Real Estate Showcase Archive

Call them the ‘boomerang generation’ or what you will, but the evidence is in: these days, after college (or a breakup), a lot of grown children are moving back in with Mom and Dad. The Beechwood Organization, one of Long Island’s largest home developers, sensed an opportunity in this phenomenon and went with it.

One of the best-selling home designs at Country Pointe at Coram, Beechwood’s newest townhouse community, is a 2BR/2.5bth with the master suite on the first floor, rather than upstairs with the other bedroom. “Originally we had designed just a few like that,” says Joyce Skarka, director of sales and marketing for Beechwood. “But the demand was so great, we decided to offer that design to whoever wanted it… It’s been extremely popular.”

The homes at Country Pointe range from about 1,800 to 2,000 sf, and have a starting price of $350,000. Many bedrooms boast skylights and roomy sitting areas, and baths may be enhanced with marble tiling and countertops. The clubhouse has a large lounge area with a fireplace, plasma-screen TV, fitness center and pool - so all members of the family have someplace to go.

MODERN TWIST ON HISTORY
On Farm Lane in Locust Valley, on the grounds of an old horse farm with a barn, seven new single-family homes are being built by The Klar Organization. Steven Klar, the firm’s president, says it took more than five years to get all the approvals needed to begin construction. “The town was very serious about keeping the designs and concepts historical.” Case in point, he says: “The local burger place is Buckram Stables Café, not Burger King.”

The architect for the project, Greg Andrea, is locally situated, further ensuring that these 3 and 4BR homes reflect the history and character of the town (for example, exteriors have cedar siding and shakes). Inside, master bedroom suites are spacious, with walk-in closets and master baths complete with Kohler soaking tubs and separate ceramic stall showers. All homes feature kitchens that flow right into the family rooms. “The style is traditional, but people want the inside to match the kinds of lives they live today,” Klar explains.

Still, in the spirit of celebrating years gone by, homes are being shown in a ‘Decorator Showcase’, with antique furnishings supplied by Cotter Kroboth, Ltd. and Locust Valley Antiques. Properties are priced from $1.175 to $1.5 million.

PICTURE THIS
In the late 1940s, jetsetting Vogue photographer Horst P. Horst (he took the famous “corset” photo to which Madonna paid homage in her Vogue video) bought a 10-acre parcel of land in Oyster Bay Cove, located on Long Island’s prestigious North Shore. Horst’s house is still there, but today on 2.5 acres of his original property you’ll find a brand-new 5000sf home on the market for $2.795 million.

This spectacular traditional Colonial, brought to you by master builder Eric Friedlander, has 5 BRs, 4.5 bths, and features herringbone oak floors, 9ft ceilings and wainscoting throughout. A majestic floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace is the focal point of the family room. The kitchen is a cook’s dream, with six-burner Thermador stove, two Bosch dishwashers and granite countertops.

According to Valerie Van Cleef, manager of Coach Real Estate Associates in East Norwich, this property has an added draw because of the outstanding beauty of the landscape. Though Horst famously shot most of his subjects indoors, he also had a deep appreciation for nature. It’s not hard to see why he chose Oyster Bay Cove as a balance to Paris high society.