Inside The White Elephant Nantucket’s Multimillion-Dollar Renovation
Courtesy of Elkus Manfredi Architects
Since the 1920s, when the White Elephant Nantucket was founded by Nantucket socialite Elizabeth T. Ludwig as a collection of quaint cottages (and given the affectionate moniker of “Mrs. Ludwig's white elephant”), the property has been the talk of the town. Today, the stately harborside property—encompassing multiple ins-and-outs (54 rooms and suites, and 11 cottages, to be exact) across downtown—is where visitors and locals, alike, come together to dine and imbibe, celebrate nuptials, or simply retreat. Now, after 100 years as an island icon, the White Elephant has undergone total renovation (and with a multimillion-dollar price tag, a costly one, at that). Exclusively for Little ACK Book, the design firm behind the project, Elkus Manfredi Architects, takes us inside ahead of its opening in May, proving precisely why the White Elephant continues to be the talk of the town.
On preserving the old while incorporating the new:
“The historic value of the property is not the buildings. It’s the memories that guests have created there. Repeat guests come year after year, and when they return this summer, they will feel familiar – the scale is preserved, the cottages are there. What we did is bring more Nantucket to it than was there before – we brought the sense of the island into every space and every touchpoint.”
On historical design details:
“Understanding that the fiber crafts are integral to Nantucket’s history, we made the Nantucket loom the basis of our concept for the hotel’s woven carpets. Mortarboards inspired by those found on old whaling ships are used for room identification throughout the property. The cottages are each named after a plant traditional to the island, and art was commissioned for each cottage to reflect the theme. Historically-inspired colors that feel as timeless as the island are used throughout. Mixed in with the weathered colors of the landscape, accents of darker colors speak to the always-shifting palette of the sea and sky.”
On contemporary elements:
“The hotel’s collection of original artwork was created through an Artist-in-Residence program developed by our team. We brought an eclectic, select group of artists to Nantucket and asked them to go home to their studios and create works inspired by their time on the island. The artwork that resulted, from watercolors to photographs, is as eclectic and contemporary as the artists themselves, and brings the hotel definitively into the 21st century.”
Courtesy of Elkus Manfredi Architects
On the experience:
“We hope the renovation brings a place of welcome to the island that is authentically Nantucket; a place that truly celebrates the island’s history, its landscape, its crafts, its art; a place that continues to be a cornerstone for the community and coming generations of returning guests.”
Seasonal nightly rates start at $375 for a guestroom, $675 for a suite, $775 for a one-bedroom cottage, and $1,275 for two- and three-bedroom cottages. Visit White Elephant Nantucket or call 800 475 2637.