LIFE HOUSE, NANTUCKET

The property’s origins can be traced to 1833, when Captain Robert Calder, a whale fisherman and—coincidentally—an ancestor to artist Alexander Calder, purchased the Cliff Road land to stay between whaling expeditions. In the 1870s he turned his home into a hotel, and it remains the oldest continually operating inn on the island. The hotel concept celebrates the nonchalance of a worldly innkeeper, an homage to the history of the innkeeping heritage. The revived palette draws on the local Islander flora, among them hydrangeas, daffodils, wild roses, and seagrass. Historic molding is covered in modern hues, ranging from deep Atlantic jade to light blue, lilac, rich plum, and dandelion gold. Upon entry, guests are greeted by a golden sabre tiger runner, layered gallery walls, and framed gucci scarves—a nod to the eclectic innkeeper’s travels. A custom key cabinet features etched brass plaques from the previous innkeeper, who designated each of the 14 guest rooms as a local flower.