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A renovation of a historic sea captain’s home is inspired by everything bright and beautiful that Nantucket offers and translates it into a feeling of comfort and bliss.

When John and Kim Wepler purchased an 1860s sea captain’s home in Nantucket, Massachusetts,

it was the fulfillment of a longtime dream. They’d spent the previous years visiting the island and wanted a permanent destination to call home during the summers. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love with the home, which is only a stone’s throw away from one of the best features of the quaint town: the bells chiming from a nearby church. However, the historic home needed a full modernization and accommodations for an active family of six, so the Weplers enlisted the services of Donna Elle, owner of Donna Elle Design. She, along with general contractor Robert Deuberry of Providential Properties, created a home full of coastal bliss. “The homeowners had a very clear vision of what they wanted,” Donna says, “a functional home with a Nantucket vibe that creates a feeling of togetherness, comfort, and most importantly, happiness.”

COMFORT + CONNECTION

Functionality and room for socializing were the highest priorities for the kitchen. Donna wanted to give the homeowners the ability to stand around the island and connect with friends. “It was important to make the space feel more open and give dimension through intentional decision, as seen with the glass-front cabinetry,” she says. Inspiration for glass-front cabinets came from consulting with Amish craftsmen. A door and shelves, also glass, were added, and the shelves were styled with glassware, coffee mugs and dishware in coastal colors. Donna says, “The sunlight captures reflections during the day and provides a vantage point for seeing people coming in from the outside walkway.” Since the island would be a natural gathering place in the kitchen, Donna made sure it was a standout. It’s painted in Benjamin Moore “Hale Navy” and anchors the space. “The clean, neutral backdrop of the tiled backsplash, white-paneled ceiling and cabinets, the colorful print in the Roman shades and the presence of the island lend bold stability to the space,” Donna says. With artful design focused on usability and engagement, the kitchen is the place of connection that the homeowners longed for.

“The homeowners had a very clear vision of what they wanted: a functional home with a Nantucket vibe that creates a feeling of togetherness,

happiness.”

comfort, and most importantly,

|TOP| FAMILY FEEL. The homeowners envisioned a family room where they could gather and feel close while being comfortable. “This feeling is exactly what this room exudes,” Donna says. “We wanted this room to feel the most casual, as it would be a room well lived in.” A Serena and Lily Jamison sofa in Indigo chenille makes a statement, while the rest of the interior elements offset its density. The room is spacious, yet its cozy styling encourages the family to linger. |BOTTOM RIGHT| Donna Elle is an established force in the design industry and brings both personal passion and expertise to each project. “The design-build phase of a full renovation or new construction is fascinating to me,” she says. “Seeing a project come to life from concept to completion is why I love what I do.”

|TOP RIGHT| NAUTICAL NOTES. A novelty console table stands out against the crisp white wall paneling in the foyer and cheerily greets guests entering the home. “The blue is coastal in nature, and the playful style of the table is attention-grabbing,” Donna says. Meanwhile, natural wood accents on the rail, stairs and wall break up the one-dimensional aspect of the entryway and reflect back to the history of the home. “It gives a very rich yet subtle undertone of the past that intentionally shows up throughout the home in unique ways,” Donna adds. |TOP LEFT| LOCAL BLOOMS. A bouquet of New England asters from Bartlett’s Farm, a local Nantucket farm, adds vibrance to the table, which is set for a mid-morning Sunday brunch. |OPPOSITE| BEACH BLEND. While the family tends to eat in groups and in various places throughout the home and backyard, this space serves as a more formal room for holiday gathering or special events. “Keeping the clients’ tastes in mind, we wanted to bring in a mix of mossy and leafy greens to this space, making it feel more organic and authentic,” Donna says. She hand-selected the antique dining table from an estate sale to anchor the room, and mixed scale and print, texture and finishes. The outcome is magical and has a definite coastal undertone but a real richness as well.