EDITOR'S LETTER

Seasons come and seasons go. All have vitality in their own way. I have always felt sadness at the end of summer yet excitement about fall. This year I find the two seasons are blending together even more. Is it that we are speeding through life, or is it that the heavy rains we had at the end of the summer made the harvest arrive sooner? The farm stands are always the best indicator of the calendar. They were filled with orange and white pumpkins by early to mid September. (The East End was the first place I ever saw white pumpkins over 25 years ago. It was then that I came to enjoy the year-round beauty found here.)

In this issue we share with you Hamptons homes that are enjoyed in every season, whether a primary residence or a second home. Designer Tom Samet and his partner Ross Meltzer found a dilapidated barn from 1901 in Amagansett that had been remodeled in the 1940s. They literally raised its roof to create their all-season getaway. Turn to page 54 and see how this 1,500-square-foot home has been transformed with all the luxuries of a grand estate.

A house that was literally designed on a grand scale for actor Roy Scheider, his wife Brenda Siemer and their children Molly and Christian is situated on a breathtaking piece of property in Sagaponack. The challenge architect Faruk Yorgancioglu faced in designing their year-round family home was making its 6,000 square feet appear less massive. Truly a collaborative effort, they met the challenge and succeeded. The unpretentious house even has a modest front door and unpretentious interiors. It is a family home that is comfortable in the grandest sense.