The Moor House

John Irwin, president of Hauppauge-based Irwin Contracting, knew that a tired, 1,900 square foot home located in an exclusive gated, waterfront community in East Islip was perfect for a renovation. But it was in need of major improvements to complement the upscale surroundings, and that is exactly what Irwin and his team accomplished, buying and renovating the house on speculation, and selling it quickly even in a down market.

“This is a high-end market so you have to build quality into the project. The kitchen and baths and outside areas are so important. Everyone who came into this house loved it,” said Irwin. Although the house sold quickly, the project was not without design complications.

For starters, due to zoning regulations which prohibited any expansion within 75-feet of the canal, enlarging the footprint was impractical. Given that the existing home was a ranch, the solution was to build up. Working with an architect, Irwin passed several design concepts until they design was just right. The final home size, including garage space, came in at 6,400 square feet.

To accomplish this expansion, the entire first floor was remodeled and a second story was added, which included four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a gym, sitting room and outdoor terrace that overlooks the inlet. By moving the family bedrooms upstairs, the downstairs was opened up to accommodate a formal dining room and grand foyer which join the existing, but expanded kitchen. New spaces also include a media room and workshop plus a garage expanded to three bays. A private suite for a service resident includes a bedroom with private bath also on the first floor.

The rearranged space translates to improved home functionality. A second staircase was added to improve the flow of the home. Laundry rooms with washer and dryers are located on both floors for convenience and central vacuum ports are mounted throughout the home.

Storage was thought of during the design process and the master bedroom has four walk-in closets. But in the upstairs sitting room, there was not much space to spare for closets.

The solution was to create recessed shelving on either side of the doorway, a creative usage of space that worked with the room’s intended
purpose.

Traffic flows into the kitchen through two separate entrances, with one joining the dining room and another connecting the family room. The U-shaped kitchen places the cooktop against one wall, and the sink and wet countertop area underneath a window that looks out towards the water. Opposite, a baking center and microwave are mounted in custom cherry cabinetry. Countertops are granite and a matching island in the center of the kitchen provides space for food preparation.

Between the kitchen and living room is an architectural highlight: a striking, dual-sided natural gas fireplace that provides an appealing feature viewed not only from one room, but two. Above the fireplace, on each side, is a flat screen television. The entire surround is trimmed in beautiful cherry with custom crown molding and raised panel doors that flank both sides of the fireplace and televisions.

Attention to detail was also applied to material choices in the bathrooms which were fully tiled in onyx with mosaic accents. The granite countertop in the powder room was custom cut to fit a curved wall. Atop this counter sits a vessel sink and wall mounted faucets complete the falling-water design.
To maximize the view of the Great South Bay in the front and canal in the rear, oversized and curved windows and full-length glass French doors allow greater visibility from inside, and a private terrace and balcony brings the view closer while outside.

The entire outdoor space was also remodeled, and a heated pool is the signature highlight. Surrounding the pool are pavers and a bluestone patio rests between the house and this area for entertaining.