Our Favorite Things to Do in the Hamptons This Summer

There are so many things to do in the Hamptons, and as the hot and humid days of August drive New Yorkers to leave the city for the East End, we have put together a list of some of our favorite things to do.

We’ve created this list for those who are seeking activities that aren’t as popular, attractions you won’t find on Time Out New York’s list, allowing you to avoid the crowds and have an authentic Hamptons experience.

By the Plum Builders Inc. team.

The summer is a mad rush out here and it’s difficult for locals to find their summer days.

What we enjoy doing is usually very different than visitors or summer people.

We stay away from all restaurants, beaches and public places Thursday-Sunday as much as humanly possible. Instead, we head to the farm stand or villages before the visitors wake up and enjoying the beauty of the farm and the peace on the village streets.

Discover Amazing Art Exhibits & Concerts

As great as it is to enjoy the beach and delicious food, the Hamptons has much more to offer. Take some time to check out the exhibits on display while you’re visiting. These are showcased in a rotation, and they never disappoint.

A great resource to bookmark to keep tabs on what will be happening during your visit is the Hamptons Art Hub which has extensive coverage of what’s happening in the East End art scene.

Summer in the Hamptons showcases a full calendar of concerts and the talent that comes to town is second to none. There are fantastic concerts at Amagansett Square and Talk House, or you can hit two birds with one stone and do a wine tour and then catch a summer music show at Wolffer Estates.

Off The Beaten-Beach

Going to the beach in the Hamptons can be overwhelming at times. We recommend connecting with nature and family and enjoying beach BBQ’s and fires in the evenings when the crowds have gone. You can also rent a kayak and paddle out to the more remote stretches of beach, this is where the magic of the Hamptons can be found, on the water and off the beaten path.

Eat, Drink, Repeat.

We love food. Let’s be more specific, we love great food! Once the day is done, it’s time to get cleaned up and a find a dinner spot for the evening. There are definitely going to be times when you stay in and make something special for you and yours. But, it’s worth tasting all that the Hamptons has to offer.

We prefer family owned establishments like Michaels’ Maidstone Bar and Restaurant. Michaels’ has been in business for over 40 years, located near Maidstone beach. The restaurant is charming and unpretentious and the food is diverse, sophisticated comfort food. Tip: if you do make it to Michaels’ then you’ll want to catch a sunset at Maidstone beach.

We enjoy having brunch in the park on the water in Sag Harbor with iced coffee and treats from Sag Harbor Bakery. “Free ice cream Wednesday” at Bay Burger, outside or out back seating enjoying the warm weather.

Last, head to Ditch Plains in Montauk early in the morning and watch the surfers with an egg sandwich and cup of coffee from Goldbergs Bagels.

Work on Your Golf Swing

Whether you’re an avid golfer or don’t have much of a swing, it’s still worth going to the golf course at least once. In the Hamptons, the best place to go is Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

The course here is like none other, it hosted this year’s U.S. Open. It’s a breathtaking sight and a challenging game all in one.

Connect with Nature

The final thing you have to do in the Hamptons this summer is to enjoy the nature all around you. Going to the beach is fun and all, but the beautiful forestry and calmer waters in the surrounding areas are worth exploring.

The Hamptons has a handful of national parks and reserves, visit the Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge and Linda Gronlund Memorial Nature Preserve Sagg Swamp Nature Preserve.

Who doesn’t love a good sunrise, set your alarm and catch one of the most beautiful scenes the Hamptons has to offer in Indian Wells Beach. The key here is that you’ll be there and gone before the rest of the world shows up.

You Might Decide To Stay

Many who visit the Hamptons fall in love with it and decide to stay, some seasonally and others year round. If you’re considering making this your home and building out here, then you might find our resource helpful.

Finally, while there is no shortage of things to do in the Hamptons in the summertime, last winter we put together our list of things to do in the Hamptons during the off season.

WHAT HOME BUYERS WANT WHEN BUILDING A LUXURY HOME

In The Know by Al Giaquinto President, Plum Builders Inc.

