Since joining Fox News in July 2011 as one of the five hosts on The Five, Dana Perino has balanced life in the spotlight with her personal pursuits — including a love for beachfront living. When her boss asked about her summer plans early on, she recalls thinking, “I don’t think I can afford a summer plan in New York.”
By 2017, thanks to a solid career and her husband Peter McMahon’s success as the founder and CEO of a medical device startup, the couple had more than a summer plan — they had a summer home in Bay Head, New Jersey. Located just an hour and six minutes from their Manhattan residence, the gray-and-white multi-story house sits right on the beach, flanked by two red houses.
In December 2020, the pair upgraded to a larger Bay Head property near the sand, featuring four bedrooms and an apartment over the garage. “Because of the pandemic we were both working from home, and we knew we were going to need much more space… or there was going to be a divorce,” Dana jokes. Since moving in, they’ve redone the kitchen, expanded the first-floor deck, and added decks to the second and third floors.
The décor is a blend of maritime charm — lots of blues and whites, sea glass collections — and canine love. Dana and Peter are serious dog people, and Jasper, their late Vizsla, still lives on in portraits and photos throughout the home. Their current Vizsla, Percy, also has a spot of honor: photographed on his first visit to the Fox set and immortalized on canvas by George W. Bush. “When Vizslas are born they have blue eyes,” Dana said, recalling sending Bush a photo of Percy for the painting. “And he sent me a note asking if I was sure about the blue eyes. I was sure.” That portrait now hangs in the sunroom alongside a Bush-painted bouquet of flowers.
The sunroom is also Dana’s favorite morning reading spot, furnished with four oversized chairs that survived the couple’s transition from their previous home. Nearby, a pool table separates the sunroom from the family room, while walls display campaign buttons, ribbons from Dana’s ballroom dancing competitions, and mementos like a childhood Bible gifted back to her by a viewer.
Dana’s living room doubles as a space for relaxation and naps, complete with monogrammed pillows and large sofas. Upstairs, the third-floor office, nicknamed “the perch,” houses a Peloton and Pilates equipment. Leaf-printed wallpaper gives the room a greenhouse-like feel — a touch of whimsy that Dana appreciates. “I first wanted flamingoes on the wallpaper because my dermatologist has that and I think his office is so cool, but my decorator surprised me with leaves,” she says with a laugh.
Tucked at the top of the spiral staircase is Dana’s most personal retreat, a sun-filled room she calls “the sanctuary.” Lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, it holds journals she’s kept since college, rare first-edition novels, and framed letters from mentors and friends. A cozy reading nook faces a window overlooking the Atlantic, where Percy often curls up on a sunbeam. “This is where I recharge,” Dana says. “Nobody comes in here unless I invite them. It’s my little world of reflection, writing, and quiet—away from cameras and deadlines.”
Outdoors, a porch swing and frog-imprinted cushions set the scene for dining and relaxation, often with friends who’ve become like family. Dana notes that while she and Peter don’t have children together, their home is never empty; friends and family often stay from Memorial Day through Labor Day. “We bring them with us in the winter too. It’s a full house, and it’s exactly how we like it,” she adds.