By Leslie Linsley

Author of “Christmas On Nantucket” (Globe Pequot)

December 2024

Christmas on Nantucket is magical. The island looks like an old-fashioned Christmas card. Hanging a wreath on the front door is a Nantucket tradition dating back to the Quakers. Doorways, like fences, unify island homes and passersby enjoy this display of holiday spirit. The front entry into Housewares is brimming with fresh wreaths and trees of all sizes and the scent alone will have you humming “Jingle Bells.” 

Aside from your main tree, consider a smaller tree in your entryway and go all out with a Nantucket theme. Housewares is stocked with locally made strands of scallop shell lights in different lengths. Hang a wreath in each window with a scallop ornament hanging in the center. Shop early. They go fast. Add lots of clear fairy lights. 

For an easy, fun project, use a glue gun to attach cleaned scallop shells randomly around your wreath. The new toile quilted throws and plaid blankets are perfect to wrap around the base of the tree or use as a lovely, soft tablecloth. Add a holiday touch with one thrown over the sofa for chilly evenings. If there’s one perfect gift for everyone on your list, this is it!

There’s still plenty of time to assess your house for the holidays. Consider painting a guest room with Farrow & Ball’s Pea Flower, the color of our picture perfect, blue hydrangeas. Sardine is a soft, sophisticated, grayish green – quietly dramatic for a dining room or entryway.  My choice of white this month is F&B’s Au Lait. Walking around town I’ve noticed that handmade Cape Cod onion lamps on each side of front doors add instant character and curb appeal. (Electrical Department).

Quick and Easy Decorating Tips:

1.  Create a row miniature trees on top of greens down the center of your dining table or mantel piece. Wrap each with a string of tiny battery lights. Place a polished crabapple or ornament between the trees. 

2.  Switch out throw pillows for the red and white holiday pillows. 

3.   Nothing is more classic than a Nantucket Lightship basket filled with red or white Poinsettia plants. Small and large in Housewares. 

4.   New arrival in Home Furnishings! Elegant little lamps for a table in your entryway, put two on a dresser or tucked into a bookshelf. Great style for a great price! Ask Donna Sinclair if you don’t see them. While there, test drive the new furniture and check out the variety of window treatments for an instant upgrade. 

5.  Every guest bathroom deserves a Michel Design Works White Spruce Home Fragrance Reed Diffuser. Perfect housewarming gift along with the jazzy holiday cocktail napkins.  All found in Housewares.

6.  The little gadgets that make our lives more efficient are good stocking stuffers. One wall of Housewares is devoted to colorful mixing spoons, small kitchen knives, a fold-up citrus juicer, measuring spoons and things you never knew you needed. Wrap them all up and gift them in a coveted Cuisinart pot.

7.   Recycle your terra cotta pots from summer plants and fill with miniature trees to place on either side of your front door. 

8.  For a buffet: Cover the table with lots of leafy greens like spinach and kale. Place platters of food on top. Scoop out red and green cabbages and fill with a dip. Surround with cranberries.

9.  Start Amaryllis or Paperwhite bulbs now and they’ll bloom by Christmas (Garden Dept.) and while there, check out the grills and fire pits for a sensational family gift.

10.  Everything should sparkle at Christmas time. Polish the silver (Housewares) check glasses and order Sferra linens in Christmas colors. 

11.  Nantucket caterer Kendra Lockley shared her sugar cookie recipe in my book,  “A Nantucket Christmas”. When her daughter was little, they made giant cookies and put each one in a cellophane bag tied with holiday ribbon and an attached card for all the teachers. All baking needs are stocked in Housewares. 

On Saturday of Stroll weekend, I’ll be personalizing my Christmas book at Mitchell’s Book Corner from 10:30 – 12:00. Stop by so I can wish you a very merry Christmas on Nantucket in person.