Asking $4.5M, this eclectic Bridgehampton home and artists’ studio was once a potato barn

This unusual home and working art studio at 488 Ocean Road in Bridgehampton, New York began life as a potato barn, embedded in the ground. In its utterly charming current life, the property is the home and studios of noted collage artist Karl Mann and acclaimed painter Hector Leonardi, who have lived and worked there for 32 years. Asking $4,450,000, the living quarters, art studios, and grounds have been rebuilt and renovated in a way that shows the owners’ creativity in every corner, while serving as a luxurious and comfortable Hamptons home. Surrounded by landscaped gardens and patios, the home sits next to a pair of loft-like studios.

The listing quotes Mann, who oversaw the rebirth of this historic property: “The secret to renovation is deciding how you want to live.” This idea is reflected throughout the home, where creativity, sunlight, nature, comfort, and luxury are all present and accounted for.

The living quarters are arranged in an “upside-down” fashion, with three bedrooms and three full baths on the first level. The primary bedroom offers French doors that open onto the private landscaped courtyard and terraced gardens below. The luxurious primary bath has a marble soaking tub. Also on this floor are two additional bedrooms, a full bath, a cedar closet, and a laundry room.

Along the stairs to the second floor, an artful collection of plates is displayed along the wall opposite a handrail made from iron park benches sourced from Ireland. On the second floor, the home’s spacious living area opens onto a modern country kitchen. A balcony overlooks the terrace, and French doors lead to a backyard patio.

Across a paved courtyard and through a wall of glass are a pair of beautifully designed art studios that open below vaulted ceilings. Anchoring the space is a historic wooden spiral staircase from Paris. This charming stair winds its way to a loft that overlooks the lower floor.

The second studio is framed by 14-foot glass walls and exposed beams. For comfort and convenience, an elevator offers access to the second level.

[Listing details: 488 Ocean Road at Douglas Elliman by Kyle Rosko and Marcy Braun]

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