The landscape architect Ed Hollander, who designed the inn’s green spaces, says: “The Hedges Inn was one of the grande dames of East Hampton, but a grande dame that was down on her luck.” He and Wetenhall wanted to give the garden a little love and make it as “quintessentially East Hampton” as possible. That meant “climbing roses clamoring over a white picket fence, lush bundles of hydrangeas in shades of blue and purple and white, flowers in the garden inviting one to sit outside and enjoy a cocktail at the most fragrant time in the early evening,” he adds. The result is something like a secret garden, a place where you could spend all night drinking and sharing secrets by the fire. (There are also s’mores kits on offer, which is a nice touch.)
Walking up the stairs to my room, there’s a mix of antiques, vintage finds, quintessentially American quilts, maritime art, and pops of color, but it never veers kitschy. This is part of Netto and Sarah Wetenhall’s vision. As Wetenhall says: “Together, we wanted to create a hotel that feels collected rather than decorated—a place layered with antiques, vintage finds, custom furnishings, books, artwork, and objects that feel as though they’ve been gathered over generations.”
Upstairs, snack lovers will find a paradise in “Ahab’s Pantry,” a closet stocked with pretzels, chips, gummy candy, sparkling water, soda, and more, all for the taking. There’s no pool, but the beach is a few minutes away, and the inn offers a “Beach Butler” service. They’ll drive you to Main Beach and set you up with towels, chairs, an umbrella, and a cooler full of Evian.
Photo: Glen Allsop
Photo: Glen Allsop
