The Stories behind Sconset Stroll

I’m one of those people who find purpose and meaning in everything. Dates have significance. I love correlations and analogies. If there is a story behind a product or piece of art, I’m all ears.

That’s why I love pattern design. I love the process of getting inspired and figuring out how it could come to life in pattern form. It’s a way to preserve a specific moment through artistic expression. Read on to learn more about the patterns and colorways of the Sconset Stroll collection!

The Backstory

Nantucket is our second favorite place in the world. (First is obviously Charleston where we call home!) We have enjoyed several family trips over the years getting to know the iconic island off the coast of Cape Cod. One year we stayed in Siasconset on the farrrrr eastern side. Oh my. I fell harrrrrddddd into love with the village of “Sconset”. There’s a slower, quieter pace. You get a view of the Atlanta around every corner. And the options for a walk are spectacular. {insert all the heart eyes} It was only natural for my first (there will be more!) Nantucket collection to be focused on our dearly loved strolls through Sconset.

Sconset Stroll is available in two colorways: Live Brightly and Grey Lady. Live Brightly features ALL of the colors of the beautiful buoy collections. It celebrates acting on a call to let our light shine and live, well, brightly! Grey Lady embraces everybody’s favorite neutral palette. Nantucket is often referred to as the “Grey Lady” when the clouds and fog roll in. It casts a different feel on the island – and are actually some of our favorite days!!

Proud Buoys

The hero print of the collection. You can’t think of Cape Cod, Nantucket or the Northeastern shoreline of the US without envisioning weathered cedar shingles with a bright array of buoys. We love walking through Codfish Park and spot the proud buoy collections.

This pattern will always hold a special place in my heart – it was one of very first repeat patterns! I designed it for our daughter’s Nantucket inspired nursery when I was pregnant and had it printed on a crib sheet. I tweaked and refined it a bit for this collection as I’ve learned a few things over the year. I also upped the scale to make it even more fabulous for wallpaper. The new outline version in the Grey Lady colorway is just soooo classy and modern! I see it on window panels, mudroom walls and even bed sheets!

Sconset Millefleur

Sconset is like a step back in time. It’s older, there is no new development, and most cottages have a classic refined touch opposed to a beachy feel. I knew I wanted to reinvent a few historic pattern types for the collection – with a modern twist. A millefleur by French translation is “a thousand flowers”, so the millefleur pattern type is a tightly arranged group of many many small flowers. For my Sconset Millefleur, I chose to focus on the three main flowers you’ll find in the village: hydrangea lined driveways, rose covered cottages and daffodils popping up in April and May to welcome you to a new season. The flowers were all painted with watercolors – with a little help from my 4 year old <3.

Whaley Great

I mean whales and Nantucket go together like peanut butter and jelly. We visit the Nantucket Whaling Museum every time we’re in town and always leave knowing something new. (HIGHLY recommend and great for the little ones as well!) These whales are specific to the sperm whale weathervanes on so many cottages as you walk through town. You can’t help but smile!

Summerhouse Toile

Another modern reinvention of a historic pattern – the classic toile. Swoon! The houses and their vistas are truly something spectacular. Weathered cedar shingles, crisp white trim, porches and windows to take in all the view, quintessential Cape Cod architecture – they’re just asking to be admired! So admire we do. And then we sketch them up and create a timeless pattern just as timeless as their design.

Quarterboards

Every good vacation home comes paired with a creative name. Up north house signs are called quarterboards and hang over the front door. They’re intricately carved and often gilded. Originally, quarterboards, or sternboards, were used on sailing ships. Now, they are a must-have on every Nantucket house. Walking through Sconset gives you time to spot and appreciate each name – and often chuckle too! People are so clever.

Trellis

Most cottages are layered with cedar trellises over the shingles to make way for all the beautiful things to grow! Some cottages are literally covered with roses over the roof – such a gorgeous site! My own take on a trellis pattern that just feels oh so crisp and invigorating.

Simple Rope

There’s no story really. Buoys have rope. It felt nautical. I love a good stripe. Makes a good coordinate. The end.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this Nantucket pattern collection! It is currently available as fabric and wallpaper. For licensing inquires, please use the Contact page or email hello@summerhousestudio.co. I just know these patterns are destined to end up somewhere special. Like your home <3