Greydon House

Located in the heart of Nantucket’s charming downtown, this boutique retreat stylishly pays homage to the island’s rich whaling and maritime trade heritage.

• The gorgeous Roman and Williams-designed interiors, which channel an elegant ship captain’s quarters
• The excellent fine-dining restaurant with a local, seasonal focus, helmed by a Michelin-starred chef
• The central location in Nantucket town

Housed in a 19^th-century Greek Revival mansion that was seamlessly combined with a new, Second Empire Baroque addition, Greydon House is the result of herculean efforts of three East Coast developers, whose vision was to create a stylish retreat that reflected the island’s origin as a seafaring community. Strolling down Broad Street today, the fused mansion fits so perfectly and looks so effortlessly elegant within its surrounds that it is almost unbelievable that the buildings were not conjoined before.

Entering the galley-sized reception space, a sense of history pervades, as if one had stepped into an elegant captain’s 19^th-century quarters, with encased oak paneling, velvet drapes and precious antique furnishings, peppered with whimsical, old-world touches: a band of Portuguese tiles on the wall, a vintage lantern, a scrimshaw craving. The property’s interiors were entrusted to New York design firm, Roman and Williams, known for their work on the youthful Ace Hotels, which combine a historic and contemporary style. Throughout Greydon House, they exquisitely unfurled the history of Nantucket’s 350 years of settlement, with common spaces that pronounce the entrenched maritime heritage of the island and airy guest rooms that embrace its incarnation into a stylish seaside destination.

An artistic eye imbues the entire property and the owner’s impressive collection of Brooklyn-based artist Terry Winters’ work hangs throughout. The first floor hallway leads to his vibrant, kaleidoscopic painting of crimson, emerald and sapphire shades that juxtaposes the dimly lit blue walls. Further up the winding atmospheric passageways lined with Winters’ abstract, charcoal drawings of circular shapes are the 20 guest rooms. Each chamber follows a successful recipe: white, wood-paneled walls, John Robshaw printed bedspreads and spectacular bathrooms with products from organic beauty shop Follain. The intricate showers pay homage to Nantucket’s trade relations with Portugal, with azulejo – hand-painted Portuguese tiles – lining floors and half of the wall. Roman and Williams also embellished the nautical rooms with vintage treasures, as if the captain host arrayed his global finds for his guests to appreciate. To one side of the room, there may be a bench fashioned of bamboo, or in the corner, a lantern with slender slits so the light ricochet across the corner, or hanging bedside, a tiny needlework piece featuring a whaling vessel. While room sizes range from comfortably spacious to quite cozy, there are a number that share an entry way, which can be closed-off, ideal for families or groups traveling together.

Marcus Ware, formerly of two Michelin-starred Aureole in New York, was called upon to oversee the inn’s eponymous restaurant. Outfitted like a stylish ship study, the bar area and lounge is dimly lit with old-fashioned light fixtures, a wall lined with antique ship sketches and a massive bookcase of weathered titles. The food, however, is hardly a step back in time, but rather a celebration of the present. Marcus Ware is committed to highlighting the freshest, local ingredients with an edited menu of artistically plated dishes with choices like Hamachi crudo or the standout, a perfectly seared halibut atop white asparagus and leeks.

Couples, groups of friends and families with older children who desire a serene, old-world ambiance with a convenient location in town and don’t mind forgoing a gym, spa and pool. The vibe is decidedly hushed, with little common space and amenities, so families with younger children would be happier at nearby White Elephant or Nantucket Hotel.