HOME IS WHERE OUR STORIES BEGIN…

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I have had a love affair with the East End of Long Island all of my life.  Since summering in Montauk and Southampton since childhood, the Hamptons has always been 'home' to me.   A place to celebrate down time and make memories. Drawn to the ocean, the Long Island Sound, big skies, farmland, time to paint, entertain contrasted by solitude, socializing, entertaining, and soulfulness has been her lure for me.

How I fantasized about making the switch from Manhattan/Southampton part time to full time Southampton!  How I made it happen!  Perfectly content, weekend after weekend; I found myself buried in my office working, traveling and then switching persona into Concierge Hamptons Tour Guide and Inn Keeper importing my city friends for weekends touring about and sipping wine in front of a fire.   While I was thrilled my husband on the other hand thought we might reduce our occupancy rate and find some ‘local’ friends.  I was convinced that there must be fascinating locals and X-pats from Manhattan and around the globe squirreled away in their homes like myself. So, I did what I do best, launch products, make art, teach art and design, entertain, create groups and well I did all of the above.  Teaching in the Art Department as an Adjunct at the local university; while working my day job running my fashion and home design company; I met a couple of ‘connectors’ one a farmer and the other an X-pat Film Stylist and actual Inn Keeper from Manhattan. Collectively we created a women’s group, and a dinner club and I found my entre into an amazing group of inspiring people and my new lifestyle flourished. Having an amazing son launched our newest Hamptons family chapter.  While my passion for international travel never missed a beat; the abundance of business travel made for challenges ultimately channeling my business, art, design and staging efforts into my passion for home, architecture, residential and commercial real estate which initially surfaced with my curiosity with the North Fork.

 

 

BI-FORKAL

All by accident, I became bullish about the North Fork simply by going on a house showing with a friend to check out a piece of real estate which was once in her family.   A nearly 300 year old gem which had been lovingly renovated and graciously turned into a grand home; I fell in love and of course I had to have it.  The business of real estate can be a tricky one with windy roads so while that gem got away, that began my North Fork real estate mission.  A full fledge obsessive exploration began in all price points and the winner was a 1970’s cottage on a couple of bucolic acres surrounded by farmland flanked by the Long Island Sound and of course the 27 fruit trees; cherry, pear, apple, peaches.... This became my first North Fork property.  Humble with good bones, great light positioned at the gateway of the largest expansion of farmland on the North Fork. The Cottage as she is fondly referred to was it.

 

During the spring through late fall, I think I live inside a Van Gogh landscape.  Farmers in large straw hats bending over selecting only the most special organic pics of the day and gently placing them in their large wicker baskets.  This is the view.  So here the farms, the Long Island Sound, water everywhere, sailing the Peconic Bay is what it is all about.  Cyclists, vineyards, farm to table dining and great farm stands dominate the North Fork.  While seemingly familiar, to my childhood memories of the Hamptons, the North Fork’s rural landscape is more country, abundance of vineyards, tasting rooms, accessibility to water for gazing, sailing, sport, dining and living is distinctly North Fork.  

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Scooter

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So now I, 'Scooter' do just that from one fork to the other to Manhattan and back living the best of all worlds!  I am apart of both communities on both forks while splitting my time between the two.

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So Here is my Bio...

 

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Gail Toma is an Artist, Designer and Concierge Realtor with a specialty in Concierge Residential and Commercial Real Estate marketing in the Hamptons and the North Fork.Today, I split my time between the East Ends two forks.   “Bi-forkal”, I live and work on the North Fork and in the Hamptons.  Living between the Hamptons and either Manhattan or the North Shore of Long Island has been a way of life for me.

 

I am passionate about everything lifestyle.  Home, travel, good design, architecture, art museums, solving problems and bringing people together, entertaining and celebrating beauty is behind all I do.  There is nothing better than spending time with my husband and son sailing, skiing, playing tennis, traveling the world and entertaining family and friends.   

 

Designer of fashion, textiles and home products I have collaborated with lighting designers, interior designers and architects in developing design solutions for the home, hotel and yacht installations.  Working as a Product Developer for Ralph Lauren/ Polo Fashions from the inception of a lifestyle line from design through strategic marketing placement and managing an international manufacturing platform gave me the total point of design inception to product completion and delivery expertise.  Managing and Marketing for  Daum France's international clientele in NY was the perfect complement to my product development background.  Here, I gained the opportunity to market artists' collections in the decorative art arena and collaborate with a design team to install products in home, hotels and yachts.  Once full time in the Hamptons; it was a natural progression to launch my own collection of unique fashions for women and luxury items for home decor.  Clients were retailers from The Plaza Hotel, domestic specialty boutiques to Malls in Dubai.  A published author in the area of art and design and being an Adjunct Professor at Long Island University, Pace University, Gibbs College and Pratt has given me the greatest opportunity to inspire future designers and artists.  

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A published author in art and design and an awarded Art and Design Educator and Curriculum Developer at Long Island University, Pace University, Gibbs College and Pratt. 

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A graduate of New York University and The Fashion Institute of Technology; I have multiple graduate degrees, a license to teach in NY State and a New York State Real Estate License.   I am an active member of the innovative Entrepreneur Work space, The Spur in Southampton. 

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Gail holds undergraduate degrees in Studio Art and Design, Education and multiple graduate degrees in Arts Administration and Fashion.  Gail is a graduate of New York University and Fashion Institute of Technology.

 

 

 

 

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