Surfside chic

Nat Rea Photography • November 7, 2020
A large house with a wooden walkway leading to it

Nantucket interior designer Donna Elle discovered a deep-rooted love for this island—a place she instinctively knew was home—at the age of 17. Since then, Nantucket has been her muse.

For Donna, a project comes to life when her creative autonomy merges with her professional partnerships. Through a deep involvement in the project development phase and an eagle eye for the most specific design details, Donna has a way of inspiring collaboration and illuminating a cohesive vision for the full scope of a project, from start to finish.

“I am deeply passionate about the creative journey,” Donna says. ‘’it’s about staying persistent throughout the design process, allowing the client experience to evolve with the home’s transformation. That tenacity creates a more genuine relationship between the designer, client and their home. At the end of the day, it’s about recognizing that harmony and trust are built through this ingenuity.”

A woman in a white dress is walking through a hallway


With a depth of knowledge garnered through decades of experience and the ability to create a uniquely intimate design experience, Donna enriches a project—seamlessly connecting clients, builders, architects, and contractors. Establishing a relationship of trust with her clients allows her to deliver a curated design process that encompasses the wholeness of a project—connecting the dots between the essence of the client and their surroundings.


This Nantucket beach home was renovated from it’s original 70’s ranch with meticulous attention towards reshaping the “once was” into the “what is.” Rhythm and balance are supported by forceful highlights of bold color and textural finishes. The furnishings and lighting inject touches of seaside elegance, surrendering to an overall flair of femininity and strong architectural lines. There are over 50 specifications of lighting alone. There are exposed studs and faux finishes creating a feeling as if the home has stood the test of time.

A kitchen with a boat shaped bar and stools
Two wine glasses are sitting on a glass table

Donna has a unique gift of connecting with her clients and understanding their personality, she is able to translate this into the design of the home. The whole home is a true reflection of the family that lives there.

Entertaining and guests are always foremost in Nantucket. This home was built with a separate wing for the guest bedrooms and a separate wing for the Master.

The beautiful hand built bar connects the kitchen and living room. A true conversation piece. It is backlit with pen & ink hand drawings under the glass top depicting ocean scenes. The home collectively feels as of St. Barts meets Nantucket.

A living room with white furniture and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling
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