By Marina Case
The best interior design projects have a way of surprising you – and every now and then, one comes along with a story that stops you in your tracks. This fabric refresh on Martha’s Vineyard’s Lake Tashmoo is one of those.
If you believe in serendipity, you’re definitely going to want to read on.
A Martha’s Vineyard Home with a Century of History
This home sits on the northern shore of Martha’s Vineyard. It is private, tranquil, and breathtakingly beautiful – exactly the kind of place that draws people to this island and keeps them coming back for generations.
The home is a classic shingled cottage, one of the original structures from the 1930s that local architects like Hutker Architects study for its historical integrity. The client uses the home as a cherished summer retreat. Like so many who have spent time there, her family gravitates to the porch, where the views become the backdrop for long, unhurried summer days.
A Martha’s Vineyard Connection No One Saw Coming
Every so often, an interior design project comes along that feels like it was simply meant to be – and this Martha’s Vineyard project is one of them.
My close friend Priscilla and I have known each other for over thirty years. We raised our children side by side, and still talk every single day. When this project came up in conversation, what unfolded stopped us both in our tracks. Priscilla believes her grandfather built the home and found documents that intimated this to be the case. In learning this, I felt the weight of history. This was a place that had captured someone’s imagination over a century ago, and now it had captured mine. It turns out it was true.
Honoring the History of this Home in Its Updated Design
When I work with a historic home, my philosophy is always the same: honor the roots, but make it fresh and livable for the family calling it home today. That balance between old soul and new life is at the heart of everything we are doing for this design.
The project is a complete refresh of fabrics and window treatments – both inside the home and on the porch where this family spends so much of their time. We are reupholstering all of the living room furniture, refreshing the bedding, and giving new life to the porch’s oak rocking chairs, green wicker set, and Adirondack chairs with new fabrics and cushions. Every piece will be reimagined while staying true to the spirit of this iconic Martha’s Vineyard style home.
Design Inspiration Drawn from the Home Itself
One of the things I love most about working on historic homes is that the inspiration is always already there – you just have to look.
Here, it came from features like the incredible stone fireplace, as well as the client’s artwork, beautiful antique rugs, and furniture. And then there is the client’s deep love of coral, woven throughout the existing interior, which became a natural anchor for the entire design.
She came to me because she wanted a Martha’s Vineyard interior designer who embraces color – someone traditional in approach who honors history but not afraid to make a home feel alive and joyful.
The Design Palette: Greens, Corals, and Blues
The colors we are working with are greens, corals, and blues from both the interior of the home and the natural world that surrounds it. The prints include paisleys and stripes chosen to feel timeless rather than trend-driven.
The goal is a look that blends seamlessly with the surroundings of Lake Tashmoo while feeling warm, personal, and alive.
For the porch – the heart of this home in so many ways – we are bringing in deep, lush greens: a classic multi-stripe for the sofa and chairs, and a rich botanical print for the Adirondack chairs, rockers, and pillows. It feels as though the garden and the lake have come right up to meet you.
Inside, we selected a gorgeous coral paisley for the rattan cushions, paired with a refined stripe and a weave that add depth and movement. Together the fabrics feel layered and collected.
Just the Beginning
There is something very special about this project – the history, the serendipity, the family who has cherished this home for generations, and the extraordinary landscape of Martha’s Vineyard that surrounds it all.
Ready to Get Started Transforming Your Space?
There are so many ways in addition to pattern to breathe fresh life into a home. View my Portfolio to see more examples of my interior design projects and follow us on Instagram for more interior design inspiration.
