Curb Appeal

Aug 5

I grew up surrounded by blueprints and building models—my parents were both architects, which meant floor plans were our version of bedtime stories. While my own path veered from architecture (turns out you need to like math), my love of homes and design never faded. These days, I still find myself drawn to quiet streets and character-filled houses, camera in hand and design wheels turning.

On a recent stroll through Sag Harbor, I wandered, snapping photos of some of the most charming façades—each with its own personality, palette and sense of place. In this article, I’ve paired these homes with color swatches and shoppable finds that capture their mood. From weathered cedar shingles to crisp white trim and the occasional bold front door, consider this your color story meets curb appeal. House about it?

Moody Blues & Fern Greens

This Sag Harbor gem looks like a storybook cottage with a twist—moody, confident and completely charming. The deep navy exterior gives it a grounded, sophisticated presence, while that pop of chartreuse on the door feels like a wink. With its original windows, weathered picket fence and lush ferns spilling over the walkway, it’s the kind of house that stops you in your tracks. Proof that curb appeal doesn’t have to shout to make a statement—it just needs the right shades.

Pottery Barn Heirloom Stoneware Dinner Plates

Teal Appeal

This classic Sag Harbor beauty is pure symmetry, polish and picket-fenced perfection. The crisp white clapboard and blue-black shutters are timeless, but it’s that deep teal door that quietly steals the show—cool, confident and just unexpected enough. Pristine landscaping, including sculpted boxwoods and a neatly manicured path, makes the entire scene feel like it was plucked from a Nancy Meyers set (but with sharper edges). It’s traditional without being predictable—and proof that great curb appeal is all in the details.

Brown Patina

Tucked behind a neat row of perfectly pruned hedges, this Sag Harbor cottage is small but mighty in charm. Weathered cedar shingles give it that quintessential Hamptons texture, while the pale cool white shutters and door lend a soft, romantic touch—like a whispered secret rather than a bold statement. With ivy creeping at its feet and symmetry in all the right places, this home feels timeless, a little shy and completely irresistible. If storybook characters had summer homes, this might be it.

Maeve by Anthropologie Scalloped Bath Mat

Crisp & Green

This crisp white Sag Harbor stunner is all about clean lines, classic charm, and a serious appreciation for symmetry. Forest green shutters and a matching front door give the facade a tailored edge—like the house equivalent of a perfectly pressed blazer. The cast iron fence adds a touch of old-world formality, but the playful topiary shrubs behind it keep things from feeling too buttoned up. It’s elegant but not aloof, with a timeless color palette that proves green and white is always a good idea.

AERIN x Williams Sonoma Home Ceramic Vase

Lulu and Georgia Carys Contrast Linen Pillow

Sea Blues

This moody masterpiece brings serious drama to the quiet streets of Sag Harbor—in the best way possible. Painted in stormy shades of slate and charcoal, the house feels like a quiet nod to New England history with a fashion-forward twist. The blue-black door, graphic window trim and perfectly sculpted greenery keep things crisp and architectural, while the bold monochrome palette gives it a cinematic presence—like it could be the stylish hideout of a mysterious protagonist in a very chic thriller.

Greys Into Greens

This quiet beauty is all charm and quiet confidence, with a soft gray exterior that feels like a foggy morning by the harbor. The navy door adds just enough contrast, while the crisp white trim and picket fence keep things fresh and traditional. Tucked behind low hedges and shaded by mature trees, it feels private yet welcoming—like the kind of place where you’d sip iced tea on the stoop and wave to neighbors you actually know. It's modest, timeless and effortlessly inviting.

‘Eudora White’ Organic Cotton Percale Sheets

Bold Contrast

This Sag Harbor home feels like a masterclass in quiet elegance. With its crisp white siding, an aged grey chimney, deep midnight shutters and matching front door, the palette is timeless and tailored—like the architectural equivalent of a black blazer and white shirt. A picket fence and soft, climbing roses add just the right amount of romance, while the stone path and symmetrical lighting bring a sense of order. It’s the kind of house that serves sophistication, where every detail feels intentional without trying too hard.

Rifle Paper Co. Hydrangea Floral Wallpaper

Bright Pops

Peeking out from behind lush hedges and a towering shade tree, this Sag Harbor home has a bit of mystery and a whole lot of personality. The cedar shingles are perfectly weathered, and the white trim keeps things crisp—but it’s the red door and matching mailbox that bring the charm. Bold, cheeky and impossible to miss, they add a welcome jolt of energy to the scene, like a cherry on top of an otherwise classic sundae. It’s the kind of house that knows exactly who it is—and doesn’t mind standing out just a little.

Soft Grays & Blurry Blues

This Sag Harbor stunner is all about refined charm with a romantic streak. The soft gray-blue shutters and matching gate give the light clapboard facade a serene, cohesive look—elegant but not overly formal. Hydrangeas bloom in perfectly tousled bunches, adding color and softness to the structured hedges and manicured lawn. From the classic millwork to the slate pathway, every detail feels thoughtful and balanced. It’s the kind of home that makes you walk a little slower just to take it all in.

Soicher Marin ‘Folly In Green’ by Dana Gibson

Benjamin Ayer