Last updated: October 2026
Most luxury condos on Long Island sit in gated communities with clubhouses and pools. The best known are on the North Shore, in North Hills, Plainview and Woodbury, with a few newer ones out east. Buyers choose them for less upkeep and an easy social life, without giving up space or style. This guide covers the communities where we’ve designed homes and what to know about furnishing each one.
Buying in a new community is the easy part. Making a builder-grade or resale unit feel like your own takes planning. Our new home interior design services start with the floor plan and carry through to the last pillow.
Key takeaways
- Most of these communities are gated, and several aim at buyers 55 and over.
- Floor plans repeat within a community, so personal design is what sets one home apart.
- Condo projects come with their own rules on work hours, deliveries and approvals.
- Downsizing goes smoother when you measure the new rooms before deciding what to bring.
- Starting design before closing helps custom pieces arrive close to move-in day.
Why Buyers Choose Luxury Condos on Long Island
Many of our clients in these communities are empty nesters selling the family house. They want to stay near children, friends and familiar routines, but they’re done maintaining a big property. A gated condo or townhome with a clubhouse solves that.
Others are busy professionals who travel often or split their time with a second home. For them, the appeal is a place that’s secure and easy to lock up and leave. In both cases, the home still has to feel personal, and that’s where design comes in.
Communities Where We’ve Designed Homes
Robyn Baumgarten, whom the Long Island Press named one of the 15 top interior designers on Long Island, has completed projects in each of these communities. Here’s a quick comparison before the details.
| Community | Town | Home Types | Number of Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ritz-Carlton Residences | North Hills | Condominiums | 244 |
| Gracewood at North Hills | Manhasset | Single-family homes | About 141 |
| The Links at North Hills | Roslyn | Townhomes and single-family homes | 200+ |
| Country Pointe | Plainview | Condo suites, villas and townhomes | 660 |
| Kensington Estates | Woodbury | Townhomes and flats | 80 |
| The Sagamore at Mills Pond | Woodbury | Townhomes | 76 |
| Country Pointe Estates | Westhampton Beach | Single-family homes | 22 |
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, North Hills
RXR Realty built the Ritz-Carlton Residences. The 17-acre campus holds 244 condos of about 1,500 to 4,500 square feet. Residents have 24-hour doorman service and a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse with a screening room, fitness center and indoor golf simulator.
Designer insight: We’ve designed several homes here, including two corner units with great light. Corner units have more glass and less wall, so plan art placement and storage early. North Hills is one of the villages on our North Hempstead interior design page.
Gracewood at North Hills, Manhasset
Gracewood is a gated community of about 141 houses. Building began in the mid-1990s on the grounds of the old Grace estate. Most homes have four or more bedrooms and more than 3,000 square feet. The restored mansion serves as a private clubhouse, and residents share indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and tennis courts.
Designer insight: These are full-size houses with the ease of an HOA. Homes from that time often need new kitchens, baths and lighting.
The Links at North Hills, Roslyn
The Links is a gated community of more than 200 townhomes and houses on about 125 acres, with a guarded entrance. Its clubhouse includes a fitness center, and residents have indoor and outdoor pools, five tennis courts and seven ponds with fountains. Most homes date to around 1990.
Designer insight: Many homes look out on water. Arrange seating to face the view rather than the TV, and choose window treatments that control glare without hiding the ponds.
Country Pointe, Plainview
Beechwood’s Country Pointe covers 143 acres in Plainview and Old Bethpage. Its 660 condo suites, villas and townhomes sold out in early 2024. A 29,000-square-foot clubhouse anchors an active 55+ lifestyle.
Designer insight: We’ve completed 15 projects here, more than in any other community. Our Country Pointe Plainview floor plans guide walks through each condo layout with design notes.
Kensington Estates, Woodbury
Kensington Estates is a gated, 55-and-over community of 80 townhomes. Triangle Equities finished it in 2024. Amenities include an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a tennis court, a library and a fireplace lounge. More than six acres of natural open space surround the homes.
Designer insight: Several plans put the primary suite on the first floor under a two-story foyer. That height calls for larger lighting and art than most buyers expect. See our Kensington Estates floor plans for each model.
The Sagamore at Mills Pond, Woodbury
The Sagamore replaced the former Woodbury Country Club with 76 two-story townhomes on about 17 acres. Domus Group built the community, which has a clubhouse, a pool, a fitness center, a golf simulator and a lighted tennis court set among ponds and fountains.
