Car Collection: Dr. Michael Apa's Ferraris
August 23, 2012
One of the best parts of summer is watching luxe, shiny cars parade down the East End’s streets every Saturday and Sunday. But to some Hamptonites, the vehicles we admire are more than just pretty forms of transportation. New York-based aesthetic dentist Dr. Michael Apa has a special fondness for Ferrari, amassing a collection of vintage, 1980s Ferraris, and a new Ferrari 458.
We recently went to Apa’s Water Mill home to check the cars out, and find out why Ferrari is much more than a car to the dentist who pioneered the revolutionary Facial Aesthetic Design (FAD) technique:
“Growing up, I was always fascinated with Ferrari and what it meant to me. It symbolizes beauty, style and speed, and as a boy, I was obsessed. Every drawing or sketch I did was of a different Ferrari, especially the 328, which also hung on my wall and was a centerpiece of my favorite television show, Magnum PI. I was mesmerized by the lines of the car, the nose, the air vent in the door, the rear lights...and the sound, that sound that only a Ferrari makes. The 458 Italia was the first mid-engine Ferrari that has been made since the 328 that resembled those lines. These cars and the brand itself have always stuck with me.
“I've modeled my own business after trying to create a brand of aesthetic dentistry that parallels the elite Ferrari. Every design I create for patients with their smiles I somewhat attribute to my obsession with the Ferrari story. The detail, creation, and uniqueness of my work I learned at a very young age from my passion for Ferrari.”
—DR. MICHAEL APA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LENNY STUCKER
Stephen Fanuka's Steps to a Storm-Proof Backyard
August 22, 2012
Contractor to the stars and host of DIY Network’s Million Dollar Contractor, Stephen Fanuka, has steps to a storm-proof backyard.
Even though there’s still time to enjoy your backyard this summer, be wary that the Hamptons area has survived damaging storms the past few Augusts that were devastating to our outdoor spaces. I’ve compiled a few tips to storm-proof your backyard that can also be applied to winterizing your place altogether:
Your automated irrigation system should have a rain sensor shutoff—if it doesn’t, have your landscaper install one since excess water during a storm can kill your garden and plants. And since trees fall due to high winds and over-saturation of roots, hire a local arborist to check the trees on your property for potential danger. You’ll likely be advised to trim some dead branches that could snap off during a storm. Examine the bushes up against the house, too, as they can damage the gutters, siding, and roof during inclement weather. It’s also important to discard any debris immediately. Loose debris can become projectiles. Speaking of….
At the end of the summer season or during a storm, store all your pool and patio chairs, planters, pots, garbage cans, etc. in a garage or other indoor space. If they are too heavy or do not fit inside, consider laying them behind bushes, against the foundation of the house.
Remove some of the water in your pool if it’s not covered so that in the event of a storm, your chlorinated pool water does not overflow onto the landscape and kill it. I also advise my clients to remove all gravel, as it can shoot around like bullets during severe weather.
Lastly, pay attention to your neighbors. What you may be doing to avoid damage to your home will also save theirs, so ask them to be just as vigilant. You can do everything in your power to save your own property, but they need to be part of the team—the last thing you want is a neighbor’s planter to crash through your window after you’ve taken every precaution. Offer to double-check each other’s work, and stay safe!
—STEPHEN FANUKA
Stephen Fanuka has built himself an unsurpassed reputation among the leading decorators, architects, and elite clientele as the go-to guy for high quality general contracting and luxury interior renovations. He was driven by a passion for his family’s business and has grown it from a small father-son custom cabinet shop into the prestigious firm it is today, Fanuka, Inc. Fanuka, Inc. works with some of the world’s top designers and architects such as Francois Catroux, Jacques Grange, Eric Cohler, Thom Filicia, Nancy Bozhardt, Philip Gorrivan, Gordon Kahn, and Christopher Maya, as well as celebrities such as Bethenny Frankel, Beyonce, Lindsay Lohan, Rosanna Scotto, and Tony Bennett.
Stephen’s first television series, Million Dollar Contractor premiered in October 2011 on the DIY Network and in April 2012 moved to HGTV. M$C will debut it’s second season this fall on October 16th on the DIY Network. His book, co-written with Ed Lewine titled What’s A Homeowner to Do? was published by Artisan Books in November and is available on Amazon.com and independent and chain booksellers across the country. Catch more of Stephen's tips on Twitter @StephenFanuka and on Facebook: Stephen Fanuka, "Contractor to the Stars."
