8 min readNantucket has long been an island shaped by craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit. In the 1800s, women ran businesses along Petticoat Row, supporting themselves and their families while their whaling husbands were at sea. That legacy of ingenuity lives on today. While it may not have been design-forward as we define it now, the “Grey Lady of the Sea” (as sailors are said to have dubbed it) has always celebrated beautiful, handmade things—from handloomed towels and iconic lightship baskets and bangles to lush floral arrangements.
It's only fitting, then, that Nantucket is home to one of the design world's most anticipated summer events: Nantucket by Design, taking place July 13–16. The annual festival features designer home tours, garden walks, and thought-provoking panels exploring heritage in interiors, architecture, and landscapes. Esteemed names including Bunny Williams, Fernando Wong, Corey Damen Jenkins, Alexa Hampton, and House Beautiful Editorial Director Joanna Saltz will be in attendance. Best of all, tickets to the event are available to the public, offering anyone the chance to experience New England–inspired design at its finest.
Nantucket has also become a cultural icon thanks in no small part to best-selling author Elin Hilderbrand. With dozens of beloved beach novels set on the island—as well as the travel guide The Blue Book: A Must-See, Can't-Miss, Won't-Forget Guide to Nantucket—few know its hidden gems better. Ahead, she shares some of her favorite places that capture Nantucket's enduring charm.
While influencers may be catching the ferry in droves, we’re bringing you the insider scoop. Read on for the ultimate Nantucket guide for design lovers.
Additional reporting by Sarah Lyon.
Where to Shop in Nantucket
Hop off the ferry, and you’re steps from Nantucket’s Main Street and cobblestoned downtown with plenty of boutiques that span everything from cashmere sweaters emblazoned with a Nantucket logo to gauzy floral sundresses.
A Sailor’s Valentine by Tuckernuck
A Sailor’s Valentine by Tuckernuck is Centre Street’s newest addition, paying homage to Nantucket’s rich nautical history. This concept shop feels like stepping inside a life-size jewel box, adorned with seashell motifs inspired by the keepsakes sailors in the 1800s crafted for their sweethearts before setting off on voyages. The treasures the space holds are just as charming—alongside Tuckernuck’s signature Americana sweaters and clutches featuring the iconic Nantucket Red, you’ll find rattan-wrapped glassware and iridescent shell-handled utensils. They’re the kind of thoughtful hostess gifts that are hard to resist.
Nantucket Looms
Do yourself a favor and pick up a kitchen towel from Nantucket Looms as a souvenir. It’s like a summer sweater for your hands. In fact, Jennifer Garner made a point to stop by the shop while filming the new series Five Star Weekend, which features a Nantucket Looms gift basket full of goodies. The weaving studio was established in 1968 and has since become “the epicenter for design on Nantucket,” Hilderbrand says. “It’s iconic.” The Main Street location is not just a shop.
Ask to go upstairs, and you’ll find placemats, cashmere throws, and their famous hand towels in progress on actual looms. One room over is their design studio, Nantucket Looms Interiors. Even if you don’t plan on hiring them during your vacation, leaf through their eponymous A Legacy of Style for inspiration.
Erica Wilson
The island has a rich history of needlework. Young Quaker girls were schooled in the craft that went beyond the quilts and cross-stitched florals. Jump to the 1950s, and Nantucket saw a resurgence with Erica Wilson at the forefront. Today, the shop carries needlework kits with traditional motifs as well as more contemporary and whimsical pieces that better suit today’s tastes.
Flowers on Chestnut
Flowers on Chestnut: Selling more than just fresh blooms, Flowers on Chestnut is “beautiful year-round,” according to Hilderbrand. “You can go there in the winter, and it’s like Christmas heaven,” she says. Stocked with all kinds of florals, small giftables, and home goods, it’s a one-stop shop for all of your entertaining needs.
Where to Stay in Nantucket
Don’t have a Nantucket beach house? With plenty of charming hotels on the island, it’s simply a matter of choosing the right one for you.
White Elephant Nantucket
You’ll find Nantucket by Design hosted in the ballroom at White Elephant Nantucket, and for good reason. The property puts a modern twist on coastal with its airy design that combines everything from Arhaus wicker lounges to cottage bedrooms with gingham wallpaper and bobbin furnishings in white oak. But it's not just about comfort; the boutique shop in the lobby is exceptionally curated with jewelry, iconic sweaters, and sunnies.
Once you’re equipped with souvenirs (ahem, essentials), borrow one of their cruiser bikes and make your way to the beach and Brand Point lighthouse—if you go in May, you can spot horseshoe crabs in the morning; come August, you might catch nighttime bioluminescence in the waves.
Greydon House
The Greydon House location is just one of the perks of this former captain’s house turned boutique hotel. It's just a five-minute walk to Main Street shops and restaurants. The lobby may have moody vibes, but each room is an airy retreat.
Roman and Williams designed the rooms that skew minimalist—beautiful patterned percale sheets from John Robshaw on down bedding feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud anchored by a custom iron bed, while the original artwork is balanced by creamy interiors and vintage furnishings. No detail is overlooked; even the robes are Frette. Even the bathroom is impressive with its Portuguese tile depicting a whaling fishing scene—a nod to the island's history and the Whaling Museum next door.
