Houzz Tour: Moody Makeover for a Coastal New England Home
A historic Nantucket Island home gets a dark and stormy palette, along with contemporary style that nods to the past
The tiny island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, is so often shrouded in a thick fog, it’s nicknamed the Gray Lady. Rather than fight nature, when designer Kaitlin McQuaide recently redesigned the interior of a circa 1900 house on the island, she and her client leaned in, choosing a palette of dark and midtone grays, greens and blues, along with cozy, contemporary furnishings. See the moody makeover below — and keep a lookout for subtle nods to the island’s maritime history.
“Before” photos by Kaitlin McQuaide
Before: The interior of the house was a different story. It had already seen a lot of updates before the new owner brought McQuaide aboard. Initially, the plan was to mostly paint and redecorate to make the home better reflect his taste. But one thing led to another, McQuaide says, and the project became a gut renovation.
This “before” photo of the kitchen shows its more traditionally coastal look.
Before: The interior of the house was a different story. It had already seen a lot of updates before the new owner brought McQuaide aboard. Initially, the plan was to mostly paint and redecorate to make the home better reflect his taste. But one thing led to another, McQuaide says, and the project became a gut renovation.
This “before” photo of the kitchen shows its more traditionally coastal look.
After: Here’s the new kitchen, which has a similar footprint but new custom inset cabinets and a boldly veined honed marble countertop and backsplash. McQuaide wrapped the ceiling beam in reclaimed oak to add character, then flanked the matte plaster hood with shelves made of the same wood.
The cabinets are painted De Nimes and the shiplap walls Pavilion Gray, both by Farrow & Ball. The floor is stained gray.
“We did not want this to feel like a light and bright beach house, so we really leaned into a color palette that revolves around moody blues and grays that are reminiscent of the fog you see on the island,” McQuaide says. “I also know, having worked on Nantucket for years and learning the hard way, that Nantucket light turns things purple. We made sure to choose a palette that would complement the lilac light.”
Among the few overtly nautical references in the decor is a fun “porthole” on the galley (or swing) door to the left of the cabinets. It’s actually a convex antique mirror wrapped in leather.
The fridge and a pantry are on the wall opposite the range and sink. Scroll to the bottom to see the layouts of the home’s first and second floors.
Paint on swing door and doors throughout: Railings, Farrow & Ball
The cabinets are painted De Nimes and the shiplap walls Pavilion Gray, both by Farrow & Ball. The floor is stained gray.
“We did not want this to feel like a light and bright beach house, so we really leaned into a color palette that revolves around moody blues and grays that are reminiscent of the fog you see on the island,” McQuaide says. “I also know, having worked on Nantucket for years and learning the hard way, that Nantucket light turns things purple. We made sure to choose a palette that would complement the lilac light.”
Among the few overtly nautical references in the decor is a fun “porthole” on the galley (or swing) door to the left of the cabinets. It’s actually a convex antique mirror wrapped in leather.
The fridge and a pantry are on the wall opposite the range and sink. Scroll to the bottom to see the layouts of the home’s first and second floors.
Paint on swing door and doors throughout: Railings, Farrow & Ball
The owner uses the home only part of the year, which freed McQuaide to use beautiful, timeless materials that might otherwise be impractical. For example, the integral sink is made from the same dramatic marble as the countertop and backsplash. The doors throughout the home have a mirror-like lacquered finish, which shows every smudge. While those elements aren’t necessarily low-maintenance, the home is still welcoming and warm.
“The client and I were on the same page from the start,” McQuaide says of their selections and process. “We wanted to preserve the home’s historic character while still [making it feel] cozy and comfortable no matter the season.”
To that end, in addition to leaning into Nantucket’s gray fog and lilac light, McQuaide embraced the old house’s quirks. For example, there was an 8-inch difference in the floor’s height from one side of the kitchen to the other, so they had the cabinets custom-built to fit.
Also, they knew the salt air would be tough on their chosen finishes. “So we chose extremely high-quality unlacquered brass hardware throughout that patinated almost immediately,” McQuaide says.
Cabinet door hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware
“The client and I were on the same page from the start,” McQuaide says of their selections and process. “We wanted to preserve the home’s historic character while still [making it feel] cozy and comfortable no matter the season.”
To that end, in addition to leaning into Nantucket’s gray fog and lilac light, McQuaide embraced the old house’s quirks. For example, there was an 8-inch difference in the floor’s height from one side of the kitchen to the other, so they had the cabinets custom-built to fit.
Also, they knew the salt air would be tough on their chosen finishes. “So we chose extremely high-quality unlacquered brass hardware throughout that patinated almost immediately,” McQuaide says.
Cabinet door hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware
In the eat-in nook, McQuaide designed a built-in corner bench with rounded corners and a back cushion suspended from a metal bar. Leather Fredericia Spanish dining chairs coordinate with the leather accents on the cushion.
