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When designer Scott Murphy calls his Shelter Island, New York, home “a little bit of a black sheep,” he means it quite literally. After a multi-phase restoration and renovation, the exterior of the former working boat house, first built in the 1920s, is dark as midnight thanks to a Swedish pine tar and linseed oil finish. This is not your average beach cottage, and the mold-breaking continues inside. Yes, you’ll find the requisite nods to sails and portholes, but they’re alongside a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, a panel of glass on a bedroom floor revealing the bay beneath… and a trove of contemporary furniture spanning practically every era. Because thanks to Design Within Reach and Boutique, the three-bedroom property is ready for its debut as a fully immersive—and shoppable—vacation rental.
“We immediately fell in love with The Boat House’s rich history, character, and the way in which it beautifully captures the spirit of the island,” says Debbie Propst, president of global retail at DWR’s parent company, MillerKnoll. The brand took pains to outfit the property in all manner of iconic modern pieces, from the sculptural seating to the elegant BBQ skewers, while still keeping Murphy’s original vision at the forefront. “What makes this place so special is that Scott designed it around how he actually wanted to live: slower mornings, more time outdoors, spaces that bring people together, and a constant connection to the water,” says Marc Blazer, CEO of Boutique. Below, we spoke with Omar Nobil, DWR’s creative director, about how it all came together.
What was the creative process like?
We used the homeowner’s vision for the house, and how it should be experienced throughout the day, as our north star. Because of its unique location, perching over the Dering Harbor, The Boat House feels like a threshold between two worlds—the certainty of land and the quiet tranquility of the water. It’s a place that invites you to pause. It’s a place where life softens, where time stretches, and where you can let your thoughts drift outward with the current. We started with that story, with the destination.
The parlor’s built-in sofa is so charming. Did you do anything to play up that feature?
We immediately fell in love with this detail; it perfectly aligned with our concept of having the space as a nook for cozying up with a book or a vintage record. We re-upholstered the cushions in a playful yet elevated stripe from Maharam, which beautifully brought the theme of the parlor to life. On either side of the built-ins, you can still peer outside through “portal” windows, keeping you grounded and connected to place.
That wall of floor-to-ceiling windows is striking, but a potential challenge for furniture placement. What was your strategy?
We saw the windows as a design opportunity: How can we leverage the A-frame angles and further frame the views and experience with furniture? How can we further draw your eye to the center of the natural view? We placed upholstery pieces, such as the Americano sofa in the entry living room and an Eames lounge and ottoman in the primary bedroom, right next to the windows to encourage “sitting in the view.” When you curl up in one of these pieces, the lines between indoors and outdoors feel blurred.
There are quite a few statement rugs. What inspired going boldest underfoot?
With the white walls, wood beams, and natural light that streams in from every window, we felt that it was important to have an anchor in each room. Grounding guests with a rich earth tone can quickly bring focus inwards when entering a space.
Given this is a vacation rental, did you incorporate any smaller details with guests in mind?
We thought about how a guest would experience various parts of the house throughout the day—from morning to night—and what we could provide to make those moments easy and enjoyable. For example, folding chairs from the HAY Outdoor Market are available for enjoying coffee on the dock or packing in the car for the beach. Various portable lamps and lanterns are available for having dinner on the deck, and HAY Outdoor Market skewers are on hand for walking down to the lawn and roasting marshmallows at the fire pit.
What feature was most difficult to figure out?
With abundant natural light, soaring A-frame ceilings, and reflective water surfaces, determining how to layer the lighting presented a unique challenge. These are, of course, the best kinds of problems to have, but they made it especially important to approach additional lighting with intention. We thoughtfully introduced a mix of pendants and floor lamps, incorporating soft materials like rattan and cocoon-inspired forms to cast a warm, diffused glow. Hand-blown Glo-Ball sconces by Flos add a touch of quiet glamour, emitting a soft, luminous light that gently enhances the space.
How do you embrace a nautical setting without veering into cliches?
The Boat House’s nautical touches are small ways to honor the destination, while the color scheme is more rooted in how we want guests to feel in the space—earth tones that are calming, grounding and familiar. We loved the homeowners’ artwork and objects and worked many of them into the design of the space as they were important in telling the story of the property. Incorporating these personal touches, such as antique boat ropes, models and artifacts, and mixing our furniture and decor with existing pieces was a core part of our design process.
