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Spring in the East End

People come out of the woodwork as soon as the temperature rises above 60 degrees. Okay maybe above 50 degrees in the northeast. Our desire for sun, warmth and budding trees is mixed with a healthy dose of New York pessimism. Creatives are getting all creative and planning their next ad campaign. Would be brides are choosing their fantasy wedding location. Friends are planning your surprise 50th wedding anniversary party and need the perfect location.

Might I make a suggestion? Get in your car Marge, hop on the bus Gus, jump on the train Blaine and set your GPS for the east end of long island. Let's face it, ad budgets are not what they used to be. Skip the flight. Rent a 15 pass, load up your crew and head east. And you brides-to-be, the options for fabulous spots for your nuptials are staggeringly beautiful. Planning a party? Do your guest list a favor and choose a spot near the beach. 

Need assistance with all of this planning, finding the perfect spot (www.locatethis.net), the hotels, the caterers, the props and the crew? Locate This is a full service production company for shoots and events. Please feel free to contact me at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Waterside

This, my friends, is the quintessential waterside cottage. You really can't get any closer to the water without living on a houseboat. You can almost hear the boats rocking in the harbor when you look at these photos. And clearly you would expect it to have a blue and white color scheme. Anything else would be sacrilege. 

Start with the blue and white striped awning which will be covering you while dining alfresco.  Wander inside to grab another beverage and take a look at the mandatory "cottage white"  walls, ceiling and floors. The couches and chairs are the requisite cozy chic white. And then the blue makes an entrance again in the form of pillows and a coffee table. The wall above the fireplace and behind the bookcase is a gorgeous deep   ocean blue. The weathered wood furniture throughout adds to the cottage feel. There's a splash of orange for some summery spice.

Grab a cooler and hitch a ride on a sailboat cruising by. After all isn't that what you're supposed to do when waterside. View location S121. Feel free to contact me about locations and production services at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Old School Market

We all have a market or deli we go to every morning for coffee. It's our AM habit that wakes us up and soothes our cranky state of mind. It's even better when the place offers a bit of atmosphere and some tasty snacks to go along with the caffeine buzz. My AM place offers an old school vibe with hardwood floors, chalk board  menus, butcher block counters and light wood wainscoting. The glass cases are filled with homemade goods along with fresh fish and meats. The market shelves are stacked with packaged goods of a mostly upscale variety. Antique furniture including marble topped dressers and pickle barrels are parlayed into useful surfaces. Seating is strategically placed by the front windows so your coffee klatch can gab about the  comings and goings of the locals. I usually pick one of the tall soda fountain stools to  enjoy my caffeine fix while reading the newspaper.

The market blends in nicely with the old school charm of the town. Grab your coffee and wander down to the waterfront park and watch the boats come in. Okay, now take a deep breath, get that caffeine circulating and soak it all in. View location S106. Please feel free to contact me about locations and production services at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Where's Ralph?

Where is Ralph Lauren?  Don't you see Ralph shooting an ad here in amongst the horses and stables. The models are leading a gorgeous horse around the beautiful tree lined property. Okay it's a little cliche but you get the picture. Wouldn't you want to throw up a tent and have your wedding here?  Look at that stable. It's huge and fancy with that red roof and copper cupolas. And what about the white fencing and gorgeous mature growth trees. The house is what you would expect to see, a large white colonial with years of history to recommend it. Oh and it is a  hilltop location with a view of the water. I'd say a spring or fall wedding for sure. Now that I am on a roll. It's a perfect backdrop for a hoedown. Bring on the tent, dance floor, fiddle players and BBQ.

View location S118 and imagine your own event. You really can't go wrong. Feel free to contact me about locations, production services and scouting at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

That View

No matter where you are there's that view. Breakfast on the porch. There's the view. Lounge on the chaise for two. There's the view. Stretch out on the hammock. There's the view. Sit around the fire pit roasting marshmallows. There's the view. It's not just a "oh there's the beach" view either. It's a full throttle on a cliff overlooking the water view.

Of course that's not the only detail worth mentioning. The deep porch is really an extra room with plenty of lounging and dining space. Walk inside from the porch and you get a full look at the living and dining rooms. The fireplace can be seen from both rooms which is a nice touch as the seasons change. The green, white and blue colors feel beachy and fresh. Dark wood floors, animal print rugs and cushions create additional warmth.

Each bedroom has it's own unique feel. The master bedroom features chocolate, pale blues and white and is strategically placed to enjoy the overlook. The rest have batik bed coverings, animal skin rugs and ornate bed frames. The color palette flows nicely throughout the house tying it all together.

It's tucked into the side of a hill surrounded by full growth trees. Once you curve down the driveway, you feel like you've been dropped into the middle of nowhere. That view draws you in immediately. You sit down, look out and breath a sign of relief.

View the view (location S116). Contact me with any inquiries at 631.805.6252 or info@locatethis.net.

Just Relax

This home exudes peace, quiet and relaxation. It's tucked away on a quiet road, the beach grass on either side of the driveway luring you in for a peek. You really want to explore the grounds first. As you wander around, seating vignettes reveal themselves just on the edge of the woods surrounding the property.

Wooden gates open to the garden where you'll find a swath of wild flowers and a well groomed vegetable patch. Seating vignette number one is a small round table

with an umbrella. Head toward the furthest point to seating vignette number two with weathered adirondack chairs. The next vignette is a cushioned wood bench followed by the ultimate seating vignette in the form of a sauna.

If you can tear yourself away from the spa, continue your tour to the deck which extends down one entire side of the house. Again, more outdoor seating outside the living room and the master bedroom. Oh and there's one more seating vignette, a round table and chairs in yet another oh so private part of the yard. What number are we up to now? I think it's seven.

