Mark McIntire and Stuart Sklar Upsize in Southampton Village

For Mark McIntire and Stuart Sklar, a design and media pro and an entrepreneur in the beauty industry, respectively, life seemed hunky-dory.

Both had busy, consuming careers, a large apartment in an iconic Greenwich Village building and a modest little Southampton weekend getaway: a 1960s ranch style house, sensitively updated and expanded, but still smallish. It suited them perfectly for 23 years. A low-key, congenial pair, their life has always included at least one if not a pair of golden retrievers, one of the most loving, devoted breeds of dogs, albeit a lot of dog. So as their life evolved beyond the grueling grind that brought them much success, so too did their housing needs.

“It was time to downsize in New York and upsize in Southampton,” said McIntire, who now chairs the Village of Southampton Architectural Review Board, an auspicious position for someone who held leadership roles at Viacom in New York and the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

Planned prior to the pandemic, this upsizing consisted of purchasing a similar house to the one in which they were living, but on a larger lot. The appeal? The house had been condemned by the Town of Southampton and was approved for demolition in 2018. There, they would ultimately build their dream house, while simultaneously trading in their Greenwich Village co-op for a small pied-à-terre on Sutton Place. All would have transpired seamlessly, of course, until … well, you know … the world being turned upside down by COVID. Like so many New Yorkers with second homes, they and their two dogs, Andy and Hubbell, fled to their weekend house, aptly known as “Small Potatoes.”

Less than a quarter mile away, the site for the new house sat fallow for a year while the plans took shape (by East Hampton architect Darren Helgesen) and permits were granted. “We were lucky. We got it framed just ahead of COVID,” McIntire said. “We had some delays, but not as painful as others.” Still, the new house took a year and a half to build (by Bruce Helier Builder) with a November 2020 move-in.

“Sweet Potatoes,” as the new home was christened, is indeed sweet. The lyrical, twin gabled shingle style traditional with gentle dormers reflects the owners’ subtle style and gracious sense of hospitality. Both McIntire and Sklar are great hosts, and especially enjoy having weekend guests, which they do often. The house has two double guest rooms on the second floor. As is common these days, the primary bedroom and en suite bath are on the ground floor, along with another guest room, a shared office, a music room with baby grand piano, and generous but unpretentious entertaining spaces. McIntire is an accomplished baker, and the large open kitchen has all the bells and whistles necessary for turning out the masterpieces for which he is known. Sklar is a seasoned sous chef, and the kitchen was carefully planned to allow multiple prep areas (including a comprehensive baking station) for simultaneous tasking. Every drawer and cabinet is carefully thought out. A row of bar stools fronts the two-tiered island and expectedly is the natural hangout for cocktails while dinners are being prepared. The dining area is soaring, with enough seating for a crowd, and effortlessly flows into the central living space. All open to a raised bluestone terrace, followed by a serene pool with spa and pool house complete with bar and bath. It’s idyllic.

Hubbell went to dog heaven after a happy life. Now, there’s just Andy, an equally happy dog whose wagging tail frequently sweeps hors d’oeuvres off the large square living room coffee table. Nobody seems to mind, though. That’s how relaxed and easy these homeowners are, an aesthetic that is woven throughout every room, all flawlessly executed by Water Mill’s C. Farrar Design. Deep seating is low and neutral, although Andy has been carefully trained to stay off the sofas and chairs. Built-in bookcases flank a large wood-burning fireplace, with a carefully curated collection of white ceramics, some vintage and some more new than not.

But as in most Hamptons homes which are dog-centric, the décor borders on irrelevant. Clearly this is Andy’s house, and these homeowners take a back seat to the needs of one very present canine. Said McIntire about the honed limestone floors that grace the kitchen and dining room, “Half the goal was to be Andy-covered.” Indeed, all flooring is a close coordinate to Andy’s lush coat. Year round, he is walked on the beach each morning, and the spacious terrace and yard are also his domain, including the pool and great expanses of lawn. “What I love about the house is that it’s flooded with light throughout the day, all year long,” Sklar said. “And while it has tons of space, it’s intimate at the same time.” Doggone it, that’s one sweet potato of an accomplishment.