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House Beautiful profiled textile designer Serena Dugan’s renovation of an Adirondack-style cottage on Shelter Island, New York. The project included major foundation work and a rebuilt stone fireplace, while its broad porch became a focal point with two hanging beds and rocking chairs.
Textile designer and artist Serena Dugan has renovated an Adirondack-style cottage on Shelter Island, New York, preserving its existing character while making substantial repairs, according to a home tour published by House Beautiful. The report spotlights the home’s expansive front porch, where Dugan placed two hanging porch beds alongside rocking chairs, and describes the project as a personal retreat and gathering place.
Dugan, who is based in California and cofounded the home furnishings brand Serena & Lily, first spotted the property as a small marker on a Zillow map. She asked a local friend to visit the cottage; after seeing it, he urged her to travel to Shelter Island. Dugan told House Beautiful that the porch, water views and stone fireplace made a strong impression when she arrived at dusk.
The cottage needed more than cosmetic changes. Dugan said she discovered it required major foundation repair and that the fireplace had to be completely rebuilt. The new fireplace was made with local stone to match the original, the magazine reported. Inside, changes included opening the family room to the kitchen to create a larger shared living area.
The porch’s scale gave Dugan room to install two hanging beds, an idea she said occurred to her when she first saw the space. The magazine identifies the beds as Red Egg and the rocking chairs as Hollywood at Home. Elsewhere, the house combines Dugan’s own fabric and wallcovering designs with vintage furnishings and selected contemporary pieces. In the kitchen, she chose Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble despite the possibility of staining, saying she was comfortable with the surface developing a patina.
A Porch Designed for Gathering
The porch is more than a striking feature in the home tour: it reflects Dugan’s stated aim of making the cottage a place for shared time and everyday use. The hanging beds and rocking chairs make the broad outdoor space usable for relaxing, while its position facing the water connects the house to its Shelter Island setting.
The renovation also illustrates the balance at the center of the project. Dugan said she wanted to retain the cottage’s calm and distinctive feeling, but the foundation repairs and fireplace reconstruction required significant intervention. Her account offers readers a concrete look at how a designer approached structural work, practical materials and personal style in a second home—not just its finished appearance.
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From Zillow Listing to Renovation
The home is an Adirondack-style cottage in a quiet area of Coecles Harbor, on Shelter Island. Dugan had been considering an East Coast vacation home when she came across it online. A friend’s recommendation prompted her to make the trip, after which she decided the property was worth repairing.
House Beautiful’s report focuses on the completed interior and outdoor spaces rather than providing a detailed construction record. It describes Dugan’s choices across the house, including custom lighting, vintage furniture, patterned tile and durable sofa fabrics. Dugan said she wanted the home to show some wear over time, a preference reflected in her willingness to use marble that may stain and develop a lived-in surface.
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Renovation Costs and Timeline
The home tour does not give the purchase price, renovation budget or construction timeline. It also does not specify the cottage’s exact age, the full scope of the foundation work or whether any other structural repairs were required. Dugan said some early design decisions were expensive and that she later had to rein in spending, but the report provides no figures for those choices.
The article presents Dugan’s account and selected project details; it does not include an independent assessment of the renovation or a separate account from contractors. The headline’s description of the porch as the best ever seen is an editorial judgment, not a measurable or independently verified ranking.
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No Further Project Plans Reported
House Beautiful’s piece is a home tour, not an announcement of a new project or future renovation stage. The source does not report additional construction, planned changes to the property or a timeline for future work. Dugan describes the cottage as a place to gather and present her design work, but gives no specific plans beyond its use as a retreat.
For now, the confirmed development is the completed renovation featured in the magazine. Any further details about the project’s cost, construction history or future changes would need to come from Dugan, the magazine or other people involved in the work.
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Key Questions
Who owns the Shelter Island cottage?
The House Beautiful report identifies Serena Dugan, a California-based textile designer and artist and Serena & Lily cofounder, as the person who bought and renovated the cottage.
What makes the porch stand out?
The porch is expansive enough to hold two hanging beds as well as rocking chairs. Dugan said the beds came to mind when she first saw the space.
What major repairs did the house need?
Dugan told House Beautiful that the cottage needed major foundation repair and a complete reconstruction of its stone fireplace. The fireplace was rebuilt with local stone to match the original.
Did the report disclose the renovation cost?
No. The home tour gives no total budget, purchase price or detailed cost breakdown. Dugan said some early design decisions were expensive but did not provide figures.
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