By Leslie Linsley

Author of “Nantucket Island Living” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang)

October 2026

Nanucket is a special place to experience the warmth of community especilly around the holidays. Assess your home, room by room to see what needs fixing, replacing or upgrading. Rearrange furniture for more condusive entertaining and to make it cozy for the cold months ahead. I just looked at every detail in my living room and shifted the artwork and accessories, replaced a worn lamp shade, added a dimmer to a dining room lamp and repotted plants for indoors. I added linen napkins to my list of “to replace” items.  We often overlook little upgrades like new potholders and dishtowels

A walk through Housewares is always inspirating for upgrading things you’ve had for a long time. Take inventory of tabletop items like glasses, chinaware, serving dishes, cookware, a turkey pan, a gravy boat. The department is filled with  “of the moment” cookware and small appliances to make life easier. Imagine the parties and family get-togethers you might be hosting. Make a list of things you need, from serving platters to extra seating or setting a festive table. 

I’ve been taking care of simple fixes around my house before winter sets in. The fence around my property needed a few cedar replacement posts and capping. The deck and patio have been power washed and new boards replaced, then finished and sealed with Minwax water base semi-transparent slate gray color stain. A few home repairs, some clever organizing, and a handful of thoughtful details make a remarkable difference. Start with the front door. Could it use a fresh coat of paint? A new door knocker? A doormat replacement?  New outdoor light fixtures? I love the Dawn to Dusk light bulbs. Benjamin Moore’s “Smoke” is a soft blue/gray paint color or Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue worth considering for the inside of the front door. Welcome passersby with a natural wreath decorated with scallop or mussel shells. It’s an easy DIY project. Scallop shells are plentiful now so bundle up, take a bag and go for a shell-collecting beach walk. To clean: boil for 5 minutes in a pot of water with a teaspoon of Clorox. Dry, use a hot glue-gun or Elmer’s glue to attach the shells around the wreath. Add a bow made from burlap or a strip of muslin.. Add large pots of greens and some gourds to your entryway. Arrange seasonal greenery down the middle of the table, adding pears, apples, or small gourds. Keep the arrangement low. 

Give the Kitchen a Head Start 

Clean the oven, check that appliances are working properly, sharpen or replace your kitchen knives. Clear unnecessary items from countertops. Take stock of your roasting pan, baking dishes, serving platters, and storage containers before you need them.

This is the time when I reorganize kitchen drawers or cabinets and declutter as much as possible. Drawer dividers, shelf organizers, and pull-out storage can make cooking supplies easier to find. Reline drawers with Contac paper. Consider under-cabinet lighting, a new faucet, upgraded drawer pulls.  Think about how your house will work when it’s full of people. Tweek the furniture slightly to make pathways easier to navigate and create areas for conversation; Designate a place to serve drinks. Check that you have enough dining chairs. Make a play area for the kids that isn’t under foot. Maybe a puzzle in progress. Improve lighting with a table lamp in a dim corner. Replace or add new throw pillows.  Check Home Furnishings or Housewares for my Nantucket Name pillows in different colors. The array of candles might inspire an autumn color theme. 

Set the Table—and the Mood

Mix old favorites with a few personal accents. I always use at least one item; a serving platter, a gravy boat, vegetable bowl, or a small artifact on the table that reminds me of my grandparents. 

Don't Forget the Little Things

Spruce up the powder room with a package of the “looks like linen” paper hand towels, scented soap and a fragrant candle. Make room for coats, shoes and personal belongings. If you have a “no shoes indoor” policy, place a large basket by the door to hold shoes. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, make sure outdoor lights are working.

Paint: The Best Form of Flattery

Paint doesn’t exist in isolation. Choose a wall color from something in the room: a painting, fabric, a rug; a color that doesn’t compete for attention. Benjamin Moore’s freshest color for 2027 is Webster Green HC-130. It’s of the moment and breaths personality into a design. In a word, it’s timeless. I see it in a bedroom.

Flat and matte finishes have a soft, understated look, semi-gloss is useful for trim, doors and areas that need frequent cleaning. Having featured dozens of Nantucket homes in my books and magazine articles, I find the most satisfying color schemes are those that are influenced by the natural beauty of the island. Photographers and artists find the diffused island light offers an exquisite palette for inspiration. Use a shade of the colors found in your garden, the beach, shells, the navy of mussels – (BM’s “Cook’s Blue” for a powder room or office) the ocean, the foliage, weathered gray shingles and white trim. These natural colors have harmony because they belong together. Let your home become part of the island. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!