The Lane Estate in Nissequogue boasts a colorful history. Built in 1860 as a shingle-style Victorian, it came into the possession of Albert Stewart, whose lucrative affiliation with the Barnum and Bailey Circus and friendship with the New York City Mayor William Gaynor didn’t save him from death aboard the Titanic. The house was purchased in 1914 by James Lane, who moved it up to a nearby hill, redressed its exterior in Greek Revival fashion, and hired the legendary Elsie De Wolfe to festoon the interiors with trellis work, mosaics, murals and fountains.
By the time Deborah Dufton and her husband bought it in 1998, the mansion had fallen into dreadful disrepair, its walls crumbling, its floors leaking sticky residue, its infrastructure a shambles. The couple diligently restored the mansion to the heights of its De Wolfe-ian splendor and then decided to sell. But the ailing market forced them to lower the price and Dufton worried that the home might not attract a buyer who could appreciate it.
“Builders were sniffing around [threatening to knock it down], and I wanted to preserve its history. It’s a special house.” So she decided to organize a showcase on the premises featuring just under 20 designers who are based mostly on Long Island. Dufton has stipulated that they work around the De Wolf fixtures and integrate them into a relatively cohesive, traditional style. She is putting the house back on sale the day her event opens.
The Lane Estate, located at 707 Short Beach Rd., will be open from May 31 to June 29. For more information about tickets and reservations call 631-734-5894 or click here.
-- ARIELLA BUDDICK