A Century of Elegance in the Hamptons

Celebrating the 100-year anniversary of one of America's most charming seaside estates, this book traces Meadowcroft's heritage through a line that includes the noted architect Wilson Eyre, Louis Comfort Tiffany, the Conklin Family - among Long Island's earliest settlers - and the Shiboleths, who bought and began restoring the home and grounds in 2000.

An extraordinary example of mansion-as-cottage, Meadowcroft is a quietly engaging estate replete with creative architecture, brilliant design solutions and extraordinary landscaping all by Wilson Eyre, the artist/architect who founded House and Garden magazine. It is further enhanced with the lighting of Louis Comfort Tiffany who was commissioned to do all the lighting in the house. His beautiful lights on top of the entry pillars still exist and are among the few lighting features original to this estate.

The book also features owners Lynn Kromingo and Amnon Shiboleth who are in the process of returning the property to its earlier elegance while creating a warm, familial atmosphere. This focus on the family continues the original conception of Meadowcroft, which was designed as a home for the Conklin family when the Hamptons were still a farming community only just being discovered as a haven from New York City.

Author Michael McKenzie has written more than 20 books on such diverse topics as Madonna, Saturday Night Live and artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Claes Oldenburg. He is currently working with architects from Philip Johnson's architectural design firm on a large-scale building and design project. Photographer Michael Skott is renowned for his use of natural and created light. His photographs of Meadowcroft give intimate glimpses into the grandeur and details of this creative and extraordinary estate.

Meadowcroft: A Century of Elegance in the Hamptons, by Michael McKenzie, American Image Books, Inc., New York City, 2004; 104 pages, hardbound, $45.