A Historic Home With One-of-a-Kind Style
This homeowner filled her Nantucket, MA, house with unique gems. Take the tour of her very own Treasure Island with HGTV Magazine.

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Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
Photo By: Liz Daly
The Story
You won’t find any seashells or sailor’s knots in this Nantucket, Massachusetts, home. Owner Julie Biondi lives on the island year-round (she has a clothing boutique in town), and she went for a glam look over the usual beach motif. Although the 1874 house had been through several remodels when Julie bought it, she threw herself into a major two-year renovation with the help of her interior designer friend Megan McClure. The pair met as teens working at a local ice cream shop, and Megan was the perfect person to help Julie bring her ideas to life. “I wanted a colorful, maximalist home full of bright patterns, Art Deco furnishings and fun vintage finds,” Julie says. The women expanded and updated the house, then packed the 2,000-square-foot space with treasures old and new. Says Megan, “Julie and I share an aesthetic, so this was a dream project for us.”
The Entry
Every corner of Julie's home shows off her collection of curated finds. In the entry, a vintage red mirror reflects cool floral art and the sconce from Eichholtz.
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The Living Room
Julie’s designer friend Megan suggested matching sofas upholstered in Rose Uniacke gold velvet, “and I was smitten,” Julie says. Their straight lines contrast nicely with the curves of a cloudlike pendant lamp from Molo and a round Bernhardt coffee table. The rug is from Serena & Lily.
The Dining Room
Megan found these Chippendale-style chairs at an antiques shop and had them reupholstered in a geometric print from Thibaut. The Currey & Company chandelier brings in Julie’s favorite finish. “I’m a brassaholic!” she says. The painterly drapes were made with fabric from Spoonflower.
The Kitchen
After pricing custom millwork, Megan convinced Julie to go with glossy white IKEA cabinets in the kitchen — “so I could splurge on the marble counters and backsplash,” Julie explains. Other than a few subtle hits of color, like Rejuvenation stools covered in dusty pink S. Harris fabric, Julie agreed to keep the room white to let the rest of the house pop.
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The Main Bedroom
Julie has a thing for quirky cat art, so the thrifted painting was a must. “I love giving unusual objects a home,” she says. The quilted bed and vintage velvet throw give the room a luxe feel, while bedside lamps by Kara Mann for CB2 add some drama. “I usually gravitate toward vintage lamps, but these are so unique, I knew they would be perfect.”
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The Guest Bedroom
For years Julie had her eye on a vintage decoupage bed. She showed the picture to Megan, who had tagged an almost identical one on the vintage furniture site Chairish. “It was kismet,” Julie says. “I feel so fortunate to have one of these — they are very rare.” The rope-wrapped side table is from Gabby, and the zebra art is a paint-by-numbers canvas from a thrift shop.
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The Powder Room
This purple floral wallpaper was one of the first things Megan showed Julie when they embarked on the renovation. The custom vanity was made from a repurposed antique bureau and green marble salvaged from a remnant pile.
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The Double Bedroom
Megan designed these blue scalloped headboards and had them custom made in her workroom. Matching plaid blankets on the beds pile on the cozy vibes.
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The Backyard
The house is on a street where whaling captains lived in the 1800s. Because it’s in a historic district, Julie’s renovation had to be approved by the Nantucket Historical Association. To make the exterior feel more traditional, she replaced an old wood deck with this Goshen Stone patio. The couch is from a local furniture store; the chairs are from West Elm.