The property just added four suites (including a room with stained-glass windows) decorated with artisan furnishings and antiques. In the lobby, the Green Room features a de Gournay mural and a wraparound bar. You’ve never seen New England like this.
The Nantucket Hotel
Not to be confused with the fictional Hotel Nantucket, the subject of Hilderbrand’s 2022 novel, the Nantucket Hotel is the only island resort open year-round, and it is located inside a building that dates back to 1891.
“The Nantucket Hotel is my home away from home,” Hilderbrand says. “They have done just amazing design.” The property started with the iconic coastal motifs but has added on layers suited for those with a taste for rich materiality, as you can tell by the pink velvet sofas in the library.
Cliffside Beach Club
Hilderbrand’s ex-husband has been the manager at the Cliffside Beach Club for over 30 years. “The lobby at Cliffside is so cool,” she says. “It’s eclectic, just a mixture of different styles that all come together,” she adds. “I think it's the most beautiful room on Nantucket.”
She praises owner Monique Currie’s curation of the space, pointing out that there are “interesting things to look at wherever you turn,” among the many artworks, furniture items, and antiques within the lobby.
Where to Eat and Drink in Nantucket
Nantucket design is not the only dopamine maker on the island. Your taste buds will thank you if you venture into these stylish spots that serve delicious fare.
SeaGrille
SeaGrille is the spot for who's-who locals, as well as visiting musicians who perform across the street at the Chicken Box. Tuck yourself into a green leather booth and order the Caviar Tots—you won't regret it. These crispy little cubes with a cotton-candy-soft interior, nested on a blanket of crème fraîche and topped with caviar, are delightful with a glass of cava. Or perhaps an order of El Junior, a watermelon mocktail that bordered on shaved ice and had a zippy bite thanks to a dash of hot sauce. It's the perfect segue for winding down after a summer beach day.
Born & Bread
Born & Bread is tucked away a stone's throw from Main Street, giving it a less touristy, cozy ambiance. Start the day with a crispy scone to set yourself on a path to a good morning. You might also want to grab a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich made with house-made sourdough.
Lemon Press
Lemon Press is a Mediterranean-inspired eatery serving organic noshes at their best. Here’s our recommendation: Their avocado toast is a generous portion of green goodness topped with ribbons of fennel, pickled onions, and tomato confit. Pair it with an iced pistachio rose latte. Eat just outside on one of the benches across the shop or indoors on one of the French bistro chairs tucked against an exposed brick wall.
Via Mare
Dining at Via Mare, a restaurant in the Greydon House boutique, is equal parts interior design inspiration and gallery. The space is dotted with 19th-century stitched artwork made by sailors, also called “woolies.” A small plate of snow peas in a garlicky anchovy-lemon vinaigrette is a good way to start, and the decadent budino with toasted meringue is not to be missed.
The Wauwinet
The bar at The Wauwinet is where Hilderbrand says she’d take someone she’s looking to impress. The space is small in size with only a handful of bar seats and a couple of tables, but it offers plenty of ambiance to make it worth the nine-mile drive out of town. “It is like a little jewel box,” Hilderbrand says.
What to Do on Nantucket
In between shopping, lounging, sipping, and snacking, make time to immerse yourself in authentic Nantucket with these activities and classes.
1800 House at the Nantucket Historical Association
You’ll notice that houses on Nantucket have names, and the 1800 House is not to be missed. It is the headquarters for the Nantucket Historical Association, which offers decorative arts programs that capture the iconic crafts of the island. You can take a class in early-American arts like basket weaving, letterpress, and needlepoint.
Historic Mitchell House
History buffs and astronomy enthusiasts won't want to miss the Historic Mitchell House, birthplace of Maria Mitchell, the first American female astronomer. Dating back to 1790, the home is a treasure trove of design inspiration, especially for anyone who loves antique markets and vintage interiors.
One of its standout features is the immaculately preserved faux wood-grain painting in the 1825 kitchen. “The rosy-pink coloration may have been to mimic cedar, something that was fairly prevalent on the island and the reason why the family called it the Rosy Kitchen,” says Jascin Leonardo Finger, curator of the Mitchell House and deputy director of the Maria Mitchell Association.
Upstairs, the second-floor bedroom features Quaker-inspired wallpaper added in the 1940s, along with decorative floor painting that creates the illusion of a beautifully distressed rug.
Harvest Garden
Take a drive out of town for a bit of local culture at Harvest Garden, a working garden specializing in blooms like bumblebee-friendly foxglove and variegated mint. You can also sign up for workshops like meadow hoops and floral design. If you’re not in the mood to work with your hands, pick up a pack of just-picked lettuce with edible flowers, herbal salt, or a tea blend medley that will remind you of the soothing island atmosphere when you’re back on the mainland.
The Whaling Museum
You can’t visit Nantucket without stopping at The Whaling Museum, and not just because the storytelling will make you want to pick up Hermann Melville’s Moby-Dick. Upstairs, you’ll find a gallery filled with scrimshaw, which are intricate maritime carvings in bone or ivory. And if you’re into heritage lightship baskets, you may never leave—there is a veritable treasure trove of them here.
