By Leslie Linsley

January 2026

February is a quiet month. Winter has settled in, spring is a daydream away, and spending more time indoors magnifies every little thing that needs tweaking in our homes. Nantucketers are house proud. Interior design on Nantucket is low key, understated and unexpectedly comfortable. We decorate with intention and keep our homes in good working order. February is the perfect time to take inventory. 

I like to simplify my environment as a prelude to the coming months. 

After putting away all the holiday decorations I feel an irresistible urge to repair and refresh and reclaim a little breathing room. Editing is immensely liberating. A beautifully appointed home doesn’t need more things—it needs the right things.

Walk through each room of your home with a discerning eye. There’s a particular kind of elegance that reveals itself when we strip away the extraneous and edit out the things that have outlived their purpose. Rooms become intentional, even rejuvenated. Simplicity, at its best feels uplifting and a little luxurious. The kind of luxury that whispers rather than shouts: fresh linens, polished wood floors, a beautifully set table, your morning coffee in a cup you really love. Intentional living isn’t about having less; it’s about having more of what matters.  Now, with your list of what needs attention, leisurely walk up and down all the aisles of MHC, including those that are unfamiliar.  I do this at least once a month, even the aisles with items I know nothing about. I take pictures as I go along so I won’t forget what I uncover. I can’t believe how many new gadgets and products, or ideas to improve my home I discover. It’s an education and a stimulating way to spend an otherwise blah February day.  And it will definitely give you food for thought. 

Small Repairs/Big Rewards

1. Small projects feel achievable in a short month, and it feels good to tackle the annoying jobs we keep putting off. Things like tightening or replacing cabinet knobs, painting baseboards, stair treads and molding trim. Replace an old showerhead, fix squeaky doors. I just polished all my brass doorknobs and front doorknocker – small but satisfying endeavor. Check out the door knockers and consider a new paint color for the front door. 

2. Brighten the winter days with warm LED bulbs, add dimmers, update lamps and lampshades. Low lighting from a small table lamp delineates a cozy area. Replace knickknacks with a few framed, current photographs and a curated pile of books.  Hang a mirror to reflect natural light. February needs sparkle.

3. Hibernate In Comfort: As you walk through each room, ask yourself what one thing would make it more comfortable. Consider crisp new bed linens from Sferra or Matouk. Amazingly, they have the ability to transform bedrooms into serene havens of luxurious relaxation. The perfect Valentine gift: John Robshaw’s heavenly soft organic pillow shams in springtime pastel patterns. Tuck in a bar of Italian soap and a delicately scented candle. (Housewares)

4. Kitchen Refreshers: New drawer organizers, under-cabinet lighting. Upgrade small appliances. Set a romantic Valentine’s table with lots of soft pink candles and table linens. 

4. Entryway Rehab Before Mud Season Arrives: Add washable rugs, a boot tray for the coming parade of wet shoes. Redesign this small area to be inviting with a new paint color or wallpaper. For a perfectly subtle island vibe in your entryway, I’m crazy about Benjamin Moore’s 2026 serenely subtle coastal colors. I’m thinking this would be a nice upgrade to my powder room. Add new hand towels in the same palette. You’ll almost smell the ocean!

5. Modernize Your Window Treatments: Battery operated window coverings are the latest in sophisticated modern design – clean lines, whisper-quiet operation and zero cords. Motorized window treatments take the work out of manually adjusting blinds and shades throughout the day. It’s a wonderful little luxury to be able to program your customized window treatments to open and close at different times, based on your needs and the weather or temperature outside. With PowerView Automation from Hunter Douglas you can do all this with your mobile phone, iPad or voice activation. Check Home Furnishings for styles and samples and learn more. This is one of the best ways to upgrade your home without lifting a finger. Marine does all the measuring and installation. 

6. Winter White is Welcoming: Different shades of green in a white room is refreshing, even dramatic. Remove as much color as possible. Use only green plants, white flowers with green leaves, and pots of herbs. Add accents with the soft seafoam “Nantucket Name” pillows found in Home Furnishings.

Easy Kid-Friendly DIY Valentine Decorations 

1.     Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter and a red marker to make a border of red hearts on plain white paper or linen napkins. Tie each napkin with a red ribbon.

2.      With a red marker draw little red hearts all over white hard-boiled eggs.. Set in a basket or pretty bowl.   

3.     On a blank card or construction paper, arrange and glue red & white buttons (any size) in a heart shape.

4.     Paper Garland: String tiny envelopes across a window or mantel. Slip little messages or small drawings into each one.