Serena Dugan's Shelter Island Barn Studio Blends Art and Hospitality

Serena Dugan, an artist and textile designer, has converted a barn on Shelter Island, New York, into a multifunctional studio and gathering area. This barn, adorned with larch wood treated with traditional Scandinavian pine tar and linseed oil, overlooks Coecles Harbor and the Mashomack Preserve. Dugan, who operates from a studio in Sausalito, California, and co-founded Serena & Lily, enlisted All Things Dirt for the design. Known for their work with artists like Nate Lowman and Michael Heizer, the firm emphasized proportion, volume, and light. The interior boasts whitewashed surfaces, movable worktables, and a mezzanine with a library and Murphy bed. Dugan, who found Shelter Island after launching Serena & Lily in Sag Harbor in 2013, celebrated her 50th birthday there and plans an art show in August. The project was highlighted in Galerie Magazine's 2026 Fall Issue titled "Creative Refuge."