SHELTER ISLAND HOUSE
SHELTER ISLAND, NY
2018
PHOTOGRAPHY: SCOTT FRANCES
A house for a young family that balances privacy and openness, integrating indoor and outdoor spaces under a single roof.
Built along the eastern edge of the property between woods and a field, the house balances privacy with expansive views of the open landscape.
Three connected volumes — private bedrooms, shared living spaces, and a guest suite with pool changing room — define the home’s functional layout.
A single roof and continuous floor plane unify the three volumes, creating a cohesive compound.
The exterior is clad in unfinished Alaskan yellow cedar, allowing a natural patina to develop over time, while ipe decking is left to weather naturally in Shelter Island’s coastal climate.
Interior spaces combine oak floors and exposed Douglas fir beams, with views framing the open field and surrounding woods.
Salvaged wood from the site’s original shed clads the kitchen and laundry rooms, preserving traces of the property’s history.
Open-air walkways and a planted courtyard weave between the volumes, merging indoor living with the outdoors.
