A 1960s motel gets a revamp on Nantucket

Parts & Labour Design has revived a Nantucket motel as a ’love letter to the American summer’, infusing its midcentury-inspired interiors with bespoke elements that pay homage to the island’s 1960s art and craft movement.

Beachside Hotel was designed by the New York-based studio in collaboration with Brad Guidi of Blue Flag Capital and revives a defunct motel from a new generation. The 45,000 sq ft complex expands around the courtyard swimming pool, encompassing the original 1960s building and five low-lying buildings that spread around it.

‘When we first started delving into the project we did a lot of research to inform our concept,’ explains Parts and Labor Design’s Studio Director, Luke Lasky. ‘Nantucket has a long and rich history, but most of what is highlighted and celebrated is whaling and seafaring. We wanted to look at Nantucket in the 60s when the Beachside was originally built.’

The practice transformed the buildings’ interiors, leaning into a breezy modernist vibe through a palette of warm and rich timbers, terracotta, browns and creams, and green accents.

‘[The] social and political changes of the era sparked a variety of artistic responses, ranging from optimistic modernism to a nostalgic return to traditional crafts,’ says Lasky. ‘On Nantucket, this 1960s craft revival aligned with a broader revival of the island itself. The waterfront was revitalized, historical tourism was encouraged, and the island sought to create a reinvigorated hospitality industry with both new construction and historic renovations.’

‘We wanted to celebrate that by channelling a cohesive resort-like feel, but with a fun and approachable colour and material pallet. Each space celebrates warm natural materials, but we wanted to inject bold pops of colors that are unique compared to most of what is seen on the island.’

The hotel lobby has lofty wood-panelled ceilings and brown-and-cream checkerboard tiled floors – a motif extending up walls and across surfaces. Deep brown and ochre sofas are some of the seating offerings in front of the painted brick fireplace, alongside a mossy modular sofa and cane-backed armchairs, giving the space a cool but comfy living room vibe.

An easter-egg detail is the undulating tambour baseboard that runs around the lobby: though obscured by much of the furniture, it is inspired by the waves of the ocean and has a radiused profile that varies in height around key elements of the space, such as doors, the bar, concierge etc.’It was a playful way for us to speak to the name and location of the property.’

Private rooms and suites, meanwhile, share a natural colour palette drawn from the nearby beach. There are abundant soft, sandy shades, natural woods, and green accents.

‘The guest rooms maintain the same thematic balance of historic and mid-century influences but adopt a more intimate character’ says Lasky. Textiles lean towards soft creamy hues, while furniture is natural oak with organic wicker and rattan lighting fixtures. The mcm vibe comes into the fore again through the tiled headboard and marble bedside tables, while earthy tones—rusty ochres and mossy greens—punctuate the space.

There’s no shortage of details to be discovered, either.

Each guest room has an eclectic mix of handmade furniture knobs and hand-crafted textile collages. And the bathrooms, with their vibrant blue tiles, Calacatta gold mosaic floors and veined quartzite countertops, nod to the sea.

Much of the furniture was custom-designed by Parts & Labour and fabricated by Jay Edward Group, Light Annex and Majestic Mirror & Frame.

The Nantucket hotel is 10 minutes from Jetties Beach and the Nantucket Ferry and 12 minutes drive from the airport. It’s family-orientated with an adult’s and children’s pool, gym, family restaurant, bar, games room, event space and lawns for games and activities like cornhole and frisbee and a kid’s club.

www.thebeachside.com