Chic Montauk home designed by Surf Lodge tastemaker sells for $12.5M

Jennifer Gould
·3 min read
Montauk.
Montauk.

This Montauk, Long Island, beach house designed by Robert McKinley — whose effortless chic aesthetic includes the Surf Lodge and Ruschmeyers — has found a buyer.

The home, high on a bluff above Fort Pond Bay, was last asking $11.95 million, down from its original $12.5 million ask. It sold for $12.5 million in the end, we hear.

The all-inclusive deal includes almost all of the furniture — as well as all of the linens and tableware. The coffee table in the main living room and a lot of the lighting are by Monea, Studio Robert McKinley’s collection, as well as other vintage pieces. Not all of the art was available for sale, as it was on loan from a private collection, a McKinley spokesperson said.

The man behind Montauk’s famed Surf Lodge also designed this cedar-shingled Montauk beach house. Glen Allsop
The man behind Montauk’s famed Surf Lodge also designed this cedar-shingled Montauk beach house. Glen Allsop
A dining area inside the handsome beachy abode. Glen Allsop
A dining area inside the handsome beachy abode. Glen Allsop
The living room has a woodburning fireplace. Glen Allsop
The living room has a woodburning fireplace. Glen Allsop
Even the pool house is effortlessly chic. Glen Allsop
Even the pool house is effortlessly chic. Glen Allsop
Picture windows let in lots of natural light. Glen Allsop
Picture windows let in lots of natural light. Glen Allsop
An aerial of the waterfront escape. Hamptons Visuals
An aerial of the waterfront escape. Hamptons Visuals

The colorful, eclectic vibe is inspired by nothing less than nature itself.

“It’s like moving into a hotel where everything has been done for you. Nothing is standard or cookie cutter. It’s very refreshing, and very Montauk,” a source said.

The seller, an investment group, bought the home for $3.9 million in 2020 and then commissioned a gut renovation down to the studs, sources said. The buyer is Thomas Turner, the former CEO of Louisiana-based Turner Industries.

The five-bedroom, 5½-bath, cedar-shingled home at 8 Captain Balfour Way is 5,100 square feet and was completed last year. Sitting on 1.6 acres, it includes a deeded path to the beach, as well as 215 feet of bay frontage. The home is at the end of a cul-de-sac, up a long driveway, with plenty of privacy.

One of five bedrooms inside. Glen Allsop
One of five bedrooms inside. Glen Allsop
Another bedroom. Glen Allsop
Another bedroom. Glen Allsop
The Long Island beach house sits on 1.6 acres. Hamptons Visuals
The Long Island beach house sits on 1.6 acres. Hamptons Visuals
There’s a lovely pool with a Jacuzzi out back. Glen Allsop
There’s a lovely pool with a Jacuzzi out back. Glen Allsop
The Montauk manor has an open chef’s kitchen. Glen Allsop
The Montauk manor has an open chef’s kitchen. Glen Allsop

There’s an open floor plan with covered and open patios overlooking the bay, and a new infinity pool with a Jacuzzi and a pool house. The ensuite bedrooms are upstairs and most connect to a wrap terrace with views across the bay to Gardiners Island. Details include an open chef’s kitchen and an open living room with a woodburning fireplace, and a dining room that opens to the pool.

The listing broker was Rylan Jacka of Sotheby’s International Realty. The buyer’s brokers were James Lancaster and Matt Breitenbach, both of Compass. Breitenbach also repped Barstool Sports founder and CEO Dave Portnoy on his $10 million Montauk purchase in 2022. All brokers declined to comment.