6 min readWhen Chantal Lamberto first set foot on an untamed plot of Nantucket land nearly two decades ago, she didn’t just see an empty lot. She saw the potential of what it could be: a home with an unhurried sense of place that felt like it had always been there, and a property that her clients could grow into, then grow with. “The goal was to make it feel like a collection of older buildings that had been added on to over the years,” the California-based designer tells House Beautiful. It’s a nuanced kind of ambition, the idea of building something new while making it feel timeless—and it’s one of the hardest things to pull off in design.
To ensure the property felt storied and adhered to the local vernacular, Lamberto teamed up with architect Alex Zaras, whose eye for historic detail proved essential. The two spent months detailing the four-bedroom main house, along with a two-bedroom cottage and several outbuildings, each sitting quietly humble within the island landscape, lending the feel that they’d been there long before their actual inception.
The result was a home where every finish—and every detail—tells a story. The cypress paneling in the living room came from logs that spent decades submerged in Georgia swamps; the dining room mantle is a plaster casting of scallop shells; the powder room was designed around an antique washstand discovered on eBay. “We planned to just use it as a mock-up for a new one to be made," Lamberto recalls, "but then realized it was so charming and quite perfect as it was." It's that kind of thinking—instinctive, unhurried, deeply considered—that defines the whole project.
Then came the pandemic, and with it, a new chapter for the home. The couple’s children were grown, and grandchildren were now in the picture; the house had served the family through one season of their lives, and the time had come for it to be thoughtfully reimagined for the next. Lamberto was brought back to do what she calls a “really deep evaluation”—reprogramming rooms, reupholstering beloved pieces, and rethinking the way the family moved throughout their days. “Our goal was to create a layered and understated interior by reusing, moving, and repurposing many of the existing pieces while maintaining a thoughtful attention to craft and artistry," she says.
It’s this openness to evolution that Lamberto is most proud of, the sense that the house is always, imperceptibly, becoming more itself as the years go by. “My favorite thing is that the entire family really uses the home and enjoys being there all together,” she adds. “There’s space for grown children and grandchildren, and it's built in a way that you could easily add on and it would still feel consistent.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Chantal Lamberto
Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts
The Space: A 4-bedroom, 6-bathroom main house, along with a guest cottage and other outbuildings.
LIVING ROOM
Reclaimed wood paneling gives the space a warm, comforting glow.
Though Lamberto kept the cypress paneling she originally installed in the living room, the rest of the space got reimagined with the family’s new priorities in mind. “Originally, there was a TV where the [Tucker Nichols] art is, but we reconfigured the room to have the furniture facing into the room and created more of a gathering space,” she explains. “The TV is now much more low-profile and is on a rolling cart that can easily be moved into viewing position.”
DINING ROOM
A plaster mantle nods to the home’s seaside locale.
Flooded with natural light, the dining room is a spot that feels both timeless and coastal. The architect, Zaras, originally conceived of the scallop mantle, working with a plaster artist to cast salvaged shells. “It’s so beautiful, and the way the sunlight catches the shadows around dusk is truly unique,” adds Lamberto.
Tucked into the corner of the dining room, this hostess nook hides shelves for dishware, linens, and more, all swathed in a sunny yellow.
KITCHEN
Much of the foundation laid decades ago remains relevant now.
“I believe in sustainable design that isn’t beholden to the latest trends, and I’m so proud of this kitchen,” says Lamberto. “It was designed about 17 years ago and installed 16 years ago. If you really select finishes and details that you love, they will stand the test of time.”
To give the kitchen a light facelift, she had new covers made for the bar seats, replaced the faucets, and had the countertops rehoned; everything else remains in its original state.
BREAKFAST NOOK
A roaring fireplace sits nearby for a cozy touch.
Tucked into the corner of the kitchen, the breakfast nook is the ideal spot for casual meals, game nights, and engaging conversation. “It’s a big room, meant for gathering and prepping large family meals during the summer months, but also warm and intimate enough that our clients feel comfortable cozying up to the fire if they are on-island in the cooler months,” adds Lamberto.
PANTRY
Glass-front cabinetry mimics the look of an old-school general store.
Inspired by vintage butler’s pantries, Lamberto designed a functional pantry space that features delicate proportions, narrow doors, and slim drawers. A honed granite countertop doubles as a bonus prep space.
SITTING ROOM
A patchwork-inspired sectional shines in bold, playful prints.
Affectionately dubbed the “rumpus room,” this spot is what Lamberto calls the “perfect representation” of the thought she put into reworking the property after over 10 years had passed. “This room used to have pocket doors into the gym, which made the seating arrangement much more cramped and pulled off the wall,” she adds. “By moving the gym entrance around the corner, we were then able to do this large sectional as a place to gather and watch movies together.”
POWDER ROOM
An antique washstand gives the home a sense of patina.
“This tiny little powder room was designed around the diminutive antique washstand that I found on eBay,” explains Lamberto. Paired with Pierre Frey wallpaper, it’s a subtle nod to the past while remaining elegant and timeless.
DAUGHTER’S ROOM
Reclaimed wood ceilings channel a beachy vibe.
“The finishes of this building were largely inspired by an old Nantucket boathouse, which was photographed and published in House Beautiful in about 2007,” says Lamberto of the bedroom, which is grounded in creamy walls (swathed in Mountain Peak White by Benjamin Moore) and a raw wood vaulted ceiling. “The material was really appealing, as it seemed to represent a casual lifestyle synonymous with summer,” she adds.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
All-over pattern reads as serene, thanks to a calming color palette.
In the primary bedroom, Lamberto covered nearly every available surface in Brunschwig & Fils' iconic “Les Touches” print, bringing added visual interest to everything from the walls and drapery to the bedskirt. “It’s head to toe print, but in a way that feels calming and classic,” she adds. The bed was custom-designed by Johns Congdon, based on a miniature that is on display at The Nantucket Whaling Museum.
SLEEPING PORCH
A versatile space, designed with future grandchildren in mind.
Inspired by the historic sleeping porches found in warmer climates, this room was purposely designed with quirky architectural details, like a slanted roof line and petite windows. “The triple bead board was custom-fabricated after I saw it in an old building in St Augustine, Florida,” says Lamberto. “It adds such an understated, unique layer of detail.”
PRIMARY BATH
His and hers sinks team with a custom vanity for a quaint retreat.
“The primary bathroom is simple, classic, and spacious, while still feeling cottagy,” says Lamberto, who based the room’s design around the pedestal sinks and corner tub.
GARAGE APARTMENT
Distinct living zones help the layout function from day to night.
In the garage apartment, an appropriately coastal palette of blues and whites reigns supreme.
The bedroom, covered in a classic Pierre Frey wallpaper, is designed to suit a bevvy of sleeping arrangements.
PORCH
Floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of the island view.
By the beach, outdoor space is essential. “Shaded from direct sunlight, this sun porch has the perfect amount of cross breeze, complete with an area to dine and comfy furniture on which to gather, relax, and lounge,” says Lamberto.
GARDEN & PATIO
Manicured gardens create a transportive backyard escape.
Designed by Lindsay Mohr of Mohr Gardening, the home's garden and patio features multiple vignettes, inviting the homeowners and their guests to discover a new place to relax and unwind daily.
About the Designer
As the owner of her eponymous design firm, Chantal Lamberto creates personalized, timeless interiors that act as a unique, inspiring, and nurturing backdrop for her clients' lives. Her process often begins during the construction phase, allowing for an in-depth approach to functionality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
