A Harry Bates-designed home scheduled for the wrecking ball was renovated by SERHANT Sales Director Peter Zaitzeff and Architect Robert Dean into a stylish, mid-century modern home in the East Hamptons, N.Y. Zaitzeff and his wife, Annie Dean, bought the home in 2018 with the renovation vision in mind, prompting them to step into the home renovation industry.
“It was a teardown basically,” said Zaitzeff. “But we said no, the bones of the house are amazing. We were in love with it because of the pedigree—it was Harry Bates.”
Beginning in the 1960s, Bates designed scores of modernist houses on Fire Island and in the Hamptons that feature clean lines and simple materials. His rigorously modern, yet inviting homes became popular and influential on the East End of Long Island.
Prior to the renovation, trees were coming up into the decking, the wood was rotting, while the kitchens and bathrooms were dilapidated. Working with Dean, they completely redid the house and built a 1,500-square-foot addition behind it. They also removed the pool and replaced it with a new gunite one, added a basement, as well as a garage. To open up the 1-acre property and bring in more natural light, they took down 150 trees and replaced them with a few native varieties.
Photo Credit: Neil Landino