 

To answer the question of what home buyers want Al Giaquinto shares his insights and how the needs of the clients have shaped his forward-thinking and trademarked design The Modern Barn®.

What are clients asking for?

Most clients are compelled to build new or to renovate because they need more bedrooms than they currently have. As little as 30 years ago 3-bedroom homes were the standard. So, clients today usually expect us to design and build for a minimum of 5, and one of them can be in a lower level.

Homebuyers like all bedrooms to be ensuite, and they usually ask for special attention for their own master suite to make the space comfortable and private.

We sit with new clients asking dozens of questions to get a sense of what our clients need.

What we continuously hear is that they want a home that fits their family and then a home that reflects their lifestyle and summer! They want bright, light and comfortable living which is clean and uncluttered.  

Many shingle style homes still have a formal dining room, and most families want to reallocate that space differently. They want to open the kitchen, take down the walls and push the boundaries of socializing to accommodate the greater need for space.  

Modern Barn® Room

They ask us for The Modern Barn® Room, this room is normally an oversized space that can accommodate at least two eating areas. Today those spaces are normally anchored by popular long tables that serve many functions besides a place for sharing meals.

So, clients today are looking for multifunctional useful spaces that can fit a crowd of family and friends that are sharing a meal or raising a glass in celebration or hosting a book club, perhaps even displaying a science project for all to view.

Visit our gallery to experience expansive living.

In keeping with light and bright spaces, clients want light colored wood floors and countertops that don’t stain and neutral colors as a backdrop in showcasing the natural world outside.

And clients want just enough wall to show off an oversized painting or photograph or a collection of their choosing.

To us, this is recognition of the yearning for human nature to live in meaningful spaces which are comfortable, light, bright, and functional.

If you’re interested in building your own Modern Barn® we would love to hear from you, contact us to explore the possibilities.

Experience The Modern Barn® Room

 

The Modern Barn’s signature “Great Room” is the centerpiece of the home.

 

Its inspiration draws all the way back to the Great Halls of Medieval times.

 

For Plum Builders, the architecture of The Modern Barn® Room emulates this tradition in a modern way, the traditional elements come from the mass and size of the room.

 

The barn architecture itself is historical, a gabled form with high walls typically two stories.

 

 

The Modern Barn® Room is spacious and cozy and is the place where families gather together.

 

For many families, this is where they congregate for holidays and family get-togethers.

 

It’s large enough to accommodate extended family and friend gatherings that are common in the Hamptons.

 

 

Our clients smile when they enter The Modern Barn® Room, as a natural reaction to natural light and the open space.

 

Then, they begin to absorb the details.

 

The Modern Barn® rooms incorporate three spaces into one: living, dining, and kitchen.

 

With boundaryless living areas, families can be together in a single space.

 

The scale of each two-story great room is enormous, marked by cathedral ceilings and oversized retractable doors.

 

One or two walls are mostly glass bringing the outside in and the inside out.

 

 

The size of the room affords abundant space for 14-18 ft long islands, with a back wall, creating a modern galley kitchen.

 

This is the most popular kitchen layout in modern design. It’s easy to work in and entertain in and socialize with the family.

 

The oversized barn doors in the great rooms are custom designed for each Modern Barn®.

 

Grand stairways create statement pieces for the home and are eye-catching focal points upon entry.

 

Another signature element of a Modern Barn® great room is the placement and scale of windows and glass doors.

 

The fireplace is the main mass which adds balance to the grandeur space and creates or sets a scale for the furnishings and the people in the space.

 

The Modern Barn® Room also provides plenty of access to the outdoors, by way of sliding glass walls.

 

Designed to bring the outside in as much as possible, these elements allow families to connect with nature at all times.

 

 

The 10 Best Things To Do In The Hamptons In The Winter

 

Winter is coming soon! To celebrate, we’ve put together a list of our favorite things to do in the Hamptons in the Winter season. These are our top picks as a team at Plum Builders – things we love to do with our friends and family! Whether you’re just visiting for the season or have been here forever, have a look at our favorite things to do, and enjoy this winter!

