Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Oct 24, 2025

This Prefab Beach Shack in Montauk Is a Surfing Family’s Dream Come True

This Prefab Beach Shack in Montauk Is a Surfing Family’s Dream Come True

In Montauk Shores, a pair of HGTV stars transform a prefab home into a beachside paradise.

As a leader in the New York City residential real estate market, Louise Phillips Forbes was well acquainted with the work of HGTV stars Robert and Cortney Novogratz when she asked them to design her family’s new getaway in the Hamptons.

Louise and her family owned a half-million-dollar lot in Montauk Shores-a 20-acre trailer park known as a billionaire hotspot for its high-end amenities and coveted beach location-and they wanted to install a roughly $200,000 double-wide prefab from Indiana-based Hi-Tech Housing. The family of four called upon the Novogratz design duo’s playful and artsy design sensibilities to transform the "generic white box prefab" into a cozy surfer paradise.



The Montauk Surf Shack is clad in stacked ipe wood siding. Under Montauk Shores’ rules, all new construction must be wheeled in.

"Because the home was built off-site, we didn’t have the opportunity to spend time in it before we started our decorating plans, which is unusual for us," share the Novogratzes, who featured the prefab home in their new book, Novogratz Design Fix: Chic and Stylish Tips for Every Decorating Scenario. "We had to rely on blueprints and the manufacturer’s renderings, and extrapolate the best we could."



The home is located just steps away from the beach. Montauk Shores boasts approximately 900 feet of waterfront coastline and a tight-knit community.

To make the 1,160-square-foot prefab feel more spacious for the family of four, the Novogratzes asked the factory to increase the ceiling height by a few feet, remove several walls, and install taller doors. The prefab was constructed in two parts and then shipped to the site and installed atop the existing foundation.



The vanity was installed at the factory, and the mirrors and lights were added on-site.



In the master bedroom, the designers reupholstered the West Elm headboard with a Hot Coral fabric from their collection. The bedside table was crafted by a local artisan.

"The clients live in New York City, and they were looking for a simple escape on the beach," note the Novogratzes. "They are a surfing family and wanted the home to represent that. They asked that the outdoor space be as livable as the interior, and that the interior feel like them-open, warm, and relaxed."



The clients’ paddle collection and surf art are used as decor in the beach-inspired interior.



An aerial photo of a beach hangs above a wall-mounted 3X shelf by LAXseries.



The outdoor bench is covered with Maharam fabric. The surfboard coffee table was built by one of the client’s sons.

To visually open up the home, the Novogratzes utilized a minimalist design approach and a light, neutral palette. Bold pops of color, texture, and local art infuse the prefab home with personality and charm.



In an experimental move, the designers used different upholstery for the sectional. Colorful stripes and baby blue complement the cool gray tones.



Tony Caramanico artwork hangs on wave-patterned wallpaper. "We purchased the art for this house locally and online," note the designers. "Some of our favorite surf photographers are Tony Caramanico, LeRoyGrannis, Jeff Divine, and Clark Little."



In the boys’ shared room, the Novogratzes wrapped a pair of IKEA trundles with Jonathan Adler fabric. The bright-orange surfboard provides a vibrant contrast of color to the blue bedding.

Along with the surfing-inspired decor, large windows and sliding glass doors that connect to an outdoor patio emphasize the indoor/outdoor living experience.



The vintage 1940s whale sculpture located right below the vaulted ceiling was a travel souvenir.



Since Forbes preferred a matte finish, the Absolute Black Granite slab was installed upside down for the kitchen counters.

"We loved the kitchen, as it was unique for a home like this," say the Novogratzes. "It felt like being in a city loft apartment, but then opened up to the outdoors, letting in wind and ocean scents. Whenever you can open the kitchen to the outdoors, something magical happens."



The Lucy barstools from Bend Goods are topped with neoprene-covered cushions for durability. The giant Flos pendant lights are by Marcel Wanders.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Microsoft AI CEO: ‘We’re making an AI that you can trust your kids to use’ — but can Microsoft rebuild its own trust before fixing the industry’s?
China and Russia Deploy Seductive Espionage Networks to Infiltrate U.S. Tech Sector
Apple’s ‘iPhone Air’ Collapses After One Month — Another Major Misstep for the Tech Giant
Graham Potter Begins New Chapter as Sweden Head Coach on Short-Term Deal
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Alleges Poison Plot via Chocolate and Jam
Lakestar to Halt External Fundraising as Investor in Revolut and Spotify
U.S. Innovation Ranking Under Scrutiny as China Leads Output Outputs but Ranks 10th
Three Men Arrested in London on Suspicion of Spying for Russia
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
Andreessen Horowitz Sets Sights on Ten-Billion-Dollar Fund for Tech Surge
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
×