When I posted the photo above to my Instagram stories mentioning we were checking into our Airbnb on Nantucket the response was overwhelming. My inbox flooded with requests for links to book for upcoming travels. In a world where most vacation rentals are filled with Ikea furniture and plastic plates, this space was something special. Scrolling through the images in this post it will come as no surprise that this pied-a-terre, right in the center of Nantucket town, is the work of a talented professional.
Though owner and designer, Melanie Gowen, has only been living on Nantucket for a few years, she instantly grasped the spirit of the place, and has been translating that which is quintessentially Nantucket into stylish interiors since she first landed. David and I had fun catching up with Melanie over cocktails at Lemon Press, a newly opened juice press by day, and restaurant/bar by night that also bears her aesthetic fingerprint. Both the apartment and restaurant were so beautiful I looked her up online in the hopes of discovering other gorgeous properties she’s touched around the island and her portfolio did not disappoint. I’d move into any of her completed projects in a heartbeat! As it turns out, Melanie is both a decorator and real estate agent with Windwalker William Raveis, a smart pairing that enables her to find the right property for each client, then assist in bringing their dream home to life.
Our petite yet well-appointed apartment named “Centerloft” could not have been a more perfect base for a week’s worth of activities. Just steps from all of our favorite restaurants and shops in town, we loved wandering across the street each morning for a coffee from Petticoat Row Bakery, before putting our names on the waitlist at Black Eyed Susans and perusing the Hospital’s thrift shop while waiting for our names to be called. When at home, I was constantly discovering thoughtful details around the apartment, from the lacquered blush ceiling in the bedroom that gave the space a rosy glow to the cleverly concealed media cabinet in the living room, I made mental notes along the way. While there is so much to do on the island, this apartment felt so serene we opted to stay in two nights and enjoy cooking at home in the gorgeous kitchen.
If you fall in love with staying in the heart of Nantucket’s historic downtown, no one will blame you. I have my eye on Melanie’s newest listing – 14 Still Dock – a two bedroom gem in town filled with light and her signature airy color palette. For those of you interested in renting the apartment we stayed in you can find it here, and for those lucky enough to be looking for property on the island you can find Melanie here!
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xx, SF
All photos by David and Stacie Flinner for stacieflinner.com
You SOLD me on vacationing on Nantucket with this post!! <3