 

Top Picks for Hamptons Winter Activities  Our Favorite Things to Do

 

Scheduled Trail Walks

 

Don’t stay inside all winter long. Take a scheduled trail walk alongside the bay and harbors, or plan your own self-paced walk with a friend or two. See the East Hampton Preservation Society website (http://www.ehtps.org/new-page/) for more information on scheduled activities.

 

Bike to the Beaches and Bays

The winter is a perfect time to take a bike ride to the beaches and bays. The roads are clearer, creating plenty of space for you to bike safely. While there, soak in the incredible views (perfect time to use your camera).

 

Go Ice Skating or Play Indoor Tennis

 

We recommend breaking out your ice skates and putting them to good use this winter. Head down to Town Pond when it’s cold enough to skate outside. When it’s not, check out the Southampton Ice Rink or the Buckskill Winter Club for ice skating.

 

 

You can also stay active in the winter in East Hamptons with indoor tennis. Winter is the perfect time to take lessons and be ready to compete when the weather warms up.

 

Visit Montauk Lighthouse and Cedar Point Park

 

This winter, be sure to make time to visit the historic Montauk Lighthouse. The lighthouse is among the oldest active lighthouses in the US (learn more). While you’re there, soak in the stunning sunsets at Cedar Park Point. Winter is such a perfect time to do this.

 

“Go watch the sunset at Cedar point park by the light house. It’s gorgeous and no one really goes there in the winter so you get time to yourself… away from it all.” — Maritza G./Plum Builders

 

Celebrate Harborfrost in Sag Harbor

 

Spend a day celebrating winter with a festival on Main Street! Plans for the 2018 festivities haven’t been released just yet, but past years have been memorable – include the 2017 Fire & Ice celebration. Stay tuned to the website here for details: https://sagharborchamber.com/events/harborfrost/

Go to Gingerbread University (Riverhead)

 

 

This one is a family favorite and truly one of the best things to do in The Hamptons in the Winter! Learn how to create your own incredible, edible gingerbread house in a one-hour decorating session. You’ll “graduate” from Gingerbread University with a creation to call your own and the confidence to build another. Reservations are strongly recommended. More info: http://www.gingerbreaduniversity.com/contact.

 

Visit the Guild Hall Museum

 

If you enjoy visual, creative, and performing arts, then this winter, schedule a trip to the Guild Hall Museum. This spectacular art museum features something for everyone in the community. Upcoming events include musical performances and art installations to benefit events and workshops. For more information, visit www.guildhall.org.

 

Enroll in a Workshop at the East Hampton Library

In the winter, many people take advantage of facilities that are normally very busy during the summer. The library is one of those places! The East Hampton library sponsors classes and activities year-round for local residents, from toddlers to adults. Special events include game nights for teens, 3D printing workshops, book clubs, author nights, and evening English as a Second Language classes for adults.

 

Dine Out at Our Favorite Restaurants

 

 

Get out of the cold and cozy up to good food and fun at one of our favorite restaurants and bars:

 

Dopo La Spiaggia – Italian eatery with a fireplace to keep you warm! 31 Race Lane

The Highway Restaurant and Bar – Fireplace, fantastic bar, and fun. 290 Montauk Hwy

Restaurant Week – Enjoy good eats at select restaurants during restaurant week at the end of March/early April every year.

 

Special: Donate to the East Hampton Food Pantry

 

This one is special to us at Plum Builders. Winter is traditionally a time of giving back to the community in various ways, and to each other, too. Every year, we at Plum Builders donate to the East Hampton Food Pantry and encourage you to do the same. Located at 159 Pantiago Road, the pantry accepts donations Monday through Thursday, from 9 AM to 2:30 PM. January, February, and March are the busiest months of the year for the pantry, so please consider donating as much as you can as early as possible.

