Nantucket Mod

With art-infused flair, a West Coast family proves contemporary floats just fine on a historic New England island

- Stephanie Hunt

Create Counter Culture

The kitchen centerpiece was a solid marble island-stunning, but the homeowners wanted to add an element of warmth and practicality to the area. "She loves to cook but wants to be able to socialize while she does so, so we added a counter with stools for people to gather," says designer Brittany Giannone. "It's a family home and needs to be approachable." Giannone designed the 11-footlong cantilevered slab of butcher block, plus brass-and-glass shelving to soften up the oversize hood.

For this San Francisco–based family, the pandemic brought waves of nostalgia for New England holidays spent on the Cape and Nantucket. “We missed our East Coast summers,” says the wife. The couple, both Louisiana natives, had lived in Boston, New York, and London prior to moving west 20 years ago. “We asked a Nantucket broker to let us know if something special came up, and the next thing we know, she called to say, ‘Get on a plane.’” The property, however, with its contemporary collection of interconnected buildings surrounding a courtyard, surprised them. Pleasantly so. “It was so unusual for Nantucket. I love historic homes,” says the wife, an artist with an academic background in art history. “We’d envisioned [buying] a more classic, old Nantucket home, but this had such a well-conceived layout for our family and guests. We can gather together in the main living areas, yet people can also retreat to their own spaces to unwind and renew.” Plus, as art collectors they loved the soaring ceilings and expansive walls for showcasing works.