TL;DR
Get furniture and decor delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Serena Dugan renovated an Adirondack-style cottage on Shelter Island after discovering it near Coecles Harbor. House Beautiful’s home tour highlights the expansive porch, two hanging beds and a restoration that included major foundation work and rebuilding the original stone fireplace.
Serena Dugan, a California-based textile designer and cofounder of Serena & Lily, renovated an Adirondack-style cottage on Shelter Island, New York, and made its broad front porch a central gathering space. A House Beautiful home tour describes a restoration that addressed major foundation problems and rebuilt the home’s original stone fireplace while retaining the cottage’s character.
The porch’s scale allowed Dugan to install two hanging beds, alongside rocking chairs chosen for sitting outside in rainy weather. A dark-painted ceiling gives the covered space a distinct look, while the design keeps it useful for relaxing and hosting visitors. The source does not provide the porch’s dimensions or claim it has been formally judged against other porches; “the best porch” is the feature’s promotional framing.
Dugan first spotted the property as a small marker on a Zillow map while considering an East Coast vacation home. A local friend visited the cottage and urged her to see it in person. Dugan recalled arriving at dusk and being struck by the front porch, water views and massive stone fireplace, according to House Beautiful.
The renovation proved more extensive than she initially expected. The existing structure needed substantial foundation repairs, and the fireplace had to be completely reconstructed. The rebuilt fireplace uses local stone and was designed to match the original. Inside, the family room was opened to the kitchen to create a larger shared living area, and performance fabrics were used on the living-room sofas. Dugan also combined designs from her own textile and wallcovering lines with vintage furnishings and materials.
A Porch Designed for Gathering
The tour’s main point is not a new property sale or a formal design award, but an example of how renovation can preserve a home’s appeal while making it work for regular use. Dugan said she wanted a place where visitors could make memories, and the porch’s hanging beds and rocking chairs support that aim by making the outdoor space usable for both lounging and socializing.
The project also shows the decisions involved in restoring an older home. Foundation repair and fireplace reconstruction were major structural tasks, while choices such as performance upholstery and inexpensive matchstick blinds addressed day-to-day use and cost. The house’s design may interest readers planning a renovation, but the source gives no project budget, timeline or contractor details, so it cannot serve as a cost estimate.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Zillow Map to Renovation
Dugan was considering a vacation home on the East Coast when she found the cottage online. Her friend’s strong recommendation prompted a visit, and the setting beside Coecles Harbor persuaded her to take on the project. She told House Beautiful that she feared renovation work could damage the home’s calm, distinctive feeling.
The interior combines new and old pieces rather than following a single uniform scheme. Dugan used her own fabrics and wallcoverings alongside vintage furniture and textiles. She selected Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble for the kitchen, saying she accepted the possibility of stains and welcomed the surface developing a patina. In the pantry, patterned tile connects the room visually to the rest of the home.
Some choices were deliberately restrained after early spending. Dugan said she bought matchstick blinds online for about $29 per window and dressed them up with brass cleats. The report describes this as one way she balanced higher-end selections, including custom lighting and marble, with less expensive details.
What the Tour Does Not Specify
The House Beautiful feature does not state when the renovation began or was completed, what it cost, or how long the work took. It also does not identify the contractors or provide technical details about the foundation repairs, so the scope and methods cannot be independently evaluated from the report.
The description of the porch as the “best” is a subjective headline, not a documented ranking or award. The source gives no measurements, comparison criteria or independent assessment. It also does not say whether the cottage is available to rent or whether Dugan plans to sell it.
No Further Project Plans Reported
The available source is a design tour of the completed renovation, not an announcement of another project or a planned event. It reports no upcoming construction work, sale, rental offering or public opening for the Shelter Island home. Readers seeking those details would need confirmation from Dugan, the property’s representatives or a later report.
For now, the documented development is the publication of the home tour and its account of the restoration. The porch, rebuilt fireplace and interior choices are presented as features of the finished home, but future plans for the property remain unreported.
Key Questions
Who owns or designed the Shelter Island home?
Serena Dugan, a California-based textile designer and cofounder of Serena & Lily, renovated the cottage, according to House Beautiful. The source describes it as her vacation home.
What stands out about the porch?
The expansive porch has two hanging beds and rocking chairs, with a dark ceiling. The feature presents it as a central place to relax and gather, but provides no dimensions or formal ranking.
What major repairs did the cottage need?
The home required significant foundation repair, and its stone fireplace was completely rebuilt to match the original using local stone.
How did Dugan balance expensive and lower-cost design choices?
The report describes custom lighting and statement marble alongside matchstick blinds bought online for about $29 per window, which Dugan dressed up with brass cleats. It does not give a total renovation budget.
Is the home for sale or rent?
The House Beautiful report does not say whether the cottage is for sale or available to rent. No listing or rental information is included in the source.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
