Victoria Hagan Defines Nantucket Style in New Beach House

Victoria Hagan, an ELLE Decor A-List Legend, has a deep connection to Nantucket, having visited the island since her teenage years. Her family eventually purchased an old barn, High View, which was featured in ELLE Decor in 1997. Years later, Hagan and her husband resided in the High View guest house, Nest of Kin, before acquiring their own property in ‘Sconset.

Having designed homes on the island for both family and numerous clients, Hagan has cultivated her signature Nantucket style—a blend of sophistication and comfort, elegance and durability. “Completely understated and personal,” she describes it, emphasizing the importance of practicality, noting, “I’m always like, ‘Remember, we’re going to be in our flip flops.’”

Recently, Hagan was commissioned to design a new beach house for a family, situated on a bluff overlooking Nantucket Sound. This ground-up project involved close collaboration with Nantucket-based architects Botticelli & Pohl and landscape designer Edmund Hollander, a team with a long-standing history of working together.

Creating a Timeless Residence

The design goal was to create a “Goldilocks house”—neither too large nor too small—seamlessly integrating modern amenities with traditional charm. Hagan aimed to create a brighter and more open space than typical older homes on the island, while maintaining a sense of timelessness. She began the design process by focusing on the “hello moment,” the initial impression upon entering.

“You come into this great living room that has a dining table on one side and a seating area on the other, and it's really nicely proportioned,” Hagan explains. The room is bathed in natural light from multiple windows, with a wide back window offering views of the water.

Douglas Friedman captured the interior, showcasing custom blue sofas in a Fabricut fabric, slipcovered chairs from Victoria Hagan Collections, Casa Gusto wingback chairs in a Luru Home fabric, antique sconces from John Rosselli, and a Crosby Street Studios rug in the great room. The study features Guillerme & Chambron chairs in a Rose Tarlow fabric, side tables from Lucca Antiques, Lance Thomas bamboo stools (Italy c. 1960s), and lamps from Chelsea Editions and Gallery BAC, all anchored by a Marc Phillips rug. A 19th century American pine box from Avery & Dash serves as a side table next to an antique chair, while a Crosby Street Studios runner adorns the stairs.

Hagan considers the great room her favorite part of the house.