How Does the Beachside Hotel Renovation Blend Nostalgia and Comfort?

November 13, 2024

The Beachside Hotel on Nantucket has recently undergone a remarkable and extensive renovation spearheaded by New York design studio Parts and Labor Design in collaboration with Brad Guidi of Boston-based real estate company Blue Flag Capital. This significant project aimed to instill the hotel’s interiors with a deep sense of nostalgia, echoing the craft and design trends prevalent in Nantucket during the 1960s and 70s. Nestled outside Boston on Nantucket Island, the Beachside Hotel is a sprawling 45,000-square-foot property originally built in the 1960s, known for its classic motel-style architecture featuring five low-lying buildings centered around a vibrant pool deck.

Embracing Historical Significance

Preserving the Facade

The renovation project mainly focused on transforming the Beachside Hotel’s interiors, as the exterior facade, adorned with distinctive grey shingles, holds considerable historical importance for the area. These shingles serve as a quintessential architectural element of Nantucket, embodying its traditional charm and maritime heritage. Parts and Labor Design, acknowledging this historical resonance, opted to preserve the facade’s original character. By doing so, the team aimed to maintain the architectural legacy and cultural integrity of the island, ensuring the modernized interior resonates harmoniously with the past.

This balance between old and new epitomizes the respect and appreciation for Nantucket’s architectural heritage. As tourists and guests walk past the enduring shingles, they step into a world crafted with nostalgic care and modern sophistication. The renovation beautifully juxtaposes historical integrity with contemporary luxury, offering a visual and experiential homage to Nantucket’s bygone eras. Such careful attention to the exterior detail ensures that the charm of yesteryears remains alive, engaging visitors with a seamless blend of history and modernity.

Interior Transformation

With a vision to create a family-friendly yet design-forward environment, the interior transformation at the Beachside Hotel aimed at merging functionality with aesthetic appeal. The revamped facility now boasts an array of enhanced amenities, including well-appointed guestrooms, designated adult and children’s pools, a contemporary gym, and an inviting restaurant and bar. Public spaces have also been thoughtfully expanded to incorporate a versatile meeting space and a game room, all radiating from a central lobby designed to be the heart of the hotel. This redesign extends an invitation to families, ensuring comfort and convenience without compromising on style.

The redesigned lobby sets the tone for a sophisticated yet warm ambiance, envisioned to be a welcoming hub for all guests. Deeply cushioned lounge sofas and woven chairs create a cozy seating arrangement around a tiled fireplace, fostering a sense of homeliness. The meeting space and game room further enhance the communal experience, providing versatile options for both relaxation and interaction. Overall, the renovation efforts reflect a dual objective: to honor familial bonds and enhance the guest experience through an innovative, thoughtful approach to design.

Nostalgic Design Elements

Inspiration from the 1960s and 70s

Drawing inspiration from Nantucket’s rich craft movement of the 1960s and 70s, the renovation team diligently aimed to conjure a nostalgic aura throughout the hotel’s interiors. This period was characterized by a flourish of artisanal crafts and distinct design sensibilities, which the design studio sought to revive. A meticulously curated palette of hues and materials was chosen to echo this bygone era. Warm terracotta, serene cream, rich dark greens, and natural wood tones were strategically used to evoke warmth and welcome, creating an inviting atmosphere that pays homage to the island’s cultural history.

Furniture and fixtures designed by renowned creators such as Jay Edward Group, Light Annex, and Majestic Mirror & Frame further amplified this nostalgic theme. Each piece was crafted to embody the artisanal spirit of the 60s and 70s, ensuring that the past’s essence was woven seamlessly into the present décor. This dedication to design not only creates a visually appealing environment but immerses guests in a heartfelt journey through time, connecting them with Nantucket’s artistic legacy.

Hand-Crafted Details

Every element of the renovated Beachside Hotel screams handcrafted finesse, bringing artisan craftsmanship to the forefront. The lobby, a centralized space radiating warmth, perfectly sets the stage with its deep-cushioned lounge sofas and meticulously woven chairs arranged intimately around a tile fireplace. Enhancing the space’s visual appeal, plinths created by Parts and Labor’s offshoot Known Work, along with vessels by artists Maxine Metbo and Diego Olivero Studio, add layers of texture and artistic value to the ambiance.

Artworks by accomplished artists Sean Spellman and Gayle Fitzpatrick adorn the walls, imbuing the hotel with a nostalgic essence while celebrating the local art scene. This approach of integrating handcrafted details doesn’t just add aesthetic value; it creates an emotional connection with the island’s heritage. The tactile elements, coupled with visual art, craft an environment where history and artistry hold hands, making every corner of the hotel a testament to Nantucket’s rich cultural tapestry.