 

Photo Credits: Facebook.com/Buckskill-Winter-Club, Facebook.com/MontaukLightHouse, Facebook.com/Gingerbread-University, Facebook.com/HighwayRestaurantandBar

Our Signature Modern Farmhouse Style Kitchen

 

When people imagine a modern farmhouse kitchen, few things typically come to mind. Bright rooms with tons of natural light due to well-oriented windows, large islands that fit the family, and farmhouse sinks almost always top the list.

 

The Modern Barn kitchen brings more to the table than these customary elements. Modern Barn kitchens have a distinctly contemporary feeling and are hubs of luxury in addition to being the heart of the home.

 

“There’s an emotional, visceral connection we have to food.” Al Giaquinto

 

Some of the basics in modern farmhouse kitchen design are fundamental and true to every original Modern Barn Kitchen.

 

– Openness and natural light

– Expansive islands that can seat 4 to 8 people (or more)

– Tons of counter space

– Ample storage

 

These elements are consistent in modern farmhouse kitchen design. An open kitchen with natural light through large windows are a signature in Plum Builders’ modern farmhouses. Modern farmhouse kitchens embody the family’s need to gather together to enjoy meals and to pass down family recipes and traditions.

 

Expansive islands allow enough space to gather for breakfast during weekend stays, holiday retreats, or summer vacations. They allow family chefs to converse with everyone else while preparing meals. In The Modern Barns, kitchen, dining, and living rooms are combined into one large room, further encouraging connection and discussion.

 

“Kitchens today are very different from kitchens in my grandmother’s time. My family would gather around the kitchen island in the morning for breakfast.” – Mary Giaquinto

 

Ample counter space and storage are two additional design staples found in the modern farmhouse kitchens of today. Thus, the kitchen becomes a place for more than just cooking. In a farmhouse kitchen, the design allows for homework, budgeting, games, and plenty of other family activities to be done simultaneously.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Design Elements

 

In addition to the four common design characteristics, these design elements are often found in modern farmhouse kitchens:

 

– Exposed beams

– Clean lines

– Industrial lighting

– Bright white cabinetry and surfaces

– Open shelving

– Farmhouse sinks

– Butcher block countertops

– Pendant lighting

– Modern ranges with wall mount range hoods

– Lantern lights or glass pendant lights

– Industrial stools

– Floor to ceiling cabinetry

 

Trendsetting Kitchen Design

 

In Modern Barn kitchens, designers also incorporate pull-down hoses and dual sink islands. Our kitchen design stays ahead of modern kitchen trends in many ways.

 

Every modern farmhouse kitchen in an original Modern Barn is unique, but nearly all are remarkably contemporary and luxurious. Design teams incorporate Italian ovens, marble countertops, quartz countertops, polished stainless steel, and modern lighting into the kitchens, an intentional contrast to the many rustic elements found in the homes.

Sustainable and Low-Maintenance

 

The Modern Barn Kitchens include sustainable design and materials and are notably low-maintenance. Today’s homeowners want homes that are sanitary. “When it comes to countertops, [homeowners are] interested in something that is clinically pure,” says Al Giaquinto.

 

There’s a common-sense element of the materials used in modern farmhouse kitchens, also. Sustainable, low-maintenance materials improve the value of the home and thus fulfill the demands of future homeowners.  

 

Natural Color

 

Modern farmhouse kitchens typically feature bright white cabinetry and other surfaces, including countertops and walls. In terms of color, designers tend to incorporate color only from natural elements such as wood or metal. Stoves, lighting, appliances, and finishes – such as fancy cabinet door handles – are sometimes the only color in the room aside from the homeowner’s own decor.

 

As a result, modern farmhouse kitchens look brighter, cleaner, and larger. The natural hues, local materials, and metallics maintain a modern transitional design approach where a traditional rustic feel lives concurrently in a very modern kitchen.

 

View our gallery of Modern Barn kitchen designs in our portfolio showcase.

