Once an unassuming string of tiny resort communities that catered to a chic mix of wealthy and bohemian New Yorkers seeking a relaxed, sandy spot to sink their toes into the sand during the summer, the Hamptons are better known today for their designer boutiques, gargantuan mansions, and glittering social circuit.

This vintage 3.2-acre estate, however, situated south of Georgica Road, just a short walk or bike ride from both the ultra-exclusive Georgica Beach as well as the busier East Hampton Main Beach, epitomizes the comfortable, old-school simplicity of summering in the Hamptons, delivering a low-key seaside retreat more in line with kicking off your flip-flops than strapping on a pair of spike-heeled Louboutins.

RELATED: Designer Judith Leiber’s Former East Hampton Home Is Back on the Market for $7 Million

Dating to the early 1900s, the two-story cedar-shingled cottage rambles over about 4,200 square feet—spacious without being ostentatious—and contains a total of seven bedrooms and five bathrooms, plus a main-floor powder room for guests. Beyond the gated entrance and circular gravel drive, guests are greeted by a fireplace in the cloud-like all-white foyer. The 600-square-foot fireside living room is scaled to comfortably accommodate large groups in several seating areas and includes a hidden wet bar, while the dining room overlooks the manicured gardens. 

A small study just inside the front door also has a fireplace, this one with a TV above it, and the massive sunroom is the perfect spot to wait out a summer thunderstorm, take a nap, do a puzzle, or play Canasta. The kitchen, just off the two-car garage, is less an oversized showpiece to impress guests and more an efficient, functional space for preparing meals for a house full of people. An island snack bar and breakfast area are great for quick bites.

RELATED: A Rambling Mansion Near East Hampton’s Georgica Pond Can Now Be Yours for $25 Million

Front and rear stairs lead to all seven of the bedrooms on the upper level. Painted wood floors in the bedrooms have a glossy sheen and range in color from marigold to baby blue, lavender, and kelly green. The primary suite, with gleaming white wood floors, has a high ceiling, a small, basic attached bathroom, and a spacious dressing room with multiple closets. The six guest bedrooms share another four bathrooms. There’s a massive walk-in closet for linens—a seven-bedroom beach house needs a lot of room for storing sheets and towels—and downstairs there’s a large laundry room between the kitchen and dining room.

The gardens include a 45-foot-long pool complemented by a cabana that includes a lounging area and wet bar, a full bathroom, and a towel closet that doubles as a changing space. A couple of exterior closets around the backside are for storing pool toys and patio furniture cushions. Beyond the pool, a vast swath of lawn provides plenty of room for croquet, flag football, or, with the necessary permits to build one, a tennis court. 

Cindy Shea at Sotheby’s International Realty holds the $14.95 million listing.

Click here for more photos of the vintage East Hampton estate.