Why Designers Are Choosing to Launch New Products at Nantucket by Design
Nantucket by Design is an annual fundraiser that supports the Nantucket Historical Association and features an antiques show, design-focused panel discussions, expert-led workshops, and shopping pop-ups. While Nantucket by Design isn’t a design market, per se, it celebrates the island’s legacy of influencing American design in a major way. And even though the event is only eight years old, its thoughtful curation of programming and the attention it brings to the intersection of design and preservation draws an impressive roster of designers from all over the country—and luxury brands are taking notice.
These design brands are leveraging a chance to be in front of designers and design enthusiasts and introduce their new products in an intimate setting. Take for example Nantucket by Design sponsor Eleish van Breems, which opened its second retail location on the island in 2020. The design firm debuted a new dining table produced in collaboration with furniture maker Dunes and Duchess on a table that would be perfect in a Nantucket cottage kitchen or breakfast room—or in a European retreat overlooking a sunny coastline.
Eleish and van Breems said they channeled Scandinavian form and function while incorporating the Josef Frank-designed Schumacher outdoor fabric, ‘Citrus Garden’ in the color ‘Pool.’ The design duo said they were inspired by the “Provençal coated tablecloths of the 1980s that are now impossible to find.”
Eleish says that as a child growing up in Europe, she fondly remembers visiting her aunt in Normandy and the summer dinners she spent eating from her garden on “beautifully decorated Provençal tablecloths that were coated and indestructible.” She wanted to create a permanent, fabric-coated tabletop that was perfect for daily living, and, thus, this idea was born. Michael Partenio of Dunes and Duchess was able to create the perfect tabletop with a chic matte finish—and it’s quite possible we’ve never coveted a dining table more.
Nantucket by Design sponsor Christopher Farr Cloth also showcased the power of collaboration at the event with its Threads of Life quilt exhibit at the NHA’s Greater Light building. The English fabric house commissioned 14 designers from all over the world, including Kit Kemp, Kathleen Hay, Noz Nazawa, Eleish van Breems, and Mally Skok, to design quilts using their textiles. The one-of-a-kind collectors’ pieces were then sold, with proceeds benefiting the NHA.
Chad Dorsey, another prominent designer and owner of Strike bespoke mantles, announced the launch of three new mantles at Nantucket by Design this year. The smaller-scale designs emphasize the interlocking and connecting of different materials and finishes (which seems super fitting, considering the invaluable connections Nantucket by Design brings to the design world). Chad Dorsey Design also introduced Strike bath, a line of sculptural stone sinks in luxurious, hand-honed stone surfaces designed to draw viewers in with subtle, enchanting details.
Dorsey said in a media release that he was excited to introduce his new collections to “the sophisticated and engaged Nantucket by Design audience” because they were “sure to appreciate the exacting level of artisan craftsmanship and clean contemporary lines Strike is known for.”
Like Strike, Nantucket by Design sponsor McKinnon and Harris seized the opportunity to showcase new introductions to the intimate community of luxury design lovers that Nantucket by Design has fostered over the years. On the porch of Eleish van Breems’ shop, the outdoor furniture company debuted pieces from its new Thirza Collection.
Finally, de Gournay, the English textile and porcelain firm, introduced a new hand-painted scenic wallcovering called ‘Nantucket Crossing’ inspired by the sweeping views of Nantucket Harbor. To complement the wallpaper, de Gournay also introduced a new porcelain dinner service collection called ‘Sea Voyagers’ that pays homage to the island.
It’s worth noting that designers Gary McBournie and Bill Richards—who are longtime Nantucket residents—collaborated with de Gournay to design the nautical-inspired porcelain set. With beautiful nods to regal ships, historical maritime motifs, and Nantucket’s rugged natural flora, this dinner service is truly special.
“I've been working on custom designs with de Gournay for many years, so I was thrilled when the opportunity arose to design a bespoke collection of porcelain inspired by Nantucket,” McBournie says. “I was not lacking in inspiration as I have been working and summering on the island for many years now. As a nod to de Gournay's British roots, I thought it would be interesting to develop a design that highlights the lucrative relationship between Nantucket and England during the island's whaling heyday.”
VERANDA is a media sponsor of Nantucket by Design. Special thanks to India Hicks, Wambui Ippolito, Thomas Jayne, and Nicholas Varney for speaking with editor Steele Marcoux during this year’s “Legacy in Design” panel conversation.
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