Nantucket, MA

On a stretch of land overlooking Nantucket Harbor, we designed a home incorporating the best of the Island's architectural traditions for a client with 21st century taste. The main house of 8,000 square feet has three guest suites, and the cottage out back includes another 2,000 square feet, but we downplayed the size by making use of gabled dormers and ells giving the exterior the proportions of a rambling two-storied farmhouse, while inside, the living room dramatically unfolds into a single modern space. One of the gables introduces natural light from above, so that along with the wooden beams, the angles of the white ceiling suggest the rigging of a schooner under sail. An interior balcony adds to this nautical feel. The open floor plan between the spacious kitchen and dining area allows the homeowner maximum flexibility while tending to friends and family. Extensive custom millwork and detailing, such as the hand-painted floors with a mosaic shell motif carried throughout the house, creates the continuity needed to unite large areas.

Photographs: Thomas Lingner