Creating a Family-Friendly Environment

Practical Design for Families

The renovation team’s attentiveness to creating a family-centric environment is evident throughout the revamped spaces of the Beachside Hotel. Emphasizing practicality alongside aesthetic elegance, the design strategically integrates indoor and outdoor areas to ensure fluidity and ease of supervision, paramount for families with young children. The bar, showcased with a light green tiled finish and complemented by a wooden counter, leads directly to the pool deck. This open design promotes seamless interaction, allowing parents to relax and supervise their children effortlessly.

The layout invites exploration and interaction, facilitating children’s play while providing parents with peace of mind. The integrated design ensures that families can enjoy various activities without feeling compartmentalized or restricted, fostering a sense of freedom and ease. This thoughtful planning enhances the hotel experience, making it a haven for families seeking a blend of relaxation and engagement.

Guestroom Comfort

Guestrooms at the Beachside Hotel have been meticulously designed with family comfort in mind. Large, plush sofas create ample space for children to lounge and play, while individual quilts on each bed add a personalized, homey touch. This focus on creating a welcoming ambiance extends beyond mere aesthetics to practical convenience, ensuring that every family member feels at home. Such attention to detail underscores the project’s commitment to merging sophistication with functionality.

The inviting aesthetic of the guestrooms, coupled with thoughtful design features, enhances the overall guest experience. By prioritizing comfort without sacrificing style, the Beachside Hotel manages to create a harmonious environment that appeals to both parents and children. This balance of elegance and practicality becomes a defining characteristic of the renovated hotel, setting a new standard for family-friendly accommodation while paying homage to Nantucket’s design heritage.

Integrating Modern Conveniences

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Connection

The blend of historical charm and contemporary convenience is epitomized by the seamless indoor-outdoor connections throughout the hotel’s layout. Encouraging children to explore while allowing parents to unwind, the smart use of colors, materials, and custom-designed furniture helps to evoke a nostalgic yet chic atmosphere. Fostering a sense of openness and connectivity, the design ensures that guests experience a fluid transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, ideal for family activities and gatherings.

This approach not only enhances the visual appeal of the property but also contributes to an overall sense of cohesion and harmony. The strategic incorporation of such elements ensures that the renovated Beachside Hotel remains true to its roots while offering modern-day comforts and conveniences. The resultant ambiance is one of relaxed elegance, where past and present effortlessly meld to provide an unforgettable guest experience.

Art and Decor

Art and decor play a pivotal role in weaving the past with the present, enhancing the hotel’s nostalgic charm while infusing it with a contemporary edge. The curated artworks by Sean Spellman and Gayle Fitzpatrick, displayed throughout the premises, encapsulate the essence of Nantucket’s creative history. These pieces don’t merely adorn the walls; they tell stories and evoke memories, enriching the guest experience through artistic expression.

The careful selection and placement of decorative elements like plinths, vessels, and custom furniture further contribute to the space’s curated, artistic environment. This integration of art and decor not only adds layers of visual interest but also ties back to the island’s historical and cultural narratives. Through art, the Beachside Hotel connects its guests with the legacy of Nantucket, ensuring that every stay is imbued with a sense of place and history.

Honoring Local Heritage

Crafting a Sense of Place

The profound aim behind the Beachside Hotel’s renovation was to craft a sense of place deeply anchored in the local heritage of Nantucket. By drawing heavily from the island’s craft and design movements from the 1960s and 70s, the renovation team managed to evoke memories and stir a nostalgic sentiment among visitors. Through careful selection of materials, colors, and artisanal designs, the project resonates on a deeper emotional level, inviting guests to connect with the island’s rich cultural history while enjoying contemporary comforts.

Each aspect of the renovation, from handcrafted furniture to evocative artworks, was intentionally designed to honor the past and engage the present. This dual focus on heritage and modernity extends beyond mere aesthetics, aiming to create a meaningful and immersive experience for all guests. By intertwining historical elements with contemporary design, the Beachside Hotel stands as a tribute to Nantucket’s enduring spirit and vibrant legacy, offering a unique and enriching stay for visitors.

Broader Trend in Hospitality Design

The Beachside Hotel on Nantucket has recently undergone a significant and extensive renovation led by the New York design studio Parts and Labor Design, in collaboration with Brad Guidi from the Boston-based real estate company Blue Flag Capital. This ambitious project aimed to infuse the hotel’s interiors with a strong sense of nostalgia, reflecting the craft and design trends that were popular in Nantucket during the 1960s and 70s. Situated just outside Boston on Nantucket Island, the Beachside Hotel is a vast 45,000-square-foot property originally built in the 1960s. With its classic motel-style architecture, the hotel features five low-lying buildings arranged around a lively pool deck. The renovation has revitalized the space while honoring its historical roots, transforming it into a modern yet nostalgically charming destination for visitors. The updates breathe new life into the hotel, making it an inviting place that resonates with the island’s rich history and timeless aesthetic appeal.

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