Architect Spotlight: Al Giaquinto

 

Al Giaquinto is the president of Plum Builders, Inc., custom home builders and creators of The Modern Barn®. He is a Graduate Master Builder, Certified Graduate Remodeler, and Certified Green Builder with over three decades experience in custom home design-build.

 

At 16, Al was drawing models of homes. His father was a builder and contractor, and Al went on to graduate from Brooklyn Tech with a major in architecture. While his advanced degree is in accounting and finance, Al always knew he wanted to build homes.

 

Today, he’s president and CEO of Plum Builders, Inc., a design-build firm in East Hampton that he began with his wife of decades, Mary. Together, the Giaquinto’s built a company on the principles of integrity and quality that were instilled in them early on in their careers.

 

Below, Al shares his philosophy of design and a favorite, signature feature of The Modern Barn.

Philosophy of Design

 

The primary purpose of architecture and design is to enhance the in-the-moment experience of day to day life. Conscious design development elevates the everyday experience of the space we pass through every day. Architecture at its most fundamental level is about texture, light, color, space, and material.

 

The residential experience is what I’m most familiar with. It’s about how a family or an individual experiences his or her own space.

 

 

Passion

 

My passion is to create space that makes people feel good; a space that brings a sense of wonder and personal power of expression to their lives. It’s about the belief that things can come together – that meaning can happen in this space.

 

My personal favorite is The Modern Barn® room because it’s the essence of The Modern Barn style architecture. It combines space, light, materials, color, texture – and most importantly – glass, to bring the outside in and the inside out providing an organic sense of tranquility.

 

Luxury, quality, enduring style, and comfort are my touchstones and those of our clients. The constant search to discover products that achieve the highest echelons of these attributes at a practical cost is a large part of the work of Plum Builders.

 

Communal Spaces

 

Working class families, like the one I came from, lived in small rooms that were set apart for one activity, like sleeping or preparing and consuming food. The one room that was a large and open space was the lower level or the basement. As a child, we celebrated all the holidays in the one large open space of the basement.

 

But in Italy, especially when the weather cooperates, the residential outside garden or the commercial interior courtyard of a local restaurant substitutes for the communal space. It’s where people come together to share the celebrations of life or the passages of life.

 

Those communal rites have more importance in life today because they’re fewer in number as families have dispersed.

 

At Plum, we study how people live – how spaces flow, the re-arrangement of space, etc. – based on modern lifestyles and lifestyle activities.

 

What is going on in the Modern Mind?

 

Glossy – the modern design aesthetic recognizes the power of shine and gloss. Silver tones are the most prominent. I think it represents a kind of purity – truth, clarity, cleanliness – and youthfulness.

 

There is also a certain confidence in stone and metal. Smooth stone rather than rustic stone are the choices of the modern mind. Steel especially stainless steel because of its enduring quality, stability, shininess and low maintenance.

 

Color has great power. First, we start with white, but it needs to be high gloss. Then, grey; grey represents a feeling of solidity, endurance, and dependability. Very close to grey in importance is blue, from very pale shades of blue to deep navies (not black).

 

On The Modern Barn® Design

 

Plum Builders Inc. Unmatched Value

 

We have a business model that sets us apart from other builders and an exceptional build-design process. It’s proprietary and unique to our business. We’ve figured out how to build custom homes with incredible value by being intentional about how we communicate, organize, and plan. Because of the way we work at Plum Builders, efficiently and effectively in house, we are very competitive in this area.

 

Signature Feature: The Barn Doors

 

 

Our clients love the barn doors because they represent a solid interpretation of building materials. They’re oversized, two to three inches thick, and are usually hung on stainless steel tracks so they move smoothly.

 

In The Modern Barn®, bedroom and bathroom doors are smooth slabs with one fine detail such as a line positioned at a strategic location on the piece of wood.

 

I like moldings with fine lines. Lines identify space. There is well-being in defining space. I like base molding because it’s functional.

 

Read more about the team at The Modern Barn or view our portfolio of featured homes.