Come look at us now.

This article offers an exclusive tour of interior designer Gil Walsh's home on Bankers Way in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, showcasing her distinctive design aesthetic. Walsh, who has been in the interior design business for over 40 years, purchased the home two years prior to the article's publication. The original structure was built and designed by Patrick Ahearn Architects, with Walsh and her team subsequently adding custom touches that reflect her signature style, characterized by careful attention to detail, strategic pops of color, and a blend of antique and custom-made pieces. The tour begins with the 'party barn,' a detached building featuring a cupola and weathervane. This space, originally a concrete garage, was transformed into a spacious sitting room with hand-laid brick floors, pine and floor-to-ceiling beadboard paneling. It is adorned with repurposed antiques and vintage displays, demonstrating Walsh's ability to integrate diverse elements into a cohesive design. An upstairs office within the barn serves as a workspace for Walsh and her project manager, Julie Sierputoski, highlighting the detailed craftsmanship evident in elements like a perfectly sculpted handrail. Architectural details in this area were enhanced by Joseph W. Dick-Architecture Inc., with Timothy McHugh Builders and Arthur Sierputoski Contractors also contributing to the project. The outdoor area includes a pool, garden, and porch, framed by two trellises that create a 'secret garden' atmosphere. An elliptical window further enhances the architectural appeal. Inside the main house, the living spaces are a testament to Walsh's mastery of detail. The dining room features six upholstered chairs stenciled with a vine and leaf pattern, custom-cut antique pieces, an English setter weathervane by Travis Tuck, and Christopher Spitzmiller lamps in the living room. The design maintains a tactile symmetry, where individual elements, though varied, contribute to a harmonious whole. The kitchen is equipped with marble quartz countertops, built-in cabinetry, a six-burner Wolf range, and white beadboard paneling with crown molding. Sierputoski emphasizes the interplay of layers and colors throughout the home, designed to evoke a sense of happiness. The foyer showcases a willow table with seashell inlay from the south of France and a rug from Egypt, underscoring Walsh's global sourcing for unique pieces. The master suite, located on the first floor, is Walsh's favorite room. It features a light blue valance, a clean white comforter, and subtle pops of color from wall art and lampshades. Double doors provide access to the pool and porch. Walsh states that every room in her house is special, each possessing a unique architectural detail or a remarkable piece of furniture. The tour continues to the basement, which was transformed from a concrete space into a vibrant area with distinct rugs, an African tribal skirt, and antique sumo wrestler lamps. An ottoman covered with a red sari fabric demonstrates Walsh's creative use of materials to complement existing decor. Upstairs, another sitting room features upholstered furniture and intricate details, described as whimsical and elegant. The guest bedrooms each have a distinct theme: the 'queen room' with floral valances from a previous home, the 'blue twin room' with twin beds and a multicolored rug, and the 'needle point room' with pastel throw pillows and a Victorian writing desk. Walsh's approach to design often begins with a standout painting or carpet, or a compelling fabric, and she advises looking to nature for color inspiration. The article concludes by inviting readers to suggest other interesting Martha's Vineyard homes for future features in the 'Can we take a peek?' series. #GilWalshInteriors #EdgartownHome #InteriorDesign #MarthaSVineyard #HomeDecor #ArchitecturalDetails #CustomDesign #AntiqueFurniture #LuxuryHomes

