Nantucket by Design 2020

Each summer here on Nantucket, August marks a special focus on design. And celebrating its fifth year as the main summer fundraising event for the Nantucket Historical Association, the ever-popular Nantucket by Design 2020 is going virtual! As always, it will be celebrating the island’s unique influence on American design with engaging lectures, an on-line antique show, panel discussions, house tours and a virtual dance party! And as a bonus benefit of keeping health and safety as our priority, we are excited to be able to welcome visitors from around the world to experience this special event from the comfort of their homes!!

I am honored to be this year’s chair for the Designer Luncheon featuring keynote speaker Alessandra Branca, who will be presenting her Zoom talk live from here on island. Alessandra’s deep knowledge of design history and love of craftsmanship, color and pattern all inform her signature mix of old world elegance and relaxed modern living, leading to her latest venture, her fabulous new home collection, Casa Branca! I have followed Alessandra’s distinguished career for years, from her apartment at the Hearst Designer Visions Showcase for ELLE DECOR, below,

to her beautiful Kips Bay bedroom from a couple years ago,

to her fantastical Dining by Design table for Benjamin Moore

to her beautiful work at Windsor, the private residential community/club in Florida, where she reimagined the Village Suites, a collection of individually furnished guest accommodations, below.

I know you’ll love seeing and hearing more about her design ethos and thoughts of design as Sanctuary, this year’s theme. Featured design friends you will have the opportunity to meet also include Meg Braff, Young Huh and Richard Keith Langham who will join us for the Design Panel, moderated by Veranda Magazine editor in chief Steele Marcoux, Alex Papachristidis who will be presenting a talk for the opening evening of The Nantucket Summer Antiques Show (a booth from last year’s show, below) and Ellen Fisher, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the New York School of Interior Design, who will present a special seminar exploring the history of design on Nantucket in the 20th century.

all photos except first by Stacey Bewkes for Quintessence

There is much more to enjoy during our virtual event from July 30th to August 1. Please visit the NHA website to learn more and buy full access tickets which include all the events in this exciting line up!! I am hoping to see many of you longtime readers both here in the US and around the world who I know will love a virtual trip to this very special island and help support one of the most important and valuable island institutions!! Look forward to seeing you there!!