Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Our Martha's Vineyard "Home Away From Home"

 One of my life-long dreams has always been to visit Martha's Vineyard.  Everything I've ever read about it told me that I would be in love.
My dream finally came true!
We were fortunate to rent this adorable home on Martha's Vineyard for a week and not only did I fall in love, but I didn't want to leave!


It was recently featured in New England Home, so you can imagine how perfect the home is.
I love the decor, right down to the zebra stenciled hide in the living room.  It looks amazing with white slipcovered furniture and nautical details.


I spent a lot of time in this room, especially in the morning sipping my coffee and watching the sun rise over the harbor.


This vignette from New England Home shows the detail of the delft tiles around the fireplace and blue menswear plaid upholstery on the rattan chairs.  I love the blue hydrangea in this scene.
In fact, I purchased fresh flowers for the house while we stayed here to give the rooms some life.

There is a little breakfast nook between the living room and dining room.
Notice the architectural details.  There is very little drywall in this house--only white painted tongue and groove on the walls and beadboard on the ceilings.


The dining room is papered above the wainscotting in a beautiful blue and white print.
The dining chairs are lacquered navy blue and upholstered in a flax straw like fabric.

This photo from New England Home shows the wallpaper in more detail.
Through the door is the kitchen.


The walls in the kitchen are painted chocolate brown--an interesting choice to highlight the vaulted ceiling and white cabinetry.  Hmmmm, I wonder how navy blue would look instead...


The New England Home photo shows the detail of the backsplash behind the stove.


There are two bedrooms upstairs, including a huge master suite that overlooks the harbor.
Notice the painted ceiling above?

The master bath is beautifully appointed with marble floors and countertop.
I love the grasscloth on the walls.


There is also a bedroom downstairs, with one wall papered in a lavender stripe.
It has double doors that open the the courtyard...

...which also separates the main house from the guesthouse, and is the point of entry to the home.

 The guesthouse has a loft, featuring two twins and a separate bedroom and bath.

It even has its own little kitchen!

 Outside the living room is a wrap around porch that overlooks the harbor.
This home has it all and it was such a pleasure to stay here, pretending that we live here full time.


We pretended that this was our neighborhood...


...and pretended that this was our street as we walked to the main street where all the boutiques and restaurants are.  

We took lots of walks, exploring the island, pretending it was our home and wondering what would the winters be like here.   

We even took a drive to the other side so Mr. A could check out the fishing village. We made plans to come back next year so he could enter the fishing tournament that started just before we left.

But alas, we had to say goodbye.
Hopefully, we will be back and if we are lucky enough to stay in our home away from home on Martha's Vineyard again, I will be thrilled.

To read more about this lovely home, visit New England Home.



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21 comments:

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Gorgeous home!!

cotedetexas said...

omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can i buy this house? hahahaha! you are so lucky to have stayed there - it's beautiful!!!!

Katherine said...

Stunning!! I wouldn't want to come home either. So much detail and pretty, cozy spots. I think you are right about navy in the kitchen.

Katherine said...

Are you able to provide a link to the rental company? We are going in to the area in mid-October, this would be divine.

Kathysue said...

Oh my! I could move right in, all my colors!! When I saw the kitchen I though why did they do brown, I would have done navy! Lol, Thank you so much for sharing such a fun trip. It looks as if you had the perfect trip. I am sure you came away with lots of inspiration.
xo Kathysue

Victoria said...

This house is perfect for the Vineyard. I agree with you about the brown paint in the kitchen, but otherwise I would not change a thing.
XO, Victoria

Betsy Speert said...