Designer insight: Many models have full basements, and buyers often forget about them. Plan the basement along with the main floors so it doesn’t feel like an afterthought. Our guide to The Sagamore at Mills Pond covers the models.
Country Pointe Estates, Westhampton Beach
Beechwood’s Country Pointe Estates is an enclave of 22 single-family homes in the Village of Westhampton Beach. Homes range from 2,641 to 3,987 square feet, and every one includes a pool and a full basement. Owners also get access to the village beaches.
Designer insight: These homes serve as both year-round houses and weekend retreats, so durable fabrics and outdoor rooms matter as much as the interiors. Read more about Country Pointe Estates in Westhampton Beach.
Designing a Home in a Condo Community
Condo and association projects come with rules a private house never has. Knowing them up front keeps a project on schedule.
- Work hours. Most associations limit when contractors can be on site.
- Deliveries. Large items may need to come through a specific entrance or loading area at a set time.
- Elevators. In a building, you’ll often need to book the elevator and pad it for large pieces.
- Gate access. Every vendor has to be on the gate list before arriving.
- Approvals. New floors, plumbing or anything on the outside may need the board’s okay.
- Insurance. Most boards ask each contractor for proof of insurance before work starts.
We’ve worked within these rules for years, so they rarely slow a project down. We also buy from more than 150 manufacturers. That range gives us options when a standard sofa won’t fit through a hallway or a piece needs to arrive on a specific date.
Downsizing Into a Condo or Townhome
Most clients moving into these communities are leaving a larger house. The hardest part is deciding what comes along. Here’s the order we follow:
- Measure the new rooms first, using the floor plan or a site visit.
- List the pieces with real meaning, like art, heirlooms or a favorite chair.
- Test each piece against the new layout before moving day.
- Reupholster or refinish the keepers so they suit the new palette.
- Sell, donate or pass down the rest.
We often help with this sorting step, which takes pressure off a stressful time. In the end, the goal is a new home that still feels like yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an interior designer for a new condo?
You don’t need one, but most buyers of luxury condos find it worth it. A designer reviews the floor plan and sizes furniture to the real rooms. They also pick finishes and handle deliveries under the HOA’s rules. When many units share one layout, design is what makes your home feel different from the one next door.
Which Long Island condo communities are 55 and over?
In this guide, two communities stand out. Kensington Estates in Woodbury is a gated townhome community for buyers 55 and over. Beechwood also markets Country Pointe Plainview as a 55+ community. Rules can vary by unit and can change, so check age limits with the listing agent or the HOA before you buy.
Are luxury condos on Long Island gated?
Many are. Kensington Estates, Gracewood, The Links and Country Pointe Plainview all have gates, and several have staffed gatehouses. The Ritz-Carlton Residences in North Hills has a doorman around the clock. Because of the gates, every contractor and delivery must be on the guest list ahead of time, so build that into your schedule.
Can I renovate a condo in a homeowners association?
Usually, yes, within limits. Paint, lighting, cabinets and furniture are often simple to change. Floors, plumbing and anything that touches shared walls or the outside may need board approval. The HOA also sets work hours and insurance rules for contractors. Read the bylaws or call the management office before you plan big changes.
How long does it take to furnish a new condo?
It depends on how much is custom. Ready-made furniture can arrive in a few weeks, while custom upholstery and built-ins often take six to twelve weeks or more. Start the design before closing, and those pieces can arrive close to move-in day instead of months later. A designer can also time deliveries around the HOA’s rules.
Every community on this list has its own personality, and so does every home in it. When you’re ready to plan yours, our interior design for new homes can take you from floor plan to move-in.
Sources
- “Ritz-Carlton Cuts Ribbon on Exquisite North Hills Apartments,” Long Island Press, September 24, 2019.
- Gracewood at Manhasset and The Links at North Hills community pages.
- “Country Pointe in Plainview, LI, NY by Beechwood Is Sold Out,” Business Wire, March 14, 2024.
- Kensington Estates project page, Triangle Equities.
- “BMO Lends $57M on Conversion of Woodbury Country Club,” Commercial Observer, March 2019.
- Beechwood Homes, Country Pointe Estates community page.
About the Author
Robyn Baumgarten
Founder & Principal Designer•Interiors by Just Design
Robyn is the visionary behind Interiors by Just Design, bringing decades of experience and an impeccable eye for detail to every project. Her signature approach centers on casual elegance, timeless, classic pieces layered with texture, light, and the natural materials that define refined coastal living across Long Island and the Hamptons.