Design Diary: Historic Nantucket Home by Elizabeth Georgantas

Let’s pretend it isn’t way too cold outside for April and take a trip to Nantucket. I wrote about the renovation of a classic kitchen with industrial details in this historic Nantucket home for the Boston Globe Magazine two summers ago.

Elizabeth Georgantas of Boston-based PEG Properties & Design and her husband and business partner, Peter, renovated and restored this 4,096-square-foot “in-town” historic house on Nantucket. Built in 1765, the home is believed to have been dismantled, rebuilt, and enlarged around 1820. In designing the interiors, Georgantas was careful to respect the home’s early roots while still incorporating modern-day amenities.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-kitchen

Many beautiful features of the original house remain intact, like the wide plank, heart pine flooring and the 12-over-12 windows. When Georgantas and her husband purchased the house, the beams were covered under casing and a dropped ceiling. She uncovered the beams and added a couple of extras for balance.

On-island kitchen and bath design firm Nantucket House Fitters did the kitchen cabinetry. The three-quarter-inch-thick Carrera marble countertop is from Boston area supplier Cumar Marble & Granite.

The oil-rubbed bronze industrial style pendant lights are by Thomas O’Brien for Visual Comfort and the industrial style counter stools are from Leostine. The range is from French manufacturer La Cornue’s more modestly priced CornuFe line.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-kitchen-breakfront

Georgantas found the hutch at Furniture Consignment, a second-hand furniture shop in Chestnut Hill and had a carpenter rework the shelving in order to accommodate the television, which is mounted on an oscillating arm. The Westmore milk glass collection is from Brimfield

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-plate-wall

A plate wall comprised of brown & white transferware.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-patio

The brick patio is right off the kitchen. Georgantas paired an antique French marble-topped baker’s table she discovered online with vintage-inspired steel chairs. A giant clamshell planted with succulents doesn’t require much upkeep.

Rather than replacing the white cedar shingles, Georgantas had the exterior of the house power-washed, a decision that not only cut costs, but kept building materials out of landfills. Georgantas says, “We try to do as much possible to be green when we build.”

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-dining-room

The period-style dining room has a long worn-wood table, tall ladder back chairs and a pair of historic oil portraits.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-lr

The original owners, Mary (Coffin) Starbuck and her husband Nathaniel, called the Parliament House. The pair led the Quaker movement on Nantucket, and the first meetings were held in their living room.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-lr-chairs

An Oriental area rug adds color layered over a neutral, beach-appropriate sisal rug. About the furniture Georgantas says, “I didn’t need the furnishings to be historically accurate. I like the blend of comfortable, simple, current day furniture and period artwork.”

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-lr-side-table

Rich wood furniture and accessories with simple lines, along with the thoroughly present day yet charming white sofa are comfortable yet perfectly in place in this historic Nantucket house.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-family-room

The family room has a modern patterned rug, rustic wood coffee table, old-fashioned clear glass table lamp, and comfortable neutral sofa.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-stairway-gallery-wall

A gallery wall of botanical prints lines the staircase.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-mbr

An iron canopy bed seems both fresh and modern and perfectly appropriate.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-dresser

A marble-topped antique dresser holds used books and historic objects.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-luggage

Vintage luggage stacked in a bedroom provides extra storage.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-br-upholstered headboard

A wood framed headboard with a vaguely French flavor is upholstered in blue linen  blue and white throw pillows in a subtle floral print add a wash of color in a bedroom.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-guest-room

Rattan shades add texture in a guest room while blue and white ikat pillows and throw pillows with a slightly Asian flavored floral print add color and pattern.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-bedroom

An early American antique chest sits at the foot of the bed, which has an upholstered headboard with nailhead detailing.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-bathroom

This bathroom has been updated with marble tile flooring and polished chrome hardware, but the antique style vanity lends an historic air.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-kids-bedroom

Built in beds and a window seat in a children’s room.

nantucket-elizabeth georgantas-bathroom-sink

S H O P  the P O S T

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”651795″]