HISTORY
Discover the Timeless Grandeur of Duncraig Manor
Founded in 1928, Duncraig Manor began as a vision of sophistication—an English Cottage Tudor dream brought to life by architect Alfred B. Yeomans for Quaker Oats heiress Mrs. J. H. Andrews and her daughter, Mrs. Helen A. Lohman. Nearly a century later, its story still unfolds like a classic: striking silhouettes, storied craftsmanship, and an atmosphere that feels almost impossibly elegant.
Its name, chosen by second owners Dr. and Mrs. George Matheson, nods to their connection to Scotland’s historic Duncraig Castle—an origin as evocative as the estate itself. By 1990, the manor had claimed its place in the design world’s spotlight when the American Society of Interior Designers transformed it into a showhouse, inviting more than forty designers to reinterpret its interiors. Traces of their artistry still whisper through the rooms.
Listed on the Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places in 1991, the manor’s legacy could have ended there. Instead, a new chapter emerged. In 2017, Caroline and Donald Naysmith undertook a sweeping 18-month restoration, reviving the estate’s 1928 splendor with meticulous devotion. During their time, they also operated the manor as a charming bed and breakfast, further sharing its historic character with guests from near and far. In 2023, Dan and Petra D’Agostino ushered the manor forward once more—cultivating lush new gardens, crafting a state-of-the-art pool, and refining the interiors with an editor’s eye for detail.
Today, Duncraig Manor stands in full cinematic form: sweeping lawns, century-old trees, and gardens that shift like living artwork. Upon taking ownership, Petra and her daughter Austy closed the bed and breakfast chapter entirely—reimagining the estate as a high-end event venue dedicated exclusively to hosting weddings, galas, fundraisers, private dinners, luncheons, and other elevated gatherings. It is a place where history feels alive, where every celebration becomes a scene, and where elegance is not just preserved—it's performed.
