House Tour Season Opens
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s annual house and garden tour, this year including six private properties in and around the village of East Hampton, will take place on May 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The evening before, May 9, from 6:30 to 8:30, a cocktail party will be held at a newly built classic cottage-style house on Ocean Avenue as a fund-raiser for the church’s community outreach programs.
Jim and Linda Brandi’s property on Dune Lane includes the only remaining elements of the original Italianate sunken walled garden that was part of the 600-acre Wiborg estate. The pool, arbor, and arboreal bench, designed by Victoria Fensterer, were installed in 2006.
Another site belongs to Monica Graham, who combined two properties on Inkberry Street, leaving an existing house for guests and building a modern home in the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright for herself. Ms. Graham created an Asian-inspired tiered stream and pond, and, working with Liz Curtin of Iron & Ivy, added specimen trees, a shade garden, a greenhouse, and a formal cutting garden.
Jack Ceglic and Manuel Casteliero live on two secluded acres on Huntting Lane, in the heart of the village. Mr. Ceglic is an artist and one of the founders of Dean & DeLuca, and Mr. Casteliero is an architect. The property includes a 1,000-square-foot studio with glass garage doors at either end, and a house with a large living room, stainless-steel kitchen, and book-lined side rooms.
Craig James Socia has been creating unique gardens on the East End for more than 20 years. Known for customized stonework, twig-style constructions, and topiaries, he lives on three linked properties on Accabonac Road, whose main house is furnished in hues of gray, white, and black. Among the furnishings are a classic leather Chesterfield sofa and a breakfast table from Lee Radziwill’s tag sale.
The garden of Dianne Benson, also known as Dianne B, is located on David’s Lane near the nature trail, and is the second garden she has created in East Hampton. Originally a fashion designer, Ms. Benson’s passion for gardening is based on the principles of fashion: form, pattern, shape, color, textures, and layers. Her property is reportedly home to the largest magnolia tree on the East End.
Kenlynne and Bill Mulroy’s East Hollow Road house, purchased in 2010, has a Japanese-style serenity reflected in the shaping of the trees, koi pond, gates, and roof. Focusing on an inner courtyard, the Mulroys added a pool, hot tub, Ping-Pong table, mahogany deck and pergolas, and a pool house. The additions were planned and are maintained by Carol Mercer and Lisa Verderosa of the Secret Garden.
Tickets to the tour are $75, $200 including the cocktail reception. More information is available at stlukeseasthampton.org.