As a native San Francisco Bay Area transplant, I wanted to find some "Bay Area" on the East Coast and found it in Sag Harbor. The charm, beautiful marina and beaches reminded me of home. The friendly people (everyone says hi!) and easy living was a great respite from my hectic life in Manhattan. My weekend and summer home was my escape and the chance for my kids to grow up close to nature like I did. My key criteria was a neighborhood where I could walk to stores and restaurants, parks and beaches. The neighborhood I chose met all the criteria as it was situated near bay beaches and a short walk to town. The home we chose was situated on a small hill on a half-acre plot--a perfect size for a standard pool size and hot tub while allowing for entertainment areas and nice grassy areas for a hammock and room to throw a football. The original home was a "tear down" due to a faulty foundation and low ceiling height in the basement. So we built our dream home--one that was very bright with an open layout, a large kitchen, a great room with cathedral (vaulted) ceilings, and lots of windows/french doors. We also wanted each bedroom to have it's own bathroom, whether en-suite or closeby. That has made a big difference in quality of life for everyone that has stayed at our home. We also wanted a sprawling lower level floor that could serve as a relaxation and fun space. We built a finished basement with non-standard sized windows (5 times the typical) that let in natural light and 8 ft. high ceilings. We added a huge sectional sofa, flat screen TV, gym, electric keyboard, table games (ping pong, foosball), and yes, wall-to-wall carpet for full comfort.