COASTAL STYLE, EMBODIED

My entire life, I’ve followed my intuition, even when it led me to pursue new and unknown paths. After all, there’s very little to discover when you follow what others have already established. But when you find the bravery to believe in yourself—that’s when you can tap into fresh possibilities.

I mention intuition because it is at the center not just of my life but also my work. I began reflecting on this when Boston Home magazine named me Best Coastal Designer of 2021. The sea and all that it represents have always called to me, even though I was born inland, in Northampton, Massachusetts. Summers were spent at the Rhode Island shoreline, with trips to Block Island. By the time I reached high school and visited Nantucket Island with a friend, I knew I had found my home. I followed my intuition and built what evolved into a vibrant life and a thriving business whose foundation was what I called coastal style.

What exactly is coastal style? For me, it’s a sensibility and an awareness. It’s being tuned in to the nuances of island life, of the ocean, the wildlife, the quality of light, the air. It’s something you carry with you even if you move far from the sea. The funny thing is, I remember back in the 1980s when I would attend the introductions of new styles at High Point Market.“Coastal style” was not recognized as a category. 

At the time, I was running my first store, Threads, in downtown Nantucket, selling fabric and notions and offering services ranging from custom dressmaking to designing bridal gowns, drapery, and custom upholstery. It wasn’t till the very end of the 1990s that coastal style began taking up real estate in showrooms’ booths. By then, I had followed my creative instincts into the world of interior design, studying at RISD and establishing Donna Elle Design. Drawing on my passion for island life, I launched my Coastal Collection in 2005, a boutique hand-silkscreened textile collection that was adapted for readymade bedding, area rugs, and curtains. 

Over the years, I’ve watched as coastal style has evolved from simple facsimiles of seashells to something far more interesting: sophisticated woven textiles, home goods, and mixed pigments that replicate the subtleties of seaside memories. Coastal style is a lifestyle, and it resonates with people because they want to replicate that special feeling of being by the sea. 

Each of my clients is different, and I honor their individuality by adapting and interpreting coastal style to align with and complement how they want to live their life. For homeowners, comfort and sanctuary are more important today than ever before, so at Donna Elle Design, we actually require our clients to share how they want their home to feel. Together, we arrive at a list of adjectives that become our vision blueprint. My team and I translate that blueprint into the third dimension. It’s an incredibly personal experience.

This is what it means to embody coastal style—to be open spiritually and aesthetically to the magic of the seaside, wherever life takes you. May we inspire you to let seaside speak for itself in your life.