Kermit the Frog might have lamented that it isn’t easy being green, but then again he wasn’t living at Cedar Farm, a net-zero eco-luxury project that bills itself as future-ready with its attention to environmentally sensitive design, construction and systems.
Sited on 1.73 acres in East Hampton, the 7,178-square-foot home at 25 Cedar Street was designed to minimize its energy footprint while maximizing natural resources such as solar power, sun exposure and water conservation. Powered by a 22.4kw solar power system and constructed with high R value wall and ceiling insulation, thermal windows, on-demand water heating and a geothermal heating and cooling system, the home was built to generate more energy than it will consume.
Listing agent Krae Van Sickle of Saunders & Associates, says “the green concept is increasingly attractive to people.”
Built with leading-edge eco-features, Sickle says, “This house is prepared to live in the circumstances of the future. It’s not just energy efficient but a holistic view of how to live environmentally conscious.”
The house architecture will please those who like the barn aesthetic but with major modern upgrades. Built in two sections, the main component runs on a north-south axis and features a double-height peaked roof, handsome vertical red-cedar wood siding and recalls the characteristics of a New England barn.
But the east-west axis, with its sliding doors and floor-to-ceiling oversize windows, gives the home an almost resort feel. The sustainable siding, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, was treated with a chemical-free stain that will naturally age. Other construction and finishing materials such as cabinets, paints and sealants are low volatile organic compound (VOC).
The main level is an open plan encompassing a generous 2,934 square feet running east-west and appears even larger, thanks to a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and a double-height transom. Upon entering the foyer with its radiant-heated slate flooring, a mudroom to the right provides a convenient area for footwear, jackets and small outdoor gear such as tennis racquets. To the left is an ensuite guest bedroom.
Entering the great room, a sculpted walnut open staircase is the commanding feature that connects all three levels, providing continuity from top to bottom. On the other side of the staircase is a den with floor-to-ceiling windows, which can be reimagined as a home office. The adjoining deck is covered.
Separating the kitchen from the dining room is a handsome walnut island that seats four (think upgraded kid’s table next to the grownups!) with the same honed granite as the countertops—here in a waterfall design. Appliances include a Viking induction cooktop and two Thermador stainless wall ovens. The Sub-Zero French-door refrigerator and Fisher & Paykel dishwasher are integrated in the walnut cabinetry. Adjacent to the kitchen is a fully equipped pantry with a Viking refrigerator, Thermador dishwasher, and dual-zone wine cooler with a 46-bottle capacity. Both prep areas have Blanco sinks.
A double-sided wood-burning Venetian plaster fireplace bisects the living room, affording two separate seating areas. Sited in a corner of the house, it enjoys maximum light exposure from the oversize windows, transoms and sliding doors. Here, as throughout the home, the floors are seven-inch white-oak-stained plank.
Four ensuite bedrooms occupy the second floor of the north-south section, with two primary suites at either end of the long structure. High-peaked ceilings in the bedrooms give an airy feel and the windows provide views over the yard and mature plantings. All bathrooms have skylights, California faucet sets, Calacatta marble countertops and Restoration Hardware vanities; the bathrooms in the primary suites include Victoria and Albert soaking tubs.
Designed for recreation and utility, the lower level includes a gym with a steam shower, media room, climate-controlled wine cellar and a guest bedroom with full bath. Auxiliary spaces include storage and a laundry room with twin sets of appliances.
Around the periphery of the house are 2,210 square feet of deck and patio areas—1,610 of which are covered. Just outside the kitchen is a 170-square-foot bluestone-paved outdoor kitchen area with a 42-inch, four-burner grill and rotisserie burner.
Outbuildings include a two-car heated garage with EV charging and an adjoining outdoor shower; a 190-square-foot pool pavilion with a kitchenette and outdoor shower, and another 210 square feet of covered lounge space. The 16 x 50 heated gunite pool has an integrated spa that seats six, which can be heated separately in the winter and remain functional.
Cedar Farm is unique in its scale and its focus on seclusion, Sickle says. Its 360-degree privacy trees and plantings add to the feeling of enclosed but ample personal space that’s still just a quick walk to the village.
“It’s a constellation of qualities brought together for this project, on an oversized lot that’s fully cleared, adjacent to park land, with immediate proximity to the village and leading-edge green features—a super rare combination,” he says.
The property is next to the East Hampton Historical Farm Museum, just over a mile to the East Hampton Recreation Department, and less than two miles from the Maidstone Club and beaches.
The comprehensive net-zero energy details for this house, which lists for $8,995,000, can be seen in the flip book onsite here.