Former Global Visual Director for Brooks Brothers Paul Sadowski at his Shelter Island home.

 

 

 

Ever wonder what it’s like to live on Shelter Island — otherwise known as “The Rock”? In this weeks KDHamptons Lifestyle Diary, we chat with Paul Sadowski, who has owned a home on Shelter Island since 2001.   Paul shares, “We purchased our Shelter Island home right after 9/11 and had previously rented houses for 10 years prior to that.  We are long term fans of the east end forks, and we spend as much time as we can out on the island.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons:  What do you love most about the Hamptons?

Paul Sadowski: My partner Kemper Johnson and I love the combination of the country and beach, and the sense of  small town community.  We have so many friends that now own property on the island that it truly feels like home.  We all started in summer shares together many years ago, and one by one, we have all bought homes so it really is a community for us.  We love that friends will just drop by to say “hi” and visit.  That does not happen in the city, where we have an apartment in Gramercy Park.

 

 

 

Shelter Island Ferry

 

 

 

Paul and Kemper

 

 

 

KDHamptons:  What do you like most / least about living on “The Rock”?

Paul: I love the peace and quite and small town feel that still exists here.  It is a great community of people that really look after each other.  It is very rare to find that now a days.  I love the experience of the ferryboat.   It is like crossing over to a different world where you can leave behind the chaos and insanity of the city.  It has a great psychological effect of helping to relax and unwind.  I love the natural environment of the island.  It is great place to cycle, sail, kayak, and swim in the pool.  The hardest part of island life would be the winters.  They are long and quite desolate as much of the island closes for the season.  Although, the winter can be quite beautiful as well.  The sunsets over the frozen bay can be really surreal and other-worldly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons:  Please describe what your perfect Hamptons day looks like?

Paul: My perfect summer day starts with a bike ride around the island  and then leads to the beach in the Hamptons.  There is nothing like the beach on the Atlantic ocean.  I love to go to Mecox Beach and watch the waves crash on shore and enjoy the sunshine and open space.  My favorite lunch spot would have to be Gurney’s in Montauk.  It is one of the few places on the east coast that feels like a European beach resort.  There is nothing better than lunch with friends and a glass of rose and the spectacular views from the back deck.  We like to end the day by watching the sun go down at Sunset beach.  One my favorite activities is to kayak to Taylor’s island which sits in the middle of Coecles harbor. It is a tiny little island that is part of the nature preserve and has a log cabin house on it with rocking chairs on the decks and picnic tables for lunch.  I love to kayak out there with a packed lunch or to enjoy the sunset from a rocking chair.  Just heaven. I am also and avid gardener and can be found digging holes and weeding and chasing deer out of the garden.

 

 

 

Gurney’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset Beach

 

 

 

Taylor’s Island

 

 

 

KDHamptons:  Do you like to entertain at home? What’s your “go-to” dinner plan?

Paul: We have a beautiful pool and we love afternoon pool parties and pool snacks.  Which can be anything from Kemper’s famous deviled eggs, to tomato and mozzarella, to prosciutto and melon.  Anything that is fresh and simple and in season, and of course rose!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KDHamptons:  You have spent 24 years working as the global visual director for Brooks Brothers which tells me you really loved your job!  Can you please share what a GVD does for our readers and what you enjoyed so much about the job?

Paul:  I have been the global visual director for Brooks Brothers for the previous 24 years. In this role I was responsible for the customer experience in the brick and mortar world.  That would cover anything in the store environment.  From windows displays to merchandising guidelines.  From scent to sound tracks.  Store design and decor, to furniture and light fixtures.  All to enhance the customers experience in the store.  One of my favorite parts of the past 10 years has been the global expansion of the brand.   It was amazing to be a brand ambassador and open stores around the the world.  We opened stores in amazing cities like Paris, London, Milan, Moscow, Chile, Australia, China, Japan and many more.  It was a great way to see the world and to make new friends from faraway places.