By Leslie Linsley

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

January 2024

How often have you coveted something luxurious for which you couldn’t justify the price tag? This is me when it comes to bed linens. I love nothing more than getting into an exquisitely made bed with crisp sheets and pillowcases, a down comforter and lots of pillows. January is Annual White Sale and the perfect time to splurge on bedroom comfort! Lili Grace, Bed and Bath Specialist, in Housewares has assembled all those gorgeous items to make your bed and bath the most comfortable place you want to be in the coming months.

Most in-town shops are closed for the winter, but Marine is always open. A good antidote for a gray day: A leisurely stroll through all the departments - especially with Marine’s new make-over in progress. The easy-to-view carpet samples, for example, are truly impressive. Make a list of what you think you’d like to change in your home, what needs upgrading and what you’ll need in the spring.

Jot down ideas as you walk through each department. 

January is a “getting organized” month. We have the urge to purge the accumulations of last year and Housewares has what you need: new hangers, shelving units, storage bins, bathroom accessories that serve up instant, easy and affordable gratification. 

Upscale interior design magazines have recently featured rooms with country accessories that add character to modern homes. The following ideas will make your rooms warm and welcoming for the chilly months ahead. 

1. Make a sofa or favorite chair even more comfortable with a quilt or wool blanket folded over the back. Add some patchwork pillows, or my Nantucket Name pillows from Home Furnishings in your favorite colors.
2. Arrange treasured memorabilia that can then be packed away in the spring for streamlining.
3. Lightship baskets can’t be beat for their beauty and historic reference. As an accessory they speak volumes ­­­­­­­about your taste and connection to the island.
4. Blue and white banded bowls, and creamware arranged on open shelves contribute old-fashioned warmth to a contemporary kitchen or dining room.
5. A patchwork-quilted wall-hanging makes a big impact and cuts down on noise in a stair or hallway. A nice winter DIY project.
6. Wherever you need a fresh coat of paint and a warm glow, like a dining alcove, think peach. Suggestion: Benjamin Moore’s Paradise Peach or Peach Nectar, Farrow & Ball’s Dutch Pink for a warm-tone.
7. Rearrange your furniture into small, intimate groupings. Consider changing the way you use each room.
8. Place a small table lamp on a kitchen counter for ambience.
9. Make a room look inviting with books piled on a chair or side table, have a jigsaw puzzle in progress, leave a game board on the coffee table.
10. Create a romantic ambience with lots of candles in interesting holders. Group them everywhere and light at dusk.
11. Make your house smell winter cozy with the scent of pinecones and pine needles in a basket or bowl. Simmer cinnamon sticks on the stove.
12. Create a wall of memorabilia around a fireplace or in a hallway with selected awards, framed certificates, and photographs or prints of historic landmarks. If you do it well, more is definitely better! A powder room is the perfect place for an art gallery.
13. Create a reading area with a comfy chair, a small table, reading light and a pile of books you intend to read.
14. A contemporary home needs something from the past; an old rocking chair, an antique picture frame, or an inherited family treasure.
15. Enjoy the winter. Spring will be here in a blink.