Behind the Dunes News » Fire Island News & Great South Bay News

For me, September is when you really get to see what a Fire Island property is all about. In July and August, the island is at its busiest and most vibrant, which is incredible, but there’s so much going on that it’s easy to overlook a property’s subtleties. In September, everything slows down. You notice the privacy, the light, the breeze, the sounds, and the way the house actually lives when the crowds disappear. You get a much better sense of the relationship between the house and its surroundings. Having grown up on Fire Island, I think that’s one of the most special things about September. It gives buyers a glimpse of the Fire Island that those of us who live here and truly know have always loved—quieter, more peaceful, and incredibly beautiful. Sometimes that’s when a property’s real magic becomes apparent.

Behind the Dunes

What can September reveal about a Fire Island property that buyers might overlook in the height of summer?

Posted on September 12, 2026

For more than two summers, residents and visitors in Fire Island Pines have looked across the harbor and wondered the same thing: What is happening with the old Botel?

Fire Island Pines

What Lies Beneath the Tryst: Land, the Legacy, and the Unfinished Future of Fire Island Pines Harbor

Posted on September 8, 2026

Provenance Woven Wood Shades-2

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The Children’s Bedroom: Making Proactive Window Treatment Decisions When There are Children in the Household

Posted on August 31, 2026

When Paul Coughlin and Annie Scheel of Brooklyn-based architecture firm Coughlin Scheel Architects were brought on to assess a bayfront property in Seaview, Fire Island, their initial goal wasn't a full renovation. It was simply to make the home’s outdoor space more livable.

Seaview

Seaview Deck Project Turns into Near-Complete Renovation

Posted on August 29, 2026

Sheri Lapidus Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Fire Island Sales & Rentals sheri@FISR.com (631) 583-8898

Behind the Dunes

How would you help buyers balance their dream home wish list with the realities of the Fire Island market if they hope to purchase a home by next summer?

Posted on August 25, 2026

When you think of American innovation, your mind probably goes to automobiles, computers, or smartphones. Yet one of the most overlooked examples of everyday innovation hangs right in front of your windows. Modern blinds and shades have evolved over thousands of years, from simple coverings made of reeds, bamboo, and cloth in ancient Egypt, China, and Persia to the sophisticated window treatments homeowners enjoy today.

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American Innovation: The Evolution Hanging in Your Home

Posted on August 24, 2026

For many people, a Fire Island house is more than a summer place. It has a name, a story, and, often, a hand-painted sign that becomes part of the home’s identity.

Seaview

A Piece of Fire Island History Finds Its Way Home

Posted on August 18, 2026

In today’s competitive Long Island housing market, many sellers are asking the same question: “How can I maximize my home’s value and leave a lasting first impression on potential buyers?” While kitchen renovations, fresh paint, and new landscaping often come to mind, one upgrade that is frequently overlooked is custom window treatments.

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Selling Your Long Island Home? Don’t Overlook Your Windows!

Posted on August 7, 2026

Hobbies are an important part of people's lives. They give us a healthy outlet to pursue our interests, explore new ones, and disconnect from stress to recharge. For some people, hobbies can become opportunities to meet new people, travel to new places, and earn income. They can also play important roles in our lives and come to us unexpectedly. For Bobby Burns, his passion for carpentry started in the twenty-teens, during the construction of Hudson Yards. Since then, Burns has spent his free time creating live-edge epoxy tables, cutting boards, charcuterie boards, birdhouses, and Little Free Library boxes. As chief engineer for Warner Bros., with a 38-year career, Burns and his team of 19 people operate 24/7 to ensure that their offices are well maintained. His team manages HVAC, power generators, and other infrastructure to keep daily operations running. During the construction of Hudson Yards, he saw crates coming in and out of the site and was inspired to take up carpentry.

Behind the Dunes

From Construction Crates to Custom Carpentry: Craftsman Bobby Burns

Posted on August 2, 2026

Fire Island is home to 17 distinct communities strung along 32 miles of barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great South Bay. Each has developed its own character over generations, shaped by the people who live there, the environment, and the construction constraints of building on an island. The homes that populate these communities reflect all of that. Built among the dunes and trees, they are shaped just as much by the island's conditions as by the architects and builders who designed them.

Behind the Dunes

A New Home in Ocean Bay Park Honors a Fire Island Original

Posted on July 21, 2026

The Blind Spot, founded in 1985 by Matthew Arceri, is a family-owned business offering a wide range of window treatments for clients throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, including homes on Fire Island. Today, the Blind Spot is co-owned by brothers Joseph and John Arceri. Whether you’re a longtime homeowner or a new one, selecting the right blinds, curtains, and shades for spaces—from the kitchen and living room to the office or bathroom—can improve functionality, light control, comfort, and privacy. It's important to understand how each room functions before selecting treatments.

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Choosing the Right Window Treatments with The Blind Spot

Posted on July 19, 2026

While there is always great excitement and investment in our July 4 Weekend issue of Fire Island News, the fun really begins in the issue that follows. So much so that this issue practically wrote itself. Here you’ll find all the fun pictures, and our community columnists recap all the action. However, this is not just an issue about what was; it's also about all the great things still ahead for the summer of 2026.

The Mid-July Issue of “Fire Island News” Makes its Way to Newsstands this Week

Posted on July 15, 2026

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