In Sag Harbor, a gorgeous waterfront residence has come to market with a few noteworthy points. It neighbors the longtime home and creative sanctuary of great American author John Steinbeck, plus is currently owned by decorator John Bjørnen and real estate broker Cee Scott Brown. With them as its stewards, the duo infused the circa-1939 haven with polished yet laidback coastal decor, earning it a feature in HC&G in 2020. Now, the charming property is on the market seeking $7.15 million, so someone new can enjoy all the design splendor and history it holds.
As HC&G noted, this hideaway is transformative and puts you in a vacation-like mindset as you wind down its unpaved road and walk through the wooden gate. Along with offering a pool, cabana, and dock on Morris Cove, the Bali-inspired property has lush grounds that beckon for easy-breezy Hamptons living. “It’s very much a Zen retreat,” Brown told HC&G, “where your blood pressure drops several points, even though Main Street is only a few blocks away.”
The real estate expert purchased it roughly 30 years ago, buying it from a couple who had owned it for 40 years. When he and Bjørnen got together, they collaborated with architect James Merrell and drew on their global travels to redesign it. This included creating a two-story addition and acclimatising the sun porch to create a living room/dining room with an open flow and water views. The historic cottage now totals 2,800 square feet and four bedrooms in total.
During this renovation, they also updated finishes and decor with the goal to preserve to maintain the home’s rustic spirit while fusing it with Balinese flair and modern freshness. Aged Indonesian teak flooring, cedar walls and ceilings, and radiant-heat tile in the bathroom are a few of the special materials the incorporated. Within this framework, they embraced eclectic worldliness. “We both have a passion for mid-20th-century French, Scandinavian, and Austrian design, and we’ve included pieces from our previous lives as well as custom items I’ve made specifically for the house.”
Fondly dubbed East of Eden, this unique abode likely won’t be available long. Jack Pearson and Denise Wilder of Compass hold the listing.
