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By Kristi Palma
Travelers can stay in newly renovated seaside cottages on Nantucket this summer.
The Cottages at the Boat Basin, part of White Elephant Resorts, just underwent a six-month multi-million makeover just in time for the 2024 season. The cottages were designed by Nantucket-based designer Audrey Sterk.
“The setting is reminiscent of a seaside village,” according to a White Elephant press release. “The individually styled accommodations with names like Sea Syren, Essex and Orion, are inspired by the names of the great whaling ships of the 1700s.”
The renovated cottages range from studio to split-level three bedroom dwellings and offer full kitchens and outdoor decks and patios. Travelers with pets can choose from 12 cottages affectionately called “woof cottages,” which allow animals.

The cottages sport original vaulted ceiling beams. Their color palette is deep ocean blue, misty gray, and stark white.
The studios feature an open plan with a king bed, full kitchen, full bathroom, and a deck area with outdoor seating.

One-bedroom cottages, complete with a primary queen bedroom, have a full kitchen, dining and living room with a queen pull-out sofa, and a full bath.
A focal point of the cottages is a floor-to-ceiling seascape mural created over eight months and hand painted by Sterk. It was digitally modified to fit in each space and depicts a “First Nantucket Settlers” scene with sailboats, lighthouses, a distant hamlet, and coastal vegetation.

There are a couple of two-level cottages overlooking the Nantucket Sound that sleep four people. One offers a queen bed and the other a king, and both have a pull-out sofa, 1 1/2 baths, a full kitchen, an open living and dining area, and a private deck with outdoor seating.
All of the cottages display 3-D pieces of framed mariner’s knots, nautical charts of Nantucket, and brass barometer instruments. There is jute detailing in the furnishings and carpet.

For larger groups, there are two-bedroom cottages that sleep six people. These cottages include a queen primary bedroom, a second bedroom with two twin beds, a full bathroom, a living room with a queen sofa bed, and outdoor space or patios with seating.
All cottages offer Turkish towels, robes, and slippers.

Finally, there’s a three-bedroom cottage named Orion that sleeps up to eight people. It features a primary bedroom with a queen bed and two more bedrooms that may contain either two twin beds or one king bed. There is a living room with a pullout sofa, a full kitchen and dining area, two full baths, and a small deck and a patio.

The resort also offers five lofts not included in the recent renovations, though the bathrooms have been renovated.

Some cottages have private outdoor decks with seating overlooking the harbor.

Guests have access to concierge services, complimentary bicycles, and fishing rods, reels, and nets. There is also a complimentary shuttle to the beach.
Travelers with dogs pay a non-refundable fee of $65 per night, per cottage, for up to two dogs. Furry visitors receive beds, a welcome basket of treats and toys, and personalized pet tags.
High season rates start at $1,250 per night for one-bedroom cottages.
Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.
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