ABOUT
For its 100th birthday, the White Elephant Nantucket undertook a top-to-bottom transformation inspired by the storied history, character, and rugged beauty of its island home. The hotel asked Elkus Manfredi Architects to design the renovation, which breathes new life into the property and immerses guests in an authentic experience of Nantucket.
The 54-key hotel and its 11 cottages feature custom furnishings, finishes, and design details that celebrate all things Nantucket. Designers brought the outside in, incorporating the quiet neutral tones and textures of the island’s windswept landscape and the blues of the surrounding ocean and skies. The cottages, each named after a plant traditional to Nantucket, provide moments of bright saturated color amid the overall palette, just as the island’s riot of summer flowers brings vibrant color to the landscape.
The design team developed and oversaw an Artist-in-Residency program that created original artwork inspired by the island specifically for the hotel, resulting in a total of 187 pieces of artwork on display in the hotel and 50 in the cottages.
The hotel’s reimagined lobby welcomes visitors with a mix of traditional New England charm and fresh, modern luxury. A large contemporary painting by artist Orit Fuchs of a mysterious woman in a rowboat gliding by the hotel hangs behind the custom-designed reception desk. Painted a deep Van Deusen blue the desk recalls Nantucket’s grand ship-building history with antique brass fittings, rattan detailing, and intricate cabinetry.
In the guestrooms, wall coverings evoke island dune grasses, ceilings are painted the color of a Nantucket summer sky, corridor wainscoting is deep ocean blue. In recognition of Nantucket’s rich artisanal history of basketweaving and textile production, designers created custom carpets throughout the hotel’s guestrooms and corridors using historic basketweave patterns at different scales.
The 11 cottages were fully renovated and each given an individual theme inspired by a Nantucket plant—Hydrangea, Daylily, Beachplum, Honeysuckle, Holly, Arrowwood, Marigold, Bayberry, Rose, and Snapdragon. Bold wallcoverings and textiles; curated Nantucket artifacts; custom upholstery and furniture, and vibrant accent colors come together to create a one-of-a-kind setting where memories are made and guests will return year after year.
