The following piece explores Boston-based designer Nina Farmer’s thoughtful reimagining of a 4,900-square-foot Edgartown compound on Martha’s Vineyard.
The project preserves the home’s footprint and island character while introducing warmth, patina, and a refined sense of livable luxury for both seasonal retreats and year-round living.
The owners wanted a vacation home rooted in the island’s up-island vernacular—weathered shingles, farmhouse charm, and a sense of history—yet comfortably connected to Main Street and the beach.
This post highlights how materiality, texture, and furniture choices work together to create a space that feels lived-in from day one.
Rooted in the island vernacular: Reimagining a Martha’s Vineyard retreat
The redesign keeps the existing plan intact while layering in warmth through tactile materials and crafted details.
By tying interior surfaces to the exterior landscape, Farmer creates a seamless sense of place that invites gathering and long stays.
Preserving footprint, adding warmth
The home’s footprint is deliberately preserved, with an emphasis on warmth from patina-rich materials and thoughtful detailing.
Reclaimed oak-clad vaulted ceilings and bluestone tile echo exterior stonework, creating a cohesive indoor-outdoor feel.
Hand-knotted rugs and a palette of sun-drenched tones with moody accents reinforce a grounded, comfortable atmosphere.
Textures, tiles, and tactile detail
Texture and craft anchor the interiors in regional character.
Artisanal details elevate everyday living and connect the home to Martha’s Vineyard’s crafts culture.
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The design palette and material choices come to life through a curated mix of surfaces and objects.
- reclaimed oak-clad vaulted ceilings
- bluestone tile echoing exterior stonework
- hand-knotted area rugs to ground spaces
- Atelier Vime wicker pendant lighting
- Japanese stencil wallcovering
- Moroccan zellige floors
- Bantam Tileworks backsplash details
A guest house that mirrors the main residence
Farmer furnished a guest dwelling as a “junior version” of the main house to maintain continuity across the property.
The guest house includes its own kitchen and a dedicated office for remote work, giving guests a self-contained, comfortable space.
Vintage pieces and a consistent design vocabulary reinforce a sense of inherited character across both structures.
A compact companion with its own heart
The guest residence mirrors the main house’s warmth and patina while offering independent function.
Visitors can enjoy thoughtful, autonomous living without sacrificing the overall story of the property.
Palette, finishes, and furniture that anchor the look
Color and furniture selections evoke sunlit summers, underwater blues, and ocean greens, while remaining suitable for year-round use.
The interiors balance contemporary pieces with vintage finds to craft layered, intentional spaces.
Color story and furnishings
The palette uses sunny summer hues with moody purples, blues, and grounded greens.
Custom paints like Mediterranean Olive and Farrow & Ball’s Hay, along with light-to-mid-toned neutrals, tie the rooms together.
Furniture blends high-quality contemporary pieces with vintage finds—Zak + Fox and Pierre Frey sofas sit alongside 1930s Swedish stools and 1960s lighting for a layered, lived-in feel.
- contemporary pieces paired with vintage finds
- sofas and seating from Zak + Fox and Pierre Frey
- 1930s Swedish stools and 1960s lighting for a historical cadence
Art, craft, and local provenance
The home embraces local artistry and carefully sourced objects to reinforce its island character.
Regional pieces, vintage ceramics, and antiques bring depth and a sense of inheritance to the interiors.
Local art and vintage finds anchor the project
Original art by Jennifer Christy, vintage ceramics, and pieces sourced from 1stDibs and other purveyors create an inherited feeling.
This aligns with the clients’ desire for continuity and memory across the property.
Gathering spaces for long summer days
The redesigned interiors prioritize social flow and generous seating for gatherings.
An extra-long Dos Gallos dining table with vintage chairs anchors the main dining area, designed to seat many guests and support the island’s communal summer lifestyle.
A dining and social strategy for seasonal living
The dining setup is flexible: a long table encourages connection, paired with versatile seating for family stays or seasonal visitors.
The space remains comfortable in the shoulder seasons.
From season to year-round living
After a season of occupancy and a period of refinement, the owners now enjoy a home that truly reflects Martha’s Vineyard’s slow, communal summer rhythm. The house remains highly functional throughout the year.
The project shows how a careful balance of materials and patinated surfaces can create a home that feels rooted in place. A curated mix of old and new makes the space adaptable to changing needs.
Here is the source article for this story: This Martha’s Vineyard Home Channels the Island’s Rustic Charm
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