By: Benyamin Davidsons
This isn’t just another house listing in the Hamptons.
This is the East Hamptons home of art and antique connoisseurs Barbara and Lloyd Macklowe. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the couple has been filling their home with rare antique furniture and art for the past 30 years.
Though the art and furniture will not be sold as part of the home, the Macklowes have put it up for sale, asking $60 million. The waterfront home is nestled on over 1.5 acres located between Georgica Pond and the Atlantic Ocean. The home boasts roughly 6,100-square-feet of space with five bedrooms and four wood-burning fireplaces.
The Macklowes opened New York’s Macklowe Gallery in 1971, becoming well-known dealers of French art nouveau furniture, collectibles, sculptures, paintings and antique jewelry. They have since retired leaving their business to their son. They had purchased the Hamptons property in 1992 for $3.45 million, to serve as their country home.
As per the WSJ, when they purchased the property, the home was wasn’t in good condition, but they felt it had potential. The couple spent four to five times the cost of the home on extensive renovations, Mrs. Macklowe noted. “We’re in the antique business, so we’re used to old things,” she said. “We saw it as something to bring back to life.” The property has a sprawling lawn between the home and the beach, and boasts views of the pond and the ocean, said listing agent Kyle Rosko of Douglas Elliman, who is marketing the property along with Marcy Braun from the same firm.
Mr. Macklowe’s brother, real-estate developer Harry Macklowe, owns a house across the street in the East Hampton, as per property records. Barbara and Lloyd Macklowe renovated their home, adding a large entry foyer, replacing a brick wall with bay windows, and enlarging windows throughout to add light and highlight the water view. “We made the view the most important thing,” said Mrs. Macklowe. She personally designed the garden, planting Japanese maple, Yoshino cherry and apple trees, and adding roses, hydrangeas, irises, and peonies. They also added a separate three car garage.
The couple, whose primary residence is in Palm Beach, Fla., made the decision to list the home, feeling it was good time and citing their age. She is 80 and he is 87. “We want something smaller,” she said. “It’s time for a change.” In regards to the collectables in their home, she said: “We hope that we can bring a lot of our things with us,” but “I haven’t gone there yet.”
