Summer House – Martha’s Vineyard
MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MA
Summer House
This distinctive modern house on Martha’s Vineyard was Glenn Gissler’s second collaboration, for some long-time clients, with Bob Miklos of Design Lab Architects. The joy of furnishing this house, which features spectacular double-height glass rooms, was that Gissler had been involved in the project from footprint to finish; the challenge was to create an interior which would mirror the modernity of the architecture without falling into timeworn solutions.
Gissler interiors are notable for their warmth and diversity of material, which here, we combined with clean lines and unusual choices of mid-century and custom furniture. The palette is one of pale earth tones, the colors of sand, seashells and stone derived from the land- and seascapes of Martha’s Vineyard. The result is a softer, very livable Modernist icon.
In the living room, the massive Japanese-inspired coffee table, by Tucker Robbins, sets the tone for rugged elegance. Towering glass walls and doors are curtained in Perennials fabric from Boston-based Finelines. The Studio sofa, designed by Thomas O’Brien for Hickory Chair, is upholstered in “Meru”, a Sunbrella fabric from Donghia, as durable as it is appealing.
In the living room, a large sea grass area rug against the bluestone floors, along with the massive dry-stack stone wall incorporating the fireplace, set the scene for use of pale earth tones and subtly textured fabrics. Mid-century furnishings in the room reveal the softer side of modernity through the rendering of streamlined forms in wood: a pair of vintage mid-century lounge chairs designed by Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb.
Pristine white-lacquered millwork in the kitchen catches the abundant natural light, accented by natural bamboo blinds.
In the Sunroom, driftwood-toned wicker chairs complement the bluestone floor and natural timber ceiling.
Old earthenware olive oil vessels line this hallway leading to the living room.
Glazed doors invite the outdoors into this bedroom, smartly furnished with twin beds dressed in blue and white stripes. A perforated steel chest of drawers echoes designs of the Machine Age.
Bird’s-egg colors–brown and pale grey–infuse the repose of the master bedroom.
A bright yellow glazed ceramic vase contrasts with a modern monoprint the color of a morning glory.