Inside Steven Gambrel's Timeless Sag Harbor Home

Steven Gambrel’s Sag Harbor home is the evolving product of a two-year restoration driven by a “nature over architecture” philosophy, designed to emulate the timelessness of the structure as well as the village vernacular. Steven walks us though his timeless project.

Details were derived from local vernacular. The interiors are a collection of antiques found in European flea markets and in local shops over years of shopping expeditions.
Details were derived from local vernacular. The interiors are a collection of antiques found in European flea markets and in local shops over years of shopping expeditions.
"The outdoor living room is the heart of the house and is used well into late fall. The staghorn ferns are used to create my version of a trophy room."
"Dash in her very own playing field."
"The stone barn was designed loosely on 18th century agrarian structures and boathouses made of stone. The combination of stonework and shiplap blend in with the stone terraces and wooden structures of the property."
"The stone barn is used for dinner parties on cool evenings throughout most of the year. The ceiling beams are the reclaimed floor joists from the main house, replaced during our major renovations of the early 19th century structure."
"The stone barn is used for dinner parties on cool evenings throughout most of the year. The ceiling beams are the reclaimed floor joists from the main house, replaced during our major renovations of the early 19th century structure."
"The main staircase was preserved, but the original railing had been removed years before. We found this one at a local tag sale in Sag Harbor and used the parts to replicate what would have been in a house such as this."
"The wooden block hall was inspired by the facade of Mount Vernon, where wooden blocks simulated stonework."
"The open central hallway is transformed into a dining area for larger dinner parties."
"A breakfast area off the kitchen is the perfect place for coffee and the paper first thing in the morning. The Dutch doors bring the outdoors inside and a private stair to the Master Bedroom provides an ultimate convenience."
"A breakfast area off the kitchen is the perfect place for coffee and the paper first thing in the morning. The Dutch doors bring the outdoors inside and a private stair to the Master Bedroom provides an ultimate convenience."
"The floors of the kitchen are slabs of marble found at a salvage yard. They were originally installed in the Museum of Modern Art outdoor sculpture garden, but were replaced during recent renovations to the museum."
"The living room was built within the walls of a garage in 1964. The scale of the living room makes for an ideal entertaining space. I designed the rug to align with the wide pine floor planks, reclaimed from an 18th-century house in Maine."
"The living room was built within the walls of a garage in 1964. The scale of the living room makes for an ideal entertaining space. I designed the rug to align with the wide pine floor planks, reclaimed from an 18th-century house in Maine."
"My father and I spent three days glazing the walls and ceiling plans in this room to emulate years of patina."
"The chair in the library window has the perfect view of all comings and goings. The pine library is made up of a 19th-century paneled room we found at a salvage yard. I designed the carpet, inspired by Italian marbleized bookbinding paper."
"The chair in the library window has the perfect view of all comings and goings. The pine library is made up of a 19th-century paneled room we found at a salvage yard. I designed the carpet, inspired by Italian marbleized bookbinding paper."
"The pink bedroom, inspired by a room we had decorated in our previous house, contains the same color combination. The painted framed fragments were once a 19th-century folding screen. I cut it up and kept only the parts that fit my nautical theme."
"The pink bedroom, inspired by a room we had decorated in our previous house, contains the same color combination. The painted framed fragments were once a 19th-century folding screen. I cut it up and kept only the parts that fit my nautical theme."
"The guest bedroom halls have several transoms, where light filters through the spaces, providing illumination onto vignettes and curiosities."
"The guest bedroom halls have several transoms, where light filters through the spaces, providing illumination onto vignettes and curiosities."
"The beds were inspired by Flemish facades I sketched while walking the streets of Brussels."
"The bedroom with the built-in bed is a favorite among guests. The sliding shutter was copied from a detail we saw at the local Custom House museum."
"The master bedroom has a three-sided view of the property and the harbor beyond. The master bathroom floor is made of marble once installed in a bank lobby."
"The master bedroom has a three-sided view of the property and the harbor beyond. The master bathroom floor is made of marble once installed in a bank lobby."
"One feels like there are on a boat when staying there, as it is very close to the water's edge. Often referred to as the 'doghouse,' as this is the place where my friends and parents stay when they bring their large, wet dogs."
"One feels like there are on a boat when staying there, as it is very close to the water's edge. Often referred to as the 'doghouse,' as this is the place where my friends and parents stay when they bring their large, wet dogs."