Coastal style and Scandinavian design combine to create a light-filled, timeless kitchen in Nantucket, just a stone's throw from the serene Cape Cod coastline

It can be easy to fall into one design aesthetic when remodeling a space, especially the kitchen. With so many design decisions to make, it can feel much simpler to refer to the existing colors and materials of a particular style.

But blending a few different looks is the simplest way to add character and timeless appeal to your cooking space. An approach interior designer Eliza Alles chose when designing her own kitchen.

Blending coastal decor with the simplicity of Scandinavian kitchens, she has created a scheme that feels right at home in Nantucket, just a short distance from the coastline of Cape Cod. And her choice of colors, materials, and decor is key to the design's success.

Located in Nantucket, this kitchen redesign, which was part of a comprehensive home remodel, was a bit different from the usual. It wasn't a simple internal renovation, nor was it just a complete rebuild; rather, it was a blend of the two.

'On the site of our existing home was a cottage that we lived in for 20 years and had grown out of some time ago,' recalls interior designer Eliza Alles, founder of boutique design studio @houseofsandandsalt and the owner of the property.

'We have two sons who grew from little boys into teenagers in what felt like the blink of an eye. We picked up and moved our cottage to the back corner of our property and built a new home in its place.'

When it came to rethinking the kitchen design, Eliza wanted the space to feel more open, with a better flow and more breathing room, to contrast with the original kitchen and dining area, which she described as 'tight and rather uncomfortable.'

And despite the build taking place throughout COVID, it was relatively smooth sailing considering the circumstances. It helped that she prioritized sourcing as many pieces from local artisans and vendors.

'Being an interior designer, I had an extensive palette of materials on my wish list. As I dug into the ordering, I shopped local for as much as I could. For the things that I couldn’t get stateside, I decided to go the import route,' she says, noting items such as the floorboards from Denmark, the stove from Burgundy, and cabinetry made in the UK.

Every design decision was key to creating the coastal Scandinavian style Eliza wanted for her kitchen and the adjoining pantry. Light colors, organic textures, and subtle contrast that add interest without overwhelming have created that light, airy, and timeless aesthetic.

'Flooding the home with natural light was very important. From there I chose all matte and flat finishes. I wanted the softness of the finishes and the monochromatic nature-inspired palette to be the thread of coastal influence,' she explains.

'I then mixed and matched cabinet styles, metals, time periods, and styles of furniture and art to make the space visually interesting and eclectic while still feeling calm and coastal.'

The kitchen cabinets bring so much texture to the design. The slatted finish brings in a perfect blend of coastal and Scandi, while the kitchen island's freestanding style adds a less bulky feel to the space. It instantly feels more casual and inviting.

'Most people comment on the long, beautiful freestanding kitchen island and the gorgeous piece of stone that I was lucky enough to find in the length required,' she adds, highlighting the stunning Honed Calacutta gold marble countertops that add a touch of luxury while also forming the rounded kitchen backsplash behind the stove.

But one design feature that can't be ignored is the vaulted ceiling, complete with beautiful wooden beams. It's a feature that adds grandeur to a design, but can also make a space feel vast and empty if not approached in the right way.

'The high ceilings were a condition that the local Nantucket Historic District required of me. When I originally went in with my design, they felt the proportions from the exterior needed to change,' Eliza explains.

While it started as a concern for how the height would work in the design, it became 'a blessing' that allowed Eliza to introduce the transoms above the kitchen windows, 'accentuating the airy feel of the home.'

'I think the softness of the warm monochromatic materials lends itself to a calm space. If I had used high gloss, shiny, or loud materials with such high ceilings, the space would feel very different,' she adds.

She's also opted for wall lights rather than ceiling ones along the entire length of the kitchen. This approach not only creates a more intimate feel but is much more functional for task lighting, especially above the kitchen countertops.

But it's the pared-back, curated approach to decor that adds the perfect finishing touch to the kitchen. Visible from both the dining and living areas, it was crucial to keep the kitchen decor elevated so it didn't feel like a totally utilitarian corner, while also adhering to Scandinavian decorating techniques.

The oversized vase with large foliage becomes a real focus point, instantly drawing the eye from the living area. On the countertops, elevated kitchenware creates a more seamless, streamlined look, while stainless steel countertop appliances have been chosen to almost disappear into the background.

This kitchen design is a lesson in creating a warm, inviting design in a great room. Open-plan spaces with high ceilings can feel vast and almost empty, but Eliza's choice to introduce warm, organic materials, layered decor, and textured cabinets feels timeless, inviting, and the perfect example of coastal Scandi style.

Get the look

Using deVOL's Sebastian Cox cabinetry and Haberdasher's kitchen island in Sheer stocking white, this kitchen embodies coastal Scandinavian style. It offers nods to its location without feeling kitsch – it's the kind of kitchen that makes you want to embrace the beauty of summer all year long.