Adam KatzÂ’s Long Island home is the epitome of luxury living by the sea By Lauren Price
Real estate developer Adam Katz doesn’t just run a successful real estate company. A highly rated jet pilot, he is also the founder and owner of Talon Air, an elite New York-based private jet service. In fact, Katz frequently flies the jets himself, especially when the likes of Mick Jagger, Henry Kissinger, Johnny Depp, or Martin Scorsese are on board. KatzÂ’s primary residence is a stunning gated modern stone house set back from the main road in Kings Point on Long Island.
Was your home’s proximity to the water important from the start, or did the house “pick” you?
Views and direct access to the water were key factors, so I would not have purchased this house unless it were on the water and had jaw-dropping views of Manhattan’s skyline and East River bridges.
How much work did you put into redefining the house as your own?
It was built for tennis legend Vitas Gerulaitis in 1983. After purchasing it in 2007, I did a $3.5 million gut renovation, rebuilding it as a six-bedroom smart house, using a Creston system for controlling everything from lighting, sound, and temperature control to operating any of the 20 flat-screen TVs that fold down from the ceilings. I added a movie theater, a solarium with a sunken hot tub, a customized gym, outdoor kitchens and fire pits, Jacuzzis, an infinity-edge pool, radiant heat terraces, and a dock for my 135-foot motoryacht and 47-foot Intrepid speed boat, with Ipe (Brazilian Walnut) steps leading to a private beach.
Did your designs reflect waterfront living?
The house is built in the round, and the windows, which are huge, face the water. It truly feels as if you’re actually at sea.
What do you love most about waterfront living?
I love the privacy of it all, and the views are always spectacular, particularly when the sun sets across Manhattan. Better yet, I can commute to the city via my speedboat in 15 minutes.
Is one particular room in the house used most?
For me, itÂ’s the 2,000-square-foot master bedroom, mostly because of the water views and the comfort of relaxing near a wood-burning fireplace. And itÂ’s where my home office is. Like I said before, because the house was built in the round, it really feels like youÂ’re sleeping on a ship at sea.
Which room typically provides the biggest impact for arriving guests, and how often do you entertain?
Definitely the living room, because its water views are practically panoramic. We do entertain a great deal, probably several times a week.
If you had to move, what would you miss most about the house? Well, of course, living on the water and its views. They just make you feel like youÂ’re a movie star on a multi-million-dollar movie set.
What do you find most challenging about waterfront living?
Cold temperatures and wind are pretty intolerable during the winter months, which is why we head down to the Bahamas and live and sail around on the yacht.
the details
Number of bedrooms: 6; Number of bathrooms: 7.5; Square footage: 12,000. Year purchased: 2007