In the introduction to New England Coastal: Homes That Tell a Story (Monacelli, 2024), Massachusetts-based architect Mark Hutker tells the tale of his early-career encounter with author Judy Blume, who selected his firm, Hutker Architects, to design her family home on Martha’s Vineyard. Hutker recalls how he was thrilled to finally collaborate with a fellow creative after working on countless homes for lawyers and doctors, during which it became painfully clear that he and his client were not on the same page. As the pair continued their conversation over coffee, Blume detailed the experiences she was looking forward to having in her new home: family and friends gathered around the dinner table, Sunday brunch before guests returned to their respective houses, every meal occurring in a memorable spot on the property. “In the stories she told about her house-to-be, she related what she dreamed might happen there rather than how big it must look, or how the rooms must be arranged,” Hutker writes. “Judy was imagining the home, allowing the idea of how the home would be used, rather than a specified list of design options, to convey the story of what it could be.” The architect took his discussion with Blume to heart and implemented a new system for his firm to understand the narrative of each design project: Hutker now asks clients to write a series of “diary entries” describing the perfect day in their new home.

The cheerful breakfast nook pictured here, with its built-in banquette and mismatched chairs, is part of the “life room” at a residence called Big Bluff, also located on Martha’s Vineyard, in a neighborhood of waterfront shingle-style and Victorian homes Hutker calls “the Gray Ladies.” When a family who summers on the island decided to tear down the original structure and carefully design a new one, they envisioned a large space that would combine the kitchen and breakfast niche with a bar and family room. Vintage pieces from the original home mix with newer items in a classic mash-up of New England coastal design featuring subtle nautical motifs; rustic natural materials; a traditional red, white, and blue palette; and a plethora of different patterns and textures. “All told,” explains Hutker, “the goal is never to depart too radically from how the rooms would have felt back in the early 1900s.” Draw inspiration from the present-day iteration of Big Bluff, and add a touch of New England coastal charm to your home with these nine finds.