The owner already owned the rustic antique dining table, which luckily fit perfectly in the dining nook. A hand-built ceramic chandelier by Natalie Page of NPage Studio hangs above it.
“It’s a little bit, you know, ‘Nantucket nautical’ … but you could also use [this fixture] in New York City,” McQuaide says.
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The owner already owned the rustic antique dining table, which luckily fit perfectly in the dining nook. A hand-built ceramic chandelier by Natalie Page of NPage Studio hangs above it.
“It’s a little bit, you know, ‘Nantucket nautical’ … but you could also use [this fixture] in New York City,” McQuaide says.
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After: Again, McQuaide kept the powder room’s layout but changed the look with more colorful, contemporary and high-end finishes. The trim, door and wainscoting are painted Benjamin Moore North Sea Green in a lacquer finish, and the hand-marbled Stone Plume wallpaper is by Rule of Three Studio in Los Angeles. McQuaide found the tiny antique marble sink at Pittet Architecturals in Dallas and paired it with space-saving wall-mounted brass plumbing fixtures and accessories.
Sconce: Punch, The Urban Electric Co.; faucet: Beaubourg wall-mounted lavatory set with cross handles, THG Paris
Sconce: Punch, The Urban Electric Co.; faucet: Beaubourg wall-mounted lavatory set with cross handles, THG Paris
After: The moody color palette established in the kitchen continues into this more formal living (or “keeping”) room, where the host and his guests can gather for pre-dinner cocktails.
McQuaide had the pair of chaise lounges custom-made by Brooklyn design studio Moving Mountains to fit the space perfectly.
Paint colors: Pavilion Gray (ceiling, wainscoting and walls) and De Nimes (trim), Farrow & Ball
McQuaide had the pair of chaise lounges custom-made by Brooklyn design studio Moving Mountains to fit the space perfectly.
Paint colors: Pavilion Gray (ceiling, wainscoting and walls) and De Nimes (trim), Farrow & Ball
The side and cocktail tables are petrified wood stumps, some painted and others left natural. “Everything was very intentional, and we tried to use smaller makers or local artists,” McQuaide says.
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After: Removing the closet improved the room’s flow and allowed them to add the second chaise, which has a built-in table at the far end.
The Design for Macha ceiling light spans the furniture grouping, creating cohesion. The way the fixture fits under the staircase just so also prevents the latter’s odd angles from cutting off the room — a nice surprise versus a strategic plan, McQuaide admits.
The Design for Macha ceiling light spans the furniture grouping, creating cohesion. The way the fixture fits under the staircase just so also prevents the latter’s odd angles from cutting off the room — a nice surprise versus a strategic plan, McQuaide admits.
The stairs’ newel posts, treads and baluster were all painted in Farrow & Ball’s Railings to match the doors, while the risers and stringers were painted De Nimes. They left the handrail as-is.
“It had such a nice patina on it from all the years of people using it,” McQuaide says. “It’s only going to get better.”
“It had such a nice patina on it from all the years of people using it,” McQuaide says. “It’s only going to get better.”
After: McQuaide added depth and texture to the room with a Phillip Jeffries woven wallcovering and dark blue paint on the ceiling and trim.
Above the fireplace, which is finished in dark plaster, an antique-looking Jamb convex mirror that McQuaide found in London hangs from a picture rail. There’s a television discreetly placed above a console to the fireplace’s right.
Most of the paintings throughout the house were already in the owner’s eclectic collection. The high-low mix of artwork in this room includes a painting of a house by Nantucket artist Joan P. Albaugh.
Ceiling and trim paint: Van Deusen Blue, Benjamin Moore
Above the fireplace, which is finished in dark plaster, an antique-looking Jamb convex mirror that McQuaide found in London hangs from a picture rail. There’s a television discreetly placed above a console to the fireplace’s right.
Most of the paintings throughout the house were already in the owner’s eclectic collection. The high-low mix of artwork in this room includes a painting of a house by Nantucket artist Joan P. Albaugh.
Ceiling and trim paint: Van Deusen Blue, Benjamin Moore
A curvy custom sectional sofa made by Ambella Home and upholstered in a dark blue Holly Hunt outdoor velvet adds to the room’s cozy vibe.
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A contemporary Ochre chandelier and sconces from Los Angeles gallery Obsolete illuminate the stairwell and upstairs landing.
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After: McQuaide covered the pink with light gray matte stain and the walls with a rugged grasscloth from Phillip Jeffries. Although it’s hard to tell from this photo, the beds are both queen-size. Between them, sitting atop an antique chest, are two hand-marbled lamps from Oregon-based Elyse Graham Studio.
A bright blue custom dresser from Los Angeles furniture company Lawson-Fenning sits on the opposite wall.
