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FeedLooking Toward Nantucket
The Carters favored a timeless New England style when they turned their humble garage into an inviting seaside cottage.
by Pam George Published March 16, 2010 at 08:48 AM
(page 3 of 4)
Two sets of French doors connect the main living space with an enclosed front porch. When the doors are open, the areas function together as a large, single space.The Carters were intent on having a porch that allowed them to enjoy summer breezes. Yet they didn’t want to give up that square footage during the colder months.
The solution? It’s all in the windows. In winter, the storm windows go in, making the space snug on a chilly night. In summer, screen windows are the order of the day.
Wood columns between the windows are accented with elegant alabaster sconces that cast warm amber light. Because alabaster is natural, each piece is bestowed with unique characteristics. “When you turn on the lights, you can see that each sconce is a little different,” Carter says. “It’s never the same.”
With a keen eye for detail, Carter devoted a lot of time and energy to researching and shopping for unique furnishings and materials.
In the sumptuous master bath, Carter chose blue glass accent tiles that shimmer like the sea. She spent hours at the showroom, looking for just the right sheen, texture and design. “It’s very therapeutic, looking at tiles,” she says. “The process is so much more pleasant if you look at it as an outing rather than a chore.”Throughout the house, seating is soft and inviting. Carter chose a fabric in a print reminiscent of coral to cover an inviting pair of chairs. She repeated the print on accent cushions on the sofa.
Carter discovered the large antique mirror with a mahogany frame at the top of the stairs at a local antiques shop. She flanked the mirror with sconces with alabaster shades that accent the brown tones of the wood.
“Anyone can go to a store and order furniture,” Carter says. “I love the way everything blends together—antiques, something you see at a store and fall in love with, a piece that you have had for years and have always loved.”
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