Historic Fire Island Pines Beach House Restored for 2023 Summer Season
A historic beach house on Fire Island Pines has been beautifully restored to its former glory by August West and her friends. The house, originally built by her grandfather Conor McGregor with the help of architect Horace Gifford, is now ready for the 2023 summer season.
Conor McGregor, once a renowned hairdresser with a salon on St. Marks Place in the '60s and '70s, bought a sandy parcel on Fire Island Pines for just $6,000. He then collaborated with architect Horace Gifford to build a retreat, which they affectionately nicknamed the Bamboo House after McGregor covered its surfaces with bamboo one summer.
Years later, August West, who spent many summers at the beach house, decided to restore it. She and her friends took a DIY approach, reupholstering furniture and creating their own decorative works. The restoration also included creating a denim-covered built-in sofa for the living room. The artist who oversaw the renovation, known for their studies in Fine Art and Photography & Video Art in London and Munich, helped bring the project to life.
McGregor, inspired by Gifford's practices, later turned his attention to creating sculptures from driftwood.
The restored beach house, a testament to the vision of Conor McGregor and Horace Gifford, is now ready to welcome new renters for the 2023 summer season. August West and her friends have successfully preserved the house's history while updating it for modern use.
