This Old Nantucket Cottage Embodies Coastal Grandmother Style

Kids today, twirling their old-school hula hoops and showcasing their coastal grandmother aesthetic on TikTok! Listen, young ‘uns, if you want that look — whitewashed interiors, voluminous hydrangeas, white slipcovers, antique wooden beams, wicker baskets galore — go to Nantucket, where they practically invented the nowadays ultra trendy style.

About 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, the sleepy and scenic island is known for its whaling history, pristine beaches, trio of lighthouses, and its photogenically darling downtown with narrow cobblestone streets. The name comes from its earliest residents, the Wampanog people, who are connected with the Algonquin nation; the name derives from the Algonquin word “Natockete” meaning “faraway place.”

Indeed, “darling” just might be how an aspiring coastal grandmother would describe this circa 1740 bijoux cottage that’s located in the downtown area. Everything about it is fairly small, except the $4.25 million price because you gotta pay and pay dearly for this kind of low-key perfection. Still, the modest home manages to pack three bedrooms and four bathrooms into its 2,487 square feet. The lot size is a similarly petite 0.11 of an acre.

Listed by Bernadette Meyer at Maury People Sotheby’s International Realty, the beautifully restored antique house is filled with history and charm, completely renovated to meet modern day needs. There are reclaimed wood floors and hand-hewn beams throughout, as well as multiple living spaces indoors and out.

As one enters, to the right is a large dining room with wood-burning fireplace, while on the left is a formal living room. The lovely renovated kitchen has exposed wood beams, a large island, and French doors to a side deck. A cozy seating area with a wood-burning fireplace off the kitchen includes a sweet inglenook. (There are four working fireplaces throughout the cottage.)

At the back of the house, a family room offers a built-in bunk for overflow guests and access to the garden, while a full bath and mudroom are perfect for après-beach de-sanding.

Nipped up a private staircase, the second-floor homeowner’s suite is nicely separate from the other bedrooms, and offers a walk-in closet, a balcony that overlooks the garden and a bathroom with a large soaking tub. A separate staircase leads to two bedrooms that share an antique hall bath.

A bluestone patio and deck overlook a lush green yard that is hedged for privacy. Lilies? Yep. Flowering vines? Of course. The all-important hydrangea bushes just asking to be trimmed into submission by someone wearing $800 linen palazzo pants and a flowy headscarf? You know it, grandma!