New England culture comes with strong connotations, but there are so many different ways to interpret it. William Sofield and Dennis Anderson’s 19th-century lighthouse on Mark Island off the coast of Winter Harbor, Maine, is a prime example of preserving the soul of a historic home. (Quite the contrast from Robert Eggers’s 2019 film The Lighthouse, though that energy can be felt in the wet room of this Rhode Island retreat designed by Jeremiah Brent and Athena Calderone.) “We live in the house the way we found it. There was never a discussion about style,” Anderson previously told AD about the interiors. “You don’t get rid of things on an island like this so easily, and it’s difficult to bring anything in. The house is what it is, and we love it that way.” Then there’s this Martha’s Vineyard compound with a pinwheel layout, practically a case study for designing a lived-in house that heightens the experience of the landscape through a holistic approach.
Or take Katie Martinez’s historic home in Boston’s North Shore that she respectfully upgraded from the Federal-era by working with a local handyman who was familiar with the history of the property to increase the functionality of the space. “I love traditional New England architecture, but often the interiors feel too historical to me,” she explained to AD. “There is a sense of looseness, depth, and layering here that feels modern.” Martinez opted for romantic floral patterns, poppy prints, and timeworn antiques from relatives from the region to create nuance.
But when I imagine a modernized version of this trend that doesn’t make me cringe, Emily Adams Bode Aujla comes to mind—I’ve always appreciated how the fashion designer references her family’s home on Cape Cod, finding creative ways to tie in their deep roots in the region. In an interview with AD, Aaron Aujla of Green River Project shared that the house was the muse for their Chinatown rental apartment, but they wanted to approach the design with “a European sensibility” while also “coming back to American ready-made materials.” Family heirlooms along with vintage and antique pieces played a huge role in the decor, from a child’s chair from Emily’s aunt and her grandmother’s clover lace to a 19th-century calico quilt and a collection of Ravi Varma prints.
When Bon Iver recently announced his forthcoming album, SABLE, fABLE, the accompanying merchandise included a salmon shirt; the project is described as “a new nine-song saga in which one person becomes two, darkness turns to salmon-colored beauty, and sadness transforms to unbridled joy” in the press release. With the Buccellati lobster returning to its rightful place at the center of tablescapes, and Louis Vuitton recently rolling out a lobster clutch on the runway (rumored to be worth $18,000), the call to sea has never been louder. (Remember when shrimp and prawns were the hottest trend on the fast fashion menu in 2019?) If you really want to commit to the bit, you could find a Bubba Fish or Big Mouth Billy Bass. No need to go full Bikini Bottomcore, but why not serve your best fish decor? Fill up your seashell cups and break out the mother-of-pearl dishes for caviar. Oh, and don’t forget to top it all off with a spoonful of sea moss. “I am just pleased to see that [fisherman aesthetic] is already gaining traction, even during these cold times,” Stanback laughs.