Dozens of people started their Labor Day weekend at Caumsett State Historic Park by touring its renovated Winter Cottage.

The cottage had been closed as it underwent a four-month renovation by local designers as it was brought to life with the help of Claudia Dowling Interiors, in cooperation with the Caumsett Foundation.

"It was a mess. The living room had no walls and there were spider webs every where. It hasn't really been used by anyone recently," said Jennifer Indence, a former designer who co-produced the show with her mother, designer Claudia Dowling. "Boces was here for many years and the historian used a room upstairs as as office, but other than that it wasn't used."

Distinguished designers, artisans and landscapers helped restore the Marshall Field Country Estate, which is open to the public Tuesday through Friday until Oct. 17, and put their work on display as part of The Design Show House at the Winter Cottage.

A love for the park and what surrounds it were motivating factors for Dowling to want to use the park's cottage for a design house. "I contacted the park to do this because I love it here," Dowling said. "I walk here and I am a big fan of wildlife and I thought I'd love to do a show here. I've been in 18 shows in the past at other design houses, but this is the first time I have ever co-produced one."

Dowling invited some of the designers she had previously worked with, and some of those designers invited other ones to join in. "We started this project at the beginning of May," Indence said. "It's been a lot of fun. This was a great place to spend the summer."

Many local residents agree as they sepnt the day at the park and simply stumbled upon the Design Show House.

"We were just out enjoying a beautiful day in the park when we came by the cottage and we found out about the design show," said Hicksville resident Bill Maron who was at Caumsett with his wife, Ellen. "We are glad we did because it was just beautiful."

Others came out to support their friends who took part in designing the rooms. "My wife and I have a friend that designed the boys' nursery," said George Cosentino of Babylon  about Diane Guariglia of Dyfari Interiors. "We are having a little boy soon so we thought we would come by and see it. ... It's also nice to see cultural things like this on the island. People think once you leave the city there isn't anything like this so I am glad to see this out here."

Dowling said the fact that the proceeds from the Design Show House are benefiting the Caumsett Foundation, which is working to preserve this integral part of Long Island's history, makes the show even more special.

"I have never had a show like this even as a designer," Dowling said. "This was unique. Everyone worked together. All the designers were a team. They helped out to clean or vacuum or do whatever they could to help out. Everyone was in it for each other and for Caumsett."