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Shop for bedroom furniture
After: The owner envisioned his friends’ children sleeping here, so he and McQuaide decided to make it fun. At the far end of the room, McQuaide built in a single bed with a trundle underneath, bookshelves at the foot and an Arteriors Rex pendant light overhead. After selecting the striped embossed linen wallpaper, which has a touch of green in it, she added curtains in a grass green Kelly Wearstler fabric.
“You could close the curtains and just be in your own little world,” McQuaide says.
Trim paint: Blue Danube, Benjamin Moore
“You could close the curtains and just be in your own little world,” McQuaide says.
Trim paint: Blue Danube, Benjamin Moore
There’s just enough space for a chair and reading lamp tucked into a corner next to the door. Artwork by George Read hangs behind them.
After: The guest shower didn’t just get bigger — it got bolder finishes too. McQuaide added a shiplap partial wall and steel-frame shower enclosure, then installed a bright blue wall tile and black-and-white floor tile. She also swapped chrome for brass plumbing fixtures, including a graceful Henry gooseneck shower head from Waterworks.
Ceramic wall tile: St. Tropez Azul by Roca Tile; terra-cotta floor tile: Charred Cedar 4-inch octagons and Moroccan Sea Salt 1-inch bouchons, Clé Tile; plumbing fixtures: Waterworks
Ceramic wall tile: St. Tropez Azul by Roca Tile; terra-cotta floor tile: Charred Cedar 4-inch octagons and Moroccan Sea Salt 1-inch bouchons, Clé Tile; plumbing fixtures: Waterworks
A marble slab remnant sits atop the custom vanity.
Wall paint: Storm, Benjamin Moore; sink and fixtures: Waterworks
Wall paint: Storm, Benjamin Moore; sink and fixtures: Waterworks
After: McQuaide discovered the issue with the floor upon installing this luxurious custom bed, which features an alpaca-upholstered headboard, leather side tables and Ochre hardware. She had to take it back and have it remade to the floor. Now it sits level, covered in Peacock Alley bedding and a Holly Hunt throw at its foot.
This shot also showcases the mirror-like lacquer finish painstakingly applied to all of the doors, including this closet door. McQuaide had them painted twice because they weren’t glossy enough the first time around.
This shot also showcases the mirror-like lacquer finish painstakingly applied to all of the doors, including this closet door. McQuaide had them painted twice because they weren’t glossy enough the first time around.
The pinkish ceiling, meanwhile, was restained, and the trim was painted in Benjamin Moore’s mahogany-black Midsummer Night. The walls feature a felted-wool wall covering by David Rockwell for Maya Romanoff, and McQuaide had Roman blinds made to match.
The painting on the wall is by Lily Harrington, and the dresser facing the foot of the bed is from Lawson-Fenning.
The painting on the wall is by Lily Harrington, and the dresser facing the foot of the bed is from Lawson-Fenning.
Here’s a peek at the primary bathroom, which has Thundercloud Gray walls and a custom vanity painted Hale Navy, both from Benjamin Moore. The vanity is topped by a thick slab of quartzite, which has dark gray veining that coordinates with the dark gray large-format floor tile.
Not pictured is a new steam shower with a steel-frame enclosure and dark gray-blue wall tile.
Floor tile: Keystone in Dakota, Waterworks
Not pictured is a new steam shower with a steel-frame enclosure and dark gray-blue wall tile.
Floor tile: Keystone in Dakota, Waterworks
In addition to undergoing an interior makeover, the home was refreshed with new landscaping and brickwork designed by Miroslava Ahern.
A 1960s-era concrete Willy Guhl Pod chair that McQuaide found and purchased in France sits near the front entrance, hinting at the eclectic and unexpected furnishings inside.
A 1960s-era concrete Willy Guhl Pod chair that McQuaide found and purchased in France sits near the front entrance, hinting at the eclectic and unexpected furnishings inside.
More Pod chairs are pulled up to a gas fire pit on the new patio. McQuaide also added an antique knotted-wood chair and an upholstered sofa and matching chairs from Danao Living.
One can imagine the owner and his friends gathering around the fire after a day spent on the beach, staying toasty even as the evening fog rolls in.
One can imagine the owner and his friends gathering around the fire after a day spent on the beach, staying toasty even as the evening fog rolls in.
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A man for whom this is a second home
Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts
Size: 1,654 square feet (154 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ baths
Designer: Kaitlin McQuaide of McQuaide Co.
Landscape designer: Miroslava Ahern
Contractor: Clarke Brothers Construction
The relatively small, 124-year-old house sits right in the middle of Nantucket’s historic downtown, just steps from some of the island’s most significant historic sites. The front door and new shutters were painted in colors approved by the local historic district commission, but the home’s footprint and classic shingled exterior were otherwise left basically untouched.
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