Nantucket by Design 2023

I am honored to again co-chair, with Olivia Charney, Nantucket by Design, the premier summer fundraiser for the island’s largest non-profit, the Nantucket Historical Association. In not quite two weeks we will celebrate with engaging keynote speakers, panel discussions, a partnership with The Nantucket Summer Antiques Show and more. If you plan to be on island, be sure to get your tickets now as they are quickly selling out.

This year’s theme of Legacy has meaningful ties to both our historic island and the arena of decorative arts. Whether exploring the talent and possessions of generational families, our museum collections, or our tiny island’s widespread influence, Nantucket has a legacy that looms large in the world of design, culture, and the arts. We are delighted to have a bevy of all-star luminaries connected to our theme who will shed further light on the relevance and importance of legacy in design today.

We are thrilled to welcome the talented duo of Martina Mondadori, founder and creative director of Cabana Magazine, and Ashley Hicks, designer, author, photographer and overall creative polymath, as our keynote luncheon speakers on Thursday, August 3. This is a rare opportunity to hear these two titans in the world of design speak together about their distinguished design legacies and how these have influenced their aesthetics and work today. It is sure to be an informative, enlightening and inspiring session! Tickets here.

The next day features our design panel with moderator Steele Marcoux, editor-in-chief of Veranda Magazine. Each of our panelists – India Hicks, Wambui Ippolito, Thomas Jayne and Nicholas Varney – represents a segment in the world of design, from interiors to landscapes to jewelry, with a professional and/or personal legacy.

Following the popularity of our inaugural Master Classes last year, we will again be offering four different Master Classes led by local experts. Explore floral arranging & entertaining, the creative process of interior design, historic architecture, and jewelry design, with island talent: Beth English, Kathleen Hay, Andrew Kotchen, Debi Lilly and Susan Lister Locke!

In partnership with British fabric house Christopher Farr Cloth, the NHA will host a free curated exhibition of quilts titled ‘Threads of Life’ at its Historic Site, Greater Light. Quilt designs of fourteen top design luminaries from across the globe including Kit Kemp, And Objects by Martin Brudnizki and Nick Jeanes, Yabu Pushelburg, Frank de Biasi, Mitch Owens, Kate Blee, Noz Nozawa, Atelier Ace, Mally Skok, Commune, Eleish van Breems and Kathleen Hay, have been commissioned by the company and designed exclusively with their fabric collections. Each will be sold as one of a kind collector’s pieces with proceeds benefiting the NHA to help bring greater awareness to an age-old craft and preservation. Special programming surrounding the exhibit can be found on the Nantucket by Design page here.

In addition to our scheduled design events, the NHA will also be incorporating Historic Home & Architecture walking and guided tours, a special lecture about its featured exhibition, Summer on Nantucket: A History of the Island Resort, and its ties to design on the island.

We are so excited to see many of you on island for Nantucket by Design 2023 – sure to be some of the most inspiring days of design this summer. Visit Nantucket by Design to see the full schedule of events and our generous sponsors! Hope to see you then!