Nantucket Chic—A Taste of the Island Life

By Milena Damjanov
August 15, 2011

One of America’s most storied vacation spots, Nantucket—or “The Grey Lady” as the foggy island off the coast of Cape Cod is often called —has a decorating style all its own. From whales, lightship baskets and marine-themed accessories to furnishings in nautical navy, soft sea glass and white (with a dash of red thrown in), the mix reflects the island’s long whaling history as well as its current status as an all-American beach destination. As we head into the last stretch of summer, we’ve taken a look at what makes this beloved historic island’s interiors so distinctive.

The Lion’s Paw, Debbie Fraker’s 35-year-old interiors shop on Nantucket’s cobblestone-lined Main Street, is where islanders and visiting mainlanders alike go to get their fix of local home chic. The storefront features an eclectic (and admittedly upscale) mix of tabletop items and furnishings, arranged by how they would appear in various rooms of a house, and is the perfect source for all kinds of treasures that mirror the island’s vibe.

Among the custom-painted wood furniture and elegant designer linens, customers can find Nantucket-y pieces such as a large, red storage bucket decorated with the airport’s celebrated call letters (“ACK”); a tablecloth printed with turtles, crabs and lobsters; and dishes decorated with paintings of local fish. “Nantucket gets in your blood,” says Fraker, who explains that part of the store’s mission is to allow people who may live in big cities the rest of the year to take home something that reminds them of the island.

Lion's Paw

The Lion’s Paw, a high-end interior design shop with classic Nantucket style.

Interior designer Jackie Higgins of Beach Glass Designs, who has a summer residence in Nantucket that she built from the ground up six years ago, enjoys applying the local style to her traditional, grey-shingled home. She wanted the rooms inside to feel “historic, yet modern and classically seaside,” so she loaded them up with pieces that echo The Grey Lady’s glorified past. Lightship baskets, once famously crafted by the crews of bygone floating lighthouses to pass the time, can be found everywhere from the master bedroom to the living room. A carved-wood whale—a classic symbol of Nantucket—and an oil painting of an old steamship decorate various walls on the ground floor. More beach-y touches include a hurricane lamp in the dining room, photographs of sailboats in the third-floor bedroom and plenty of nautical stripes, in colors ranging from deep navy to the soft blue of the hydrangeas that flower in the island's high season.

Jackie Higgins

Jackie Higgins's Nantucket Home (photos by Jeff Alan)

Ultimately, Nantucket's is a look that is rooted in simplicity—there is a strong Quakers history on the island—but that also has enough nautical hints to serve as a reminder of the great surrounding expanses of ocean. Best of all, the vibe can be brought to any home in the world. “If you have an affinity for the ocean, I think it works anywhere,” says Fraker of the type of decor she specializes in. To find both genuine Nantucket collectibles along with other furnishings reminiscent of its beach-y New England style, search eBay using terms like “Nantucket,” “whaling” and “nautical.” We've got 15 finds below to get you started.