A Sag Harbor Home Balances Heritage With Modern Comforts

Interior designer Annie Leslau revives a 19th-century home in Sag Harbor, blending history with light, livable elegance

In the heart of Sag Harbor, New York - a once-sleepy whaling village now prized for its old-world charm - stands a lovingly restored 19th-century home that tells the story of a family, a community, and a thoughtful renovation decades in the making. Originally built in 1890 as a small shop serving locals, the Colonial-style home has been a seasonal sanctuary for generations.

When interior designer Annie Leslau was asked to reimagine the space, she knew this was more than just a renovation. “The home’s history adds an intriguing layer of historical charm to the renovation,” she says. “This renovation is a testament to respecting history while embracing the future”.

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Originally built in 1890 as a small shop serving locals, the Colonial-style home has been a seasonal sanctuary for generations, Image: Kirsten Francis

Leslau’s approach was one of subtle transformation. The home, once dark and cloaked in stained wood, has been reborn with a light, airy atmosphere that lets its original features shine. Her team carefully sanded down the ceilings and walls to reveal the soft, honeyed hues of century-old wood beams and planks. The original windows were meticulously restored, letting in sunlight through the same panes that once welcomed shop customers more than 130 years ago.

The home, once dark and cloaked in stained wood, has been reborn with a light, airy atmosphere that lets its original features shine, Image: Kirsten Francis

Owned by a New York City woman since the 1970s, the home was where she and her late husband raised two sons during summer escapes from the city heat. Today, she shares it with her grandchildren, who now play with the vintage toys discovered by Leslau during the styling process. “I found poetry books, journals and tons of vintage childrens toys, books and card collections in the basement when I was styling the house. I made sure to put everything out so the now grandkids could enjoy the toys that their fathers once played with, some 30-40 years ago” Leslau says.

She shares it with her grandchildren, who now play with the vintage toys discovered by Leslau during the styling process, Image: Kirsten Francis

The renovation is also a study in restraint. Leslau used a warm, creamy palette throughout the home, avoiding cool hues entirely at the homeowner’s request. Natural materials - vintage fabrics, weathered wood, marble, porcelain tile, and brass - were layered to create texture without distraction.

Vintage furniture collected over decades became the heart of the design. “The homeowner had an incredible collection already,” says Leslau. “We built on that foundation, adding timeless, comfortable pieces that complemented the rustic beauty of what was already there.”

Leslau used a warm, creamy palette throughout the home, avoiding cool hues entirely at the homeowner’s request, Image: Kirsten Francis

The kitchen, a former tight and dated space, now opens effortlessly into the rest of the home. It features state-of-the-art appliances, marble countertops, and clean lines that contrast beautifully with the historic wooden beams above. In the bathrooms, spa-like finishes - walk-in showers, polished nickel fixtures, and marble surfaces - offer a modern retreat while echoing the home’s timeless aesthetic.

The kitchen, a former tight and dated space, now opens effortlessly into the rest of the home, Image: Kirsten Francis

From the newly open floor plan to the seamless transitions between spaces, the design fosters flow while respecting boundaries between old and new. Leslau’s goal was not to erase the home’s past, but to invite it into the present.

Whether it’s the soft patina of the original floorboards or the echo of laughter from grandchildren playing with rediscovered toys, this Sag Harbor gem proves that homes can be both beautiful and deeply personal. It’s not just a summer retreat - it’s a legacy, gracefully updated for modern life.