Tantalus Estate, located in Onetangi Valley, has recently opened its doors after a three-year transformation led by Cheshire Architects. Originally a dilapidated property purchased by Carrie Mendell and Campbell Aitken in 2013 with an initial vision for a craft brewery, the project evolved into a comprehensive estate featuring a winery, brewery, restaurant, and event space capable of seating 200 guests. The architectural design by Nat Cheshire focused on integrating the site's history and existing structures with a new, more functional layout. The redesign involved a significant reorientation of the building, shifting the main entrance and front-of-house areas to the rear to capitalize on sunlight and vineyard views, moving them away from the original shaded, car park-facing front. While retaining elements like the bell tower and some internal arches, major modifications were made to enhance both aesthetics and functionality. The restaurant space, designed to accommodate up to 200 people, is highly adaptable, featuring movable bars, retractable curtains, and bi-fold doors that allow for the creation of smaller, intimate dining areas or a large open space. It extends onto a spacious deck overlooking a pollinator garden, with additional covered seating in a pavilion. The interior design emphasizes warmth and natural materials, utilizing straw-imbedded plaster walls, recycled Kauri ceilings, and local stone. A distinctive feature is the lighting, crafted from vines removed during the estate's development. Mendell and Aitken's philosophy embraced materials chosen for longevity and graceful aging, valuing natural wear and tear as part of the aesthetic. The Alibi brewery, a core component of the original vision, is situated in a circular opening in the restaurant floor, allowing visitors to observe the brewing process. Below ground, the Alibi bar offers a contrasting, masculine ambiance with leather, brass, and a vaulted brick ceiling, designed as a speakeasy-style complement to the brighter restaurant above. The decision to rebuild the bell tower, despite the original being constructed from polystyrene, highlights the architects' commitment to preserving the building's character. Cheshire explains that the goal was to transform existing, challenging elements into delightful features rather than imposing an entirely new vision. The estate's eclectic mix of Dutch, East, and Spanish influences, described as a blend of 'milking shed meets romantic French terroir,' informed the design choices. The original bell was retained and integrated into the redesigned tower, symbolizing a rehabilitation of the site's history. The subterranean areas of Tantalus Estate are equally noteworthy, featuring a private dining room and a wine library. The private dining room, formerly a loading dock, is opulent, with walls adorned with hand-painted tiles by a local artist and a glass-topped table resembling an antique book. It also showcases a collection of antique tantaluses—lockable liquor cases—and opens onto a checkerboard-tiled courtyard, creating an "Alice in Wonderland"-like atmosphere. A secret door from this room, or direct access from the corridor, leads to the brick-lined wine library, a space dedicated to wine, illuminated by a light fixture crafted from Manuka roots. The overall design philosophy of Tantalus Estate, as articulated by Nat Cheshire, evolved organically from the initial craft brewery concept to a full-fledged winery, brewery, and restaurant. The architecture sought to dignify existing idiosyncratic features, such as the bell tower and original curves, by cloaking the building in a sun-bleached plaster, rebuilding key elements, and extending its gables with filigree steel and glass. The design aimed for a gentler, less formal experience, integrating romanticism with pragmatism, and old-world charm with new techniques. This is evident in the progression of spaces, from the basement Alibi bar to the intense banquet room and the serene wine library, and upstairs to the light-filled tasting room and expansive dining area. A strong commitment to organic, bespoke, and handmade elements is central to the design, with features like vine-branch lights, straw-plastered walls, local stone, and handcrafted furniture contributing to a cohesive spatial experience that complements the quality of the beer, wine, and food offered. #TantalusEstate #CheshireArchitects #WineryDesign #BreweryDesign #RestaurantDesign #HospitalityInteriors #AdaptiveReuse #ArchitecturalRenovation #WaihekeIsland

The Inflation Reduction Act introduces a comprehensive set of programs and incentives aimed at accelerating the transition to an electrified future and mitigating climate change impacts. A key component, the High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA), allocates $4.5 billion in direct rebates for low- and moderate-income households to install efficient electric appliances. This includes up to $8,000 for heat pump installations for space heating, $1,750 for heat pump water heaters, and $840 each for electric stoves and clothes dryers. Additionally, households can receive up to $4,000 for upgraded breaker boxes, $2,500 for electrical wiring upgrades, and $1,600 for insulation and ventilation improvements. Moderate-income households qualify for 50 percent of these rebates, intending to enable approximately one million households to transition to electric systems. An additional $4.5 billion is provided for efficiency and electrification rebates under the Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole-House Rebates. The Act also features various tax deductions for electric upgrades. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement credit (25C) allows households to deduct up to 30 percent of upgrade costs, including heat pumps, insulation, and breaker box upgrades, with a limit of $600 per measure and $1,200 annually per household. A notable exception permits a 30 percent deduction, up to $2,000, for heat pump water heaters or heat pumps for space heating and cooling. The New Energy Efficient Home credit (45L) offers up to $5,000 to developers constructing homes that meet the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Homes standard, applicable to new and retrofitted single-family, multifamily, and manufactured homes. The Commercial Buildings Energy Efficient credit (179D) provides $2.50 to $5.00 per square foot for businesses achieving significant energy reductions. Furthermore, $30 billion is allocated as a production tax credit for domestic manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical mineral processing, with another $10 billion as an investment tax credit for building new manufacturing facilities. Beyond residential and commercial building efficiency, the Act addresses broader electrification and climate goals. The Enhanced Use of the Defense Production Act allocates $500 million to bolster domestic manufacturing of heat pumps and critical mineral processing. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund provides $27 billion, with $15 billion specifically for low-income and disadