The Hamptons retreat of seminal 20th-century American author John Steinbeck surfaced on the open market this season. The property occupies one half of the tip of a peninsula jutting out into Upper Sag Harbor Cove, and features considerable sandy beach frontage on Morris Cove.
Nestled in a secluded seaside grove, the cottage makes a compelling argument for simplicity and modesty in a summer home. The house’s interiors measure just 1,220 sq. ft., but the consolations of its living style are considerable: an effortlessly relaxed feel through a glassy, intimate living space, and a postcard-worthy setting for a frame.
The home’s front entryway is flanked by an atmospheric pair of lantern sconces. Once inside the house, the craftsmanship details begin immediately: the river pebble floor of the charming foyer.
The shared spaces culminate in two extraordinary spaces. The first is a living room with built-in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a fieldstone fireplace accent wall, a spiral staircase, and a glassy assembly of French doors and multi-pane window washing the room in light and opening it to the outdoor living area. The second is a solarium-like porch overlooking the property and water.
The 1.8 acres of grounds are shaded by mature trees, with an enclosed gazebo positioned at a fair remove from the house amid the lawns; the structure served as a creative workspace for Steinbeck.
An extraordinary piece of Hamptons history that just might stimulate a latent creative streak in its new owner-to-be. It is priced at $16.75 million.
Steinbeck’s masterpieces include 1939’s The Grapes of Wrath, which won the Pulitzer Prize. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962.
