Even if a trip to Nantucket isn’t on your summer agenda, you can still transport yourself to the island without leaving your sofa, no ferry ticket needed! How, exactly? By tuning into the new Peacock series The Five-Star Weekend based on author Elin Hilderbrand’s hit 2023 novel of the same name. Starring Jennifer Garner as Hollis Shaw, a newly widowed food influencer, the eight-episode television show centers around the drama that circles around Hollis and her four closest friends over the course of a weekend gathering on Nantucket.
Once you’ve binged the series, it’s only natural that you’ll want to outfit your home in total Nantucket style, too. And who better to provide design tips than longtime year-round Nantucket resident Elin herself? Keep reading for her top suggestions for how to effortlessly achieve the timeless, laid-back look so commonly seen in homes on island.
Start with Classic Colors
The nicest Nantucket homes are “almost always blue and white,” Elin says. “It feels so bright and summery and cheerful and coastal.” That said, no two spaces are the same. “I love to see how people differentiate their home from everybody else’s,” Elin adds, noting that this is often achieved through thoughtful art and styling choices.
Those who live on Nantucket year-round, like Elin, may wish to think beyond the blue-and-white palette. Darker blues, touches of leather, and other strategic choices will make a home shine all year long, the author notes. After all, she says, “To make an all-white house work at Thanksgiving—it’s hard."
Showcase Your Personality
Playing to your personality and interests within your space is another key way to ensure that your house doesn’t appear too cookie-cutter. “My design style is very book-centric,” Elin explains. “I have one wall that is entirely books.” Having sold novels in 27 languages, the best-selling author has amassed quite the collection of her own titles, which she displays alongside accessories including Nantucket baskets and family photos. “I like it to feel really organic to me,” she says. “I want people who walk into my house to be like, ‘This is a writer. This is somebody who values books.’”
Keep It Cozy
While she appreciates natural materials and texture, Elin also makes a point to seek out “things that are going to soften up an interior,” such as throw pillows and throw blankets. She’ll often turn to her nearest HomeGoods in Hyannis, Massachusetts,—the retailer is one of Peacock’s partners for The Five-Star Weekend—to source pieces of this nature. “I am a pillow person,” Elin says. “I always want to feel like I can sink into the bed and have it feel very comforting.”
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelancer who produces interior design, travel and lifestyle content. Her work is featured in outlets including Apartment Therapy, Architectural Digest, MyDomaine, The Washington Post and The New York Times. Plus, her personal spaces have appeared on Apartment Therapy, The Everygirl, Houzz and more.