Delores!!!
I was the one who designed this house for the previous owners. I worked with my architech, Les Brown, a d we did a total gut and rehab.
I designed all the interior architectural detailing: the fireplace, stair railing, window seat, wainscotting, kitchen cabinetry.....ALL OF IT.
EVERY #%€ DETAIL IN THE HOUSE! Including the guest house. What you refer to as the little kitchen in the guest house was actually designed to be a potting bench.
What a surprise that you rented it.
IT IS A SMALL WORLD,
This home was featured in Traditional Home Magazine with my decorating, not what is there now. i believe it was the cover.
Maybe for my next stories on my blog, I will show this house and talk about what I did.....and why I one dooed it!

Betsy Speert said...

P.S. The guest house was published in Country Garden Magazine, or some magazine or other.....
And the deck was published in somethin too.....
Oy, it's been a while.
It's amazing that this look hasn't aged.
I'M THE QUEEN OF DECORATING!!!!
YIPPEE,

Mary Ann Pickett said...

How perfect!!! And room for your family, too...or friends. Very fun. Glad you are going back next year.

designchic said...

What a beautiful home and Martha's Vineyard is a favorite of ours!! Love the attention to detail and it's so warm and welcoming…perfect for vacation. Happy Thursday, Delores!

The Swanky Socialite said...

What a spectacular home! A New England Gal myself, I would love a link to see about rentals!

Donna said...

How lovely!

Calypso In The Country said...

That is one gorgeous house! I am in love with that dining room wallpaper and the overall feel of the place. I have never been to Martha's Vineyard but since I live on the east coast, I really have no excuse! What a wonderful stay you had!
Shelley

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Perfection in every single photo! I would not have left there either!
What a stunning place -- love that wallpaper in the family room... the blue and white print. Drooling.

Thanks for sharing.
I need to move it UP my list of places to visit in the summer!

xoxox
Alison :)

vignette design said...

Dear Betsy,
I knew it! I could feel your vibe in that house. Seriously, I'm not at all surprised that you designed all the architectural details. I would love to see the before in Traditional Home with your decorating! ~Delores

Bonnie said...

Delightful. Thanks for sharing with us. Looks like a perfect vacation.
I am now inspired to paint the bookshelves and crown moulding that are stained in our study white and leave the grasscloth as is. Loved the look.

Sheila @ Maison de Cinq said...

Oh gosh, I love that house Delores! Martha's Vineyard has been on MY bucket list too, for so long! I have a friend who has been there and Cape Cod several times and every time she returns, she talks about how they are so "me" and that I have to go there! I do!! And now I know where I will be staying:)

Can't wait to see more of your SF house!! I know it will be stunning!

Sheila
www.maisondecinq.blogspot.com

Betsy Speert said...

Well, Delores, I have now started writing about this house. I will do what I normally do and make a three course meal out of an appetizer.

Jaybird said...

It is a VERY small world!!! I saw the Traditional Home article years ago and visited the (outside) of the house just because I love Betsy's work!! It would be amazing to stay there, but alas, my traveling to "far places" is over :^(
Thank you so much for showing this lovely home, and yes I agree the kitchen should have been a different color. Hopefully Betsy will show us her rendition!
Blessings,
J

Unknown said...

Delores and Betsy--Have either of you read the blog---Talk of the House (Kelly)?

She did a whole piece on the Betsy Speert designed house (which she loved) and she scanned in the original magazine article.

Here is the link!

http://www.talkofthehouse.com/marthas-vineyard-week-a-then-and-now-house-and-another-chance-at-the-giveaway/

Nadja (Delores---read your blog since the beginning and have missed seeing more posts--hope the house is finished by December!)

Nadja (Gutowski Cipriani), Richmond, Va.

Unknown said...

Delores, I cannot believe you stayed there! OMG I have always loved that house since years ago when Betsy did the interiors. You were one lucky lady to get to stay in that absolutely gorgeous place. I did a post on it this summer with photos from the original feature with Betsy's decorating for the Newhouses. You can see it here: http://www.talkofthehouse.com/marthas-vineyard-week-a-then-and-now-house-and-another-chance-at-the-giveaway/ Would you please let Betsy know so that she does not have to do some much research work? :)

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