4 min readIt was a little red dot on a Zillow map. That was the first time Serena Dugan laid eyes on the Adirondack-style cottage, nestled into the quiet, coveted corner of Coecles Harbor on Shelter Island. The California-based textile designer and artist, who is also the cofounder of Serena & Lily, had been contemplating a vacation home on the East Coast and asked a local friend to check it out for her. "Get on a plane, right away," he told her after driving by. She booked a ticket, and the rest is history.
"I drove up at dusk, along this narrow strip of road that takes you farther away from civilization into another world," she recalls. The massive stone fireplace, the sprawling front porch, the silvery reflection of the water: "It felt like magic. And I just thought: This is a slice of life I need."
Dugan knew she would have to shore up the existing structure but quickly discovered that the house needed major foundation repair and a complete reconstruction of that fireplace she’d fallen so hard for. "This house has a feeling, this indescribable sense of calm. My greatest fear was that I was going to mangle it," Dugan says. She needn't have worried. The renovation is an expert blend of preservation and enhancement, and a masterclass in choosing finishes, fixtures, and furniture that will endure and dazzle for years to come.
"My earliest decisions were some of my most expensive ones," Dugan laughs. "Then you realize you have to reel it in." Customized lighting appears in key locations, like in the powder room, over the kitchen island, and in the jewel-like flush-mount hallway fixture.
And while Dugan committed to high-end where it mattered—like a statement slab of marble and the perfect chairs for watching the rain from the porch—she didn't hesitate to make savvy choices where she could. The matchstick blinds throughout were purchased online for around $29 per window and "fancied up" with a brass cleat found on Amazon.
Fabric and wallcovering designs from her own line mingle with vintage textiles and furniture throughout. "I really saw this house as an investment back into me," she says. "It's where I get to present my point of view, to gather all that I have made, all that I have collected."
FRONT PORCH
A dark ceiling adds drama and shine.
"When I saw this space, my first thought was, I wonder if I can fit one of those great hanging porch beds here?" In the end, two were ideal for the porch's grand proportions.
HALLWAY
Modern art gets pride of place.
Dugan was so committed to painting this area the perfect shade of salmon that she changed the colors of a wallcovering from her own line to be a "more neutral foil" to the hue.
LIVING ROOM
A trio of oversized pendants double as a sculptural feature.
Performance fabrics were used on the sofas. "The house is meant to be lived in," Dugan says.
FAMILY ROOM
Open to the kitchen, this is the busiest room in the house.
This area was opened up to the kitchen to "create a grand but comfortable living space.
The bookshelf added above the windows holds an inviting selection of paperbacks.
KITCHEN
Natural textures bring warmth.
Dugan wanted a house that would show "a little wear and tear," so she chose a Calacatta Macchia Vecchia marble even though it might stain. "I have no fear of a patina," she explains.
PANTRY
Tile floors are inspired by textile patterns.
The pantry is visible just off the kitchen, and the rooms play off of each other. "I love a color palette to tease the palette beyond it, so there's a harmony and lyricism to the house," says Dugan.
DINING ROOM
A massive stone fireplace anchors the open room.
The fireplace was rebuilt to match the original, using local stone.
BAR
Open shelves keep mixing supplies at the ready.
Dugan considered using an antiqued mirror behind the bar before deciding to DIY the glass with a painting technique called verre églomisé.
POWER ROOM
A zesty orange sconce is a bold pop of color.
"A wise designer once told me that, in a powder room without windows, you could be anywhere—so make it transportive," recalls Dugan. The sink is custom, made from a stone called amazonite.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
An extra-tall Hollywood at Home canopy bed and large paper shade were selected to fill the expansive space. Dugan bought the wall textile at her favorite shop in Mexico City and had to negotiate with the airline to let her carry it home. The odd space in the bedroom was sized perfectly for a “desk moment.”
BUNK ROOM
A color-drenched ceiling brings a playful touch.
Stacked bunks maximize space—and the view from the window—in this guest room.
GUEST BEDROOM
Grasscloth brings the natural textures of the outdoors in.
"This room was all about the color palette." The earthy grasscloth wallcovering balances out the rich red and blue on the headboard and duvet, all Serena Dugan Studio fabrics.
BACKYARD
The curved porch steals the spotlight—from everything but the view.
When it came to setting up the circular porch, "every decision I made was around capturing peace with those porch beds, the rocking chairs," says Dugan.
