DWR and Boutique Launch The Boat House: A Waterfront Rental Property on Shelter Island

Shelter Island, NY (May 28, 2026) - Design Within Reach (DWR) and Boutique announce their second experiential rental home together: The Boat House, a reimagined retreat located directly over Dering Harbor on Shelter Island, New York.

Following the debut of the DWR x Boutique rental home in Palm Desert last year, The Boat House marks a new evolution of the partnership- demonstrating how modern design can be experienced holistically in a variety of architectural contexts. The three-bedroom home offers guests a fully immersive opportunity to live with DWR's designs, while also showcasing how the brand's continuously expanding product portfolio can support a spectrum of architectural philosophies- from iconic mid-century Coachella Valley landmarks to a coastal, Suffolk County sanctuary.

"By inviting guests to stay and live with our products, not just see them in a store, we're offering a deeper, more human connection to design," says Debbie Propst, President of Global Retail for Millerknoll. "It's also exciting to see us in this hospitality setting, and one that might be unexpected for a modern design brand. Over the past few years our assortment has expanded significantly, providing us with opportunities to furnish spaces of all architectural typologies and footprints. Our portfolio allowed us to seamlessly furnish this rental with pieces that are of the upmost quality and durability, without sacrificing style."

Originally built as a working boat house in the 1920s, The Boat House was carefully restored and reimagined by homeowner Scott Murphy in 2015. The renovation honored the property's maritime heritage - such as a suspended hanging rope bed and a glass floor panel in one of the guest rooms - while simultaneously introducing contemporary details that heighten comfort and light. The home's original gabled form and intimate scale is complemented by floor-to-ceiling glass walls that frame the harbor, creating a constant connection to the movement of light and water. Reclaimed white oak from a Pennsylvania barn, Japanese-inspired bath detailing, and Scandinavian exterior finishes set the tone for a space that feels both timeless and personal.

Informed by the property's heritage and the destination's natural beauty, DWR created spaces that are dedicated to slow living and connection to people and place. The result, a careful curation of design icons and newly introduced pieces that ground guests with a soulful material and color palette. Warm woods such as white oak and deep walnuts are paired with organic earthtones such as Burgundies, Greens, Browns and shades of Terra Cotta. Touches of classic stripes and checkered fabrics are layered in to evoke simple expressions of joy and nostalgia.

Designed to be explored over time, the property offers multiple indoor and outdoor environments - from dining and lounging decks to a private dock, outdoor kitchen, firepit, and a screen-free parlor room - encouraging guests to engage with the home in various ways morning through night.

"We want our guests to downshift and disconnect from everyday life with people they love. The home is designed to inspire slow gatherings where each activity is an opportunity to create cherished memories," says Omar Nobil, Creative Director of DWR. "The Boat House's design reflects a lived-in approach - one rooted in craft, rich materiality for everyday rituals and intentional living."

"The parlor is the heart of the concept," adds Nobil. Within this welcoming space, guests will find a piano, a beautifully crafted Wrensilva Record Console, a curated collection of vintage vinyl, books and plush seating for getting lost in a novel or cozying up with friends and a board game.

DWR's unparalleled offering of modern design, sourced from leading makers, creators and artists from around the world, is beautifully reflected throughout the property. "It's a dynamic curation of design that you won't see anywhere else," says Nobil. The selection includes storied and contemporary brands including Herman Miller, Knoll, DWR, Muuto, HAY, Nordic Knots, Ellison Studios, Møller, Ferm Living and Hawkins, to name a few.

"At Boutique, we've always believed the best homes reflect a way of living, not just a design aesthetic," says Marc Blazer, CEO of Boutique. "The Boat House represents a shared belief between Boutique and DWR that great design can encourage a more intentional pace of life - slowing down, reconnecting, and being more present with the people and rituals that matter most. Scott designed the home around the way he wanted to live, rooted in nature, craft, local heritage, and connection, and that spirit is felt throughout the experience."

The Boat House is now available to book through Boutique. Furnishings and accessories featured in the home are available for purchase at dwr.com.

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About Design Within Reach (DWR)
Where modern design's greatest stories become part of yours. At DWR, we curate the leading modern design brands in home furnishings, from around the world. We offer the most robust collection of design classics alongside the next generation of iconic design. We curate and create thoughtfully designed, exceptionally crafted, built-to-last pieces that move with you, from home to home, generation to generation. DWR provides customers with endless opportunities to shape spaces that are deeply personal, boldly individual, and uniquely their own. Our unparalleled selection of exclusive designs spans all categories of the home and is available to residential customers and trade clients across North America. DWR is part of MillerKnoll.

About Boutique
Founded in California in 2010, Boutique is the vacation rental platform for homeowners and guests who believe good design makes travel better. Boutique offers a considered selection of architecturally significant and design-forward homes across six continents, each chosen for its character, warmth, and sense of place.