An acclaimed photographer updated this Hamptons home
Vanity Fair contributing photographer Jonas Fredwall Karlsson has relisted his restored 1882 Gothic Victorian in Sag Harbor, New York, for just under $9.3 million. The acclaimed photographer updated this 144-year-old Hamptons home over nearly a decade, blending historic architecture with modern finishes—and the sale includes approved expansion plans.
Key Takeaways
- Swedish lensman Jonas Fredwall Karlsson bought the 1882 Sag Harbor house in 2017 for $3.1 million and spent nearly a decade restoring it.
- The 2,500-square-foot Gothic Victorian now lists for just under $9.3 million with Erica Grossman of Douglas Elliman and Lori MacGarva of William Raveis.
- Approved plans allow roughly 1,500 square feet of main-house expansion plus a studio and pool house totaling about 785 square feet.
- Updates include a renovated galley kitchen, refinished wide-plank white oak floors, and a 45-foot heated gunite pool on nearly half an acre.
- Karlsson is selling as his family has left the area; he plans more time in Stockholm while continuing New York work.
Who Is Jonas Fredwall Karlsson?
Before this Hamptons listing made headlines, Karlsson built a reputation as one of Vanity Fair's most traveled photographers. Over two decades as a contributing lensman, he photographed then-Senator Barack Obama in his Capitol Hill office, the late Robert Redford at his Utah estate, and extreme athletes including Sir Edmund Hillary. The magazine has called him a "visual mastermind."
His portfolio spans Timbuktu to Ground Zero, but one of his lesser-known projects sits in Sag Harbor, the peaceful Long Island enclave a couple of hours from Manhattan. There, he channeled the same careful eye into architecture rather than portraiture.
What Did the Acclaimed Photographer Update?
Originally built in 1882, the white wood Gothic Victorian retains signature details: a dramatic turret, multiple gables, deep eaves, and oversized windows. Karlsson preserved that exterior character while modernizing the interior across two levels.
The 2,500-square-foot layout includes three bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and a powder room, all with refinished wide-plank white oak flooring. An entry foyer with a curving staircase leads to a parlor and a living room with its original wood-burning fireplace. A den with built-in bookshelves, a bay-windowed dining room, and a newly renovated galley kitchen—with shaker-style cabinetry, a subway tile backsplash, and a breakfast nook opening to a screened porch—anchor the main floor.
Upstairs, all bedrooms are en suite. The primary suite offers a walk-in closet and a marble-tiled bath with dual pedestal sinks and a freestanding soaking tub. Outside, a gated motor court, detached garage, and a 45-foot-by-12-foot heated gunite pool create a private oasis steps from Sag Harbor Cove.
Why Is This Hamptons Home Listed for $9.3 Million?
Karlsson purchased the property in 2017 for $3.1 million, according to property records cited by Robb Report. The new asking price reflects both the restoration work and the home's position on almost half an acre shaded by a huge oak tree, with nearby access to the cove.
Buyers also inherit approved architectural plans to expand the main residence by roughly 1,500 square feet and add a studio plus pool house totaling about 785 square feet—rare upside in a tightly built village market. For context on comparable high-end listings, see our Luxury Real Estate & Dream Homes coverage.
What Comes Next for the Seller?
Karlsson told Robb Report he decided to sell because his family has moved from the area, though he left the door open to buying locally again someday. He plans to spend more time at his residence in Stockholm while continuing to visit New York for assignments.
That makes the listing a turnkey opportunity: a photographer's restoration of a 144-year-old Hamptons landmark, ready for its next chapter—with room to grow.