Design Detail: C. Wonder's Whimsical Dinnerware
August 22, 2012
Ikat dinnerware set, C. Wonder (mug, $10; bowl, $10; salad plate, $12; dinner plate, $14), 5 Main St., Southampton, 287-2645
Mixing and matching multicolored decorative dishware with place mats, napkins, and other small dishes in solid colors “gives you a lot more options,” says designer Laura Day, a Southamptonite and interior designer whose projects pepper the East End. “If your pattern is on your dinnerware, then you can trade out your backdrop pieces.”
Day favors C. Wonder’s ikat dinnerware set, replete with mug, bowl, and salad and dinner plates, available in late-summer. “One of the things I love about them is the combination of color,” explains Day, who recommends pairing the set with poppy-red, blue, or yellow table accoutrements like centerpieces, napkins, or place mats. “It’s great because it’s different, but also because it can go in a mostly blue house, a mostly red house, or a mostly yellow house, and then helps you to combine those colors in a way that you might not have thought of before.”
The scale of the ikat pattern on the pieces also caught Day’s attention. “It’s pattern without being too busy, and it gives you a sense of interest without being too overwhelming,” she says. “It’s a classic pattern, but current.” The gold-rim flourish gives each piece a hint of luxury. Day notes, “The gold rim adds a little touch of sparkle and detail that takes it to another level.”
—ALLISON POLSTER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MUGGENBORG
Stephanie Hirsch's Find Your Freedom
August 21, 2012
Stephanie Hirsch’s CV runs the gamut—author, artist with exhibitions at Hamptons’ ArtMRKT and in East Hampton’s Clic Gallery, fashion designer—but no matter which of her accomplishments is being lauded, one word describes Hirsch’s work: inspiring. Today, Hirsch’s main focus is art that takes commonplace images and re-imagines them using beads, rhinestones, and embroidery, and mixes them with complementing inspirational quotes, or mantras.
Here, Hirsch shares the inspiration behind a very Hamptons-appropriate piece—a canvas that one could easily hang in a Hamptons home, its blue-green backdrop reminscent of the East End's waves; its gold gemstones sure to sparkle in summer sunlight.
Find Your Freedom
Beads and Rhinestones on Canvas
"I believe that the saying 'Find Your Freedom' captures the true essence of the Hamptons in the most simplistic way. The Hamptons is a place where people come to slow down, connect with nature and to essentially free themselves from their daily schedules and hectic lives. Finding Your Freedom, especially in the Hamptons, can mean learning to surf, swimming in the ocean, sleeping late, putting your feet in the sand, not putting demands on yourself, or just about anything that calms your soul and slows you down."
Own a similar artwork for your own slice of freedom by contacting Stephanie Hirsch>>
—STEPHANIE HIRSCH
My South Fork Favorites: Andy Russell
August 20, 2012
As a digital media mogul (think: involvement with DailyCandy, Thrillist, Vital Juice, and more), Andy Russell is naturally in-the-know for of-the-moment spots out East. This summer, Russell helped co-found and launch InsideHook, a free daily lifestyle email that curates local and national recommendations for men. Here, Russell provides a personal snapshot of his Hamptons favorites:
Favorite Restaurant - Beaumarchais (44 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton, 675-2400) has a south-of-France vibe to it—great food and right next door to SL East (44 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton, 627-1235). The whole room is warm and open, with a great bar area and a well-behaved but fun crowd.
Favorite Nightlife Spot - Nobu at The Capri (281 County Road, 39A Rte. 27, Southampton, 504-6575) on Friday nights.
Favorite Event of the Summer - Tough one. It’s a toss-up between the annual Love Heals Benefit, Apollo in the Hamptons held at the estate of Revlon's Ron Perelman, The Creeks with great performers every year, and the Hamptons magazine clambake.
Favorite Farm Stand - Round Swamp Farm (184 Three Mile Harbor Road, East Hampton, 324-4438), Pike’s (Sagg Main Street, Sagaponack), and Comfort farm stand (791 Lumber Lane, Bridgehampton, 537-1374) for the strawberries!
Favorite Place to Shop - Blue & Cream (60 The Circle, East Hampton, 329-1392) (plug for J. Goldstein!) or Haute Hippie (66 Jobs Lane, Southampton, 287-8763) because my wife lives for it!
Favorite Best-Kept Secret - Sagg Main Beach in Sagaponack. First stop is The Sagaponack General Store (542 Sagg Main St., Sagaponack, 537-6036) to pick up sandwiches for the family and then right to the beach! Even though this beach is right in the middle of the Hamptons, Sagg Main feels a lot more low-key than most of the other beaches around. It’s great for an afternoon snooze, or catching up with a few friends (but not tout le monde!). Also like Ditch Plains beach in Montauk to watch some serious surfing...but it seems the word got out on that one recently.
—ANDY RUSSELL
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