Nantucket looms : A legacy of style

With its revered past,<

In the early 1960s a reawakening was happening on Nantucket. Into this world stepped Andy Oates and Bill Euler, one skilled in fine arts and the other in the art of hospitality. In 1968 they opened Nantucket Looms, which specialized in needlepoint, crewelwork, handwoven fabrics, and local artwork, forging their Nantucket style aesthetic. This modest homespun charm held great appeal to such style makers as Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Bunny Mellon, and interior designer Billy Baldwin.

Nantucket Looms launched an interior design studio in 1998 to much acclaim. The featured recent homes have a sophisticated, comfortable ambience that exemplifies the company's style--wooden planked floors; natural fiber rugs; muted color palettes in shades of blues, grays, greens, and whites; timeless furniture; and handwoven textiles. Each is adorned with local artwork and crafts inspired by the island''s rich maritime history. This fresh approach to design can be applied everywhere; it is a style embraced in the work of many leading interior designers.