cool for the summer.
Private Beach
Perhaps there are some outliers, but it’s safe to say people go to the beach to relax. Well, what could be more relaxing than a beach right at home with no one else around? A private slice of the sand is rare and, naturally, quite coveted. Peace and harmony by the sea cannot be underrated if the opportunity arises. Like this Mattituck estate, flaunting 132 feet of personal Peconic Bay frontage. Astoundingly, it provides the best of both East End worlds, combining pastoral North Fork and beachfront Hamptons vibes into one incomparable package. Your eyes will never wander too far from the bay’s soothing swells, on thorough display outside and in.
Outdoor Kitchen
There’s no time like the summer to dine al fresco, to feast en plein air. You know, eat outside. An outdoor kitchen is what it sounds like exactly, and also so much more. Call us cavalier, but if there’s an opportunity to do a typically indoor activity outdoors, you have to go for it — especially if the venue is the outdoor kitchen at this modern Bridgehampton stunner. The kitchen faces south over Sam’s Creek, part of a back deck pergola, and comes equipped with a grill, a dining table, and a gas fire pit lounge. A retractable glass and shade roof, phantom screens, and heaters make this an all-weather, all-season space that’ll elicit many a “yes, chef.”
Finished Lower Level
Sadly, the reality of east coast summers is that there will be rainy days. But don’t let a little water wash away your joy. A finished lower level is a blank slate, a space open to all configurations for joyfully passing the time and waiting out the weather. And while you could play to your passions and go all in on one use for the area — be it a home theater, home gym, or even home arcade — it’s best to opt for the multi-purpose route like this Sag Harbor five-bed. Make everyone happy. When not shooting pool, catching up on shows, or generally lounging, head upstairs to relax in grandeur at this modern take on the area’s traditional residential form.