When TWA pilot Eugene John Tallarico started to hand build his home in Montauk in 1976, he knew it would be an experiment.
Influenced by the work of Buckminster Fuller and his geodesic dome structures, Tallarico set out to create an ultramodern-meets-cabin-in-the-woods retreat on a woodsy, isolated plot at 54 E. Lake Drive.
The result was a fully custom, 2,000-square-foot, cedar-shake dome home with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and massive windows inspired by an airplane cockpit. “He would pitch a tent and camp right in the middle of it while he worked,” says Gene Tallarico of his late father.
He’s now listing the property (for the first time) for $2.59 million with Kevin Iglesias of Signature Premier Properties. “There is nothing else like it,” says Iglesias. “It has 21,400 views on Zillow. It’s the most-viewed home on the East End.”
Tallarico calls the home, which features knotty paneling and a cupola, “a testament to wood.”
“It’s all about wood, and it’s in the woods,” he says. True, the dome home may have a whiff of the 1970s about it (love that or hate it), but don’t relegate wood to retro.
At 1694 Millstone Road in Sag Harbor, cedar siding creates a contemporary exterior for a new rectangular home. With seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and 9,000 square feet of living space, it’s on the market for $7.85 million with Jack Richardson of Serhant.
The siding complements the mature foliage on the 1.85-acre lot and the airy, modern, European-style interiors in light neutral tones. It’s a marriage of materials so smooth, with a vibe so chill, that it almost becomes invisible.
What’s ultra-apparent are the toys: the gunite infinity pool, tennis court and sprawling lower-floor wellness center complete with spa, gym, sauna and wine cellar.
But wood is obviously nothing new to the shingle-sided Hamptons, and some of the best examples of expert carpentry will be found in its historic homes.
The Frederick G. Potter House at 1 Lily Pond Lane in East Hampton, for instance, hit the market in September and is loaded with lumber.
Built in 1905 by architect Joseph Greenleaf Thorp on a 1.5-acre plot, the shingle-style, 13-bedroom, eight-bathroom, 7,500-square-foot stunner shows off with dark hardwood floors, curvaceous hardwood banisters, built-in shelves and cabinetry and an upper-story bedroom with lustrous wood-paneled walls and ceilings in a natural finish. Compass brokers Ed and James Petrie and Charles Forsman call it “a cherished testament to East Hampton’s enduring heritage.”
It’s asking $25 million. Tree-rific.