Our Milk Street home is a beautifully decorated, 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath cottage. When you pull into the driveway, it's like you've arrived at an oasis, tucked away from the rest of the world. The yard is well cared for, and the flowers are blooming in the window boxes and on the deck. A perfect spot for lunch, a snack or a relaxing libation.
Once you walk inside, you'll find the kind of charm and ambiance you would expect in a home built and decorated by an established Island artist, whose work is on display around the house.
Pictures of the house don't give you a good sense of how pleasant and peaceful it feels when you are there. We've often been told what looks like a small cottage outside feels spacious inside and is organized for convenience, relaxation and entertaining.
Through the front door and to the left, you'll be in the living room with ample comfortable seating, an abundance of soft light coming through the windows, and that cottage charm you want to experience on Nantucket. Directly off the living room, you will step down to the sun room with a flat screen TV & DVD. There's also a card table, great for a card game of course, a puzzle, lunch, books to peruse, and comfortable furniture making it a nice place to take a nap on a rainy afternoon.
Take a turn to the right when you come into the house and you are in our dining room, complete with antique table that will comfortably seat six, a hutch with interesting wares and a small sitting area leading to a set of French Doors and the back deck, patio area.
The dining room and kitchen are separated by a bar so that host and guest can continue their conversation, share tips, do a little pre-meal taste testing and sip on a glass of...The kitchen is designed for cooking efficiency and convenience and fully equipped with a dishwasher, microwave, coffee maker, gas stove, garbage disposal, two sinks, and plenty of mugs, glasses and dinnerware. There is also ample counter space and great light through the double windows.
During the summer and fall the front and back deck are abloom with native flowers. The back patio is the perfect spot for the grill that you'll use to cook those delights from the market and farm.
The master bedroom and main bathroom are down a short hallway off the living room. In the bedroom you'll find a comfortable queen size bed, school-desk side tables, an antique dresser and side chairs. There is plenty of storage space in the wall-to-wall closet at the far end of the room, while on the other side of the room you'll find a washer/dryer tucked conveniently behind another set of doors.
The main bathroom off that hallway is designed for convenience. It's has a full size tub/shower, generous counter space, a large mirror and drawers galore for storage.
Going back to the living room and through the doorway at the opposite side of the room, you'll find our twin bedroom. Not surprisingly, there are two twin beds, a coat closet, work surface (in case you are tired of relaxing), storage cabinets and a half bath. Because this room was the artist's studio, it was designed to be light/airy, with a high ceiling and plenty of windows including a large slider leading to the front deck.
Oh, and bye the way, the house has A/C for those who want it when they need it, and an outside shower for those who really know how to live on an island.
But enough of the inside. Sure you want to be in the house some of the time, but it's Nantucket and you have to embrace the Island while you're there on vacation. Our decks and yard are great for hanging out and the parking area will keep you car out of harm's way, however you really should take advantage of everything that's close by and easy to get to. For example, come out of the driveway and look across the street, and you'll see a beautiful work-of-art: the bike path. It's wide, it's paved, and it goes to spots yet to be discovered. Go south (that's to the right) and you will discover the bounty of the island: Bartlett Farm, Cisco Brewery, 167Raw, and Cisco beach. The Farm will be aglow and awash in flowers and produce, but inside there's everything you need to make a great meal, or just stop right there and eat at the Farm. What's to be said about Cisco Brewery? It's a brewery. It's a venue. It's fun. It's not too far away, and not to be missed while you're on the Island. But, just before you get to the Farm, there is a really good seafood market (167Raw), that also happens to have excellent (homemade I'm told) desserts. At the end of the bike path, you'll run, or dive, into the Atlantic. Cisco Beach isn't as busy as some of the others, but the sand, the surf and the water are all you'll need.
Suppose instead of going South you go north (to the left) when you get on the bike path. Do that, and you will walk, bike or drive into the historic downtown area with all its shops, restaurants, museum, harbor waterfront, etc. that are really just minutes from the house. Navigate the bumpy cobblestone streets and topsy-turvy brick sidewalks and you will get an eye full of he charm that is Nantucket. And, you will realize why the cottage is such a great location for your vacation on the Island.
In addition to being convenient to the beach and downtown, we are also very near the Maria Mitchell Observatory, not too far from two Stop and Shop markets, and the best spot of all for breakfast, lunch, coffee and donuts: the Downy Flake Restaurant. Ain't life grand! read more show less