Suddenly you begin to wonder if the home owners ever spend anytime indoors. You walk toward the side door to see what the inside is all about and find yet more inviting chairs on the porch. You finally drag yourself inside. All that sitting around has you so relaxed that you need a nap. The interior reveals an open floor plan and high vaulted ceilings. My favorite feature which can be found in the living/dining area and the master bedroom is the extra wide screened opening. If you didn't quite get how much they appreciate their surroundings yet, it will become clear now. In essence you are once again sitting outside.

The furnishings are elegant in their simplicity. The color palette includes subtle whites and grays with splashes of red that match the entrance-way doors. You can envision a fall day with a fire in the stone

fireplace. You are gazing out the window enthralled with the fall colors.Perhaps a few minutes in one of the many outdoor seating areas is in order. It's important to just relax and commune with nature. Location S115 can be found under photo albums. Please feel free to contact me regarding this location at info@locatethis.net or 631.805.6252.

Mississippi Juke Joint

The minute you step into the barn you are transported back in time and across state lines. Actually the time warp feeling starts as the barn comes into view. It is dark and weathered with an old red and white Phillips 66 sign near the entrance. The interior is full of antique signs, album covers and furniture. The center of the barn is set up for music and dancing. On one side of the dance floor there is a room with a pool table, juke box and a wood burning stove. On the other side is a kitchen with an antique fridge, coke machine and sink.   Climb the staircase to the loft. Slide into a booth and have a drink. The bar and tables are painted red. The booth seating is black and the bar stools are pure vintage with silver metal legs and red and black cushioned seats.

The look of the place is dark and moody. You can imagine a cigarette smoke filled juke joint down the road a piece. It's a place to escape to after a hard work week. Blow off some steam, dance until you are hot and sweaty, grab a drink, shoot some pool and then get back on that dance floor for the next set. People are tapping their feet to the music as they watch from above. A serious pool game is taking place in the side room. Someone is going to lose big. The old time blues music is drowning out the chatter at the bar. The dance floor is full.

The owner did an amazing job putting it together. The attention to detail really captures the mood of an old juke joint. View location S114 under photo albums. Please feel free to contact me regarding this location at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252.

Have you been to Shelter Island?

Let's face it. If you are going to do a shoot it would be great if it was some place you actually want to go. Now that summer is in full swing, might I suggest Shelter Island. You will feel the stress fall from your body  the minute you step on the ferry. The ease of shooting here is palpable. There are plenty of places to shoot, plenty of places to stay and plenty of places to eat. It a veritable one stop shopping for all your shoot needs.

Need some examples of all of the above. I will take that challenge. Let's start with places to shoot. Click on "Shelter Island" under categories and you will find beaches, homes, galleries, a private island and a chapel.  Now that we've determined that you could shoot here for a week if needed, let's find you a place to stay. You must have heard of the Andre Balaz hotel Sunset Beach. It's hip happening, beachfront chic and the place to be. Dining could not be better. Catering by Planet Bliss is a must. They can supply breakfast, lunch and dinner. All of my crews from various shoots rave about Planet Bliss's food. Looking for restaurant options? Planet Bliss, Sunset Beach, Vine Street and MarkitwithG are among my favorites.

Okay, I am going to stop here and link you to my other Shelter Island shout out posted earlier this year. I regaled you with all of the nitty gritty details, the who, what, where, when and how of production on the island. Seriously folks, take the stress out of your shoot. It's guaranteed the minute you step on the island. Feel free to contact me at info@locatethis.net or 631-805-6252 for location and production needs.

Third Times a Charm

You know the story about Goldilocks and the three bears. She walks into a cottage and tries three beds; one is too hard, one is too soft and one is just right. Fast forward to these homeowners. They had a home which was okay but they thought they wanted a bigger one. They built a bigger one and it felt too big. They then built a smaller one and it's not only just right, it's perfection. I can vouch for it. The minute I walked into this home I felt a sense of calmness. I don't exactly know why. I think I can attribute my calmness to the decor.  There's hues of blue and dark wood. There's an open great room that has everything they need; kitchen, dining room and living room with a fireplace. It's relaxed yet elegant. The back wall is all windows with two sets of french doors. The bedrooms, both ensuite, are just the right size. The master has a fireplace for those cooler nights.

Or maybe the calmness is due to the water. Water always makes me feel calm. The house sits on a hill overlooking the water. There's the back porch that spans the entire house that of course overlooks the water. And there's the upstairs deck above the porch so you get the  waterview no matter where you plant yourself. If you really need to be any calmer walk down to the dock and dangle your feet for a while.

The lawn and landscaping are lush and green. And again just the right amount of it. It's as if they decided exactly how much space and amenities they needed and created a place that is just right. Look no further Goldilocks! Find perfection in location S113 under photo albums. Please feel free to inquire about this location at info@locatethis.net.

Tasteful Digs

Think minimalist. Think an open floor plan with beautiful dark wood floors and wood beamed ceilings. Think white, black and chocolate throughout the entire house.Think taste. This owner has it in spades. The front  door brings you right into the main room. To your right is a gorgeous den/living room so tastefully appointed. To your left is a fire place. Straight ahead is the kitchen and a long skinny dining table. You know how everyone congregates in the kitchen when you have a dinner party? Think kitchen, sitting at the dining table chatting with your host as they put the finishing touches on the bolognese sauce, a crackling fire at your back. I think you get the picture. You can view these tasteful digs (S112) under photo albums. Please contact me at info@locatethis.net for inquiries. I personally think it is ideal for a still life shoot. How about furniture.