Uncovering the Best Sources for Design and Home Decor
Welcome to the “Stores & Stories” series where I’m exploring businesses that offer more than one would expect! Whether it be innovative, unique products or an inspiring history, I am officially on the hunt to find the most interesting home decor and design sources to explore and share with you.
I could write all day about our family vacation this summer in Nantucket. We explored, dined, beached and of course, did a little shopping too!
One of my favorite parts of the trip was a morning spent at Nantucket Looms. I was lucky enough to discover this amazing store before our trip and could not wait to visit in person. Nicole, my sister-in-law (and blogger behind Cedar & Rush) and I got a full tour and I am delighted to share all the fun things we discovered here!
Store: Nantucket Looms
Year Opened: 1968
Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts
Website: NantucketLooms.com
Unique items
- Handmade luxurious throw blankets
- Locally made paintings from over 70 artists
- Handwoven Signature Placemats
- Signature Wildflower Soaps
Handwoven mohair throw
The blankets at Nantucket Looms are so soft and cozy in person – I almost just snuggled up right on the spot!
Artwork
I do admire a store that supports their local artists. You’ll find plenty of ocean inspired art and beautiful pieces here.
For the dining table..
Durable, handwoven placements & napkins with a timeless design.
Wildflower Soaps
Their signature Wildflower Soap (which smell and feel amazing) start at only $3.
Nantucket Looms has plenty of delightful items and gifts in their downstairs retail boutique…but the real magic all happens upstairs!
The weaving studio, located just above the retail shop, is where Master Weaver, Becky Peraner, and her team create these luxurious throws and more. As soon as you walk upstairs, you are greeted with thousands of colorful yarns, looms, weaving supplies and a wall full of the history of Nantucket Looms.
Becky gave us the scoop on how the weaving process works and used words (like bobbins and weft) that I haven’t heard since my Textiles class in school! It was a nice refresher and seeing firsthand how these items are made really makes you appreciate the quality.
Handwoven Scallop Vignette – These one of a kind pieces, created by Becky, are made with seashells from the beaches of Nantucket and woven on the loom with hand painted yarn.
These fabrics have even been used to upholster chairs for Chanel showrooms around the world.
Also located upstairs, you’ll find the Design studio.
Nantucket Looms also offers interior design services and I had the chance to meet their leading lady, Stephanie and see some of her designs first hand. Her and her team are very talented and I love their “Cottage-Style” which the description is a perfect way to sum up Nantucket decor:
- Comfortable ambience with simple furniture
- Textiles in earth tones (and a lot of stripes!)
- Fine arts with design elements that beach shells, boats and bird images
- Wood floors and white walls
I highly recommend visiting Nantucket Looms or checking out their website for home decor & gift ideas. This shop is full service – Retail Boutique, Weaving Studios and Interior Design showroom.
This is the place to go – just ask any of the First Ladies. Almost all of them have shopped here, notably Jackie O. while enjoying some chocolate ice cream (perhaps from the famous nearby Juice Bar?)!
Taylor really enjoyed a little taste of The Juice Bar ice cream! Thanks to my sister-in-law Kelsey for the recommendation – glad we stopped in when the line wasn’t around the corner 🙂
Thank you Bess, Stephanie and Becky at Nantucket Looms for giving us a tour and being so helpful! We had a great time visiting and will be back again! Hopefully sooner than later…..!
Photo credits: taken by myself and Nicole Regan of Cedar & Rush (she’s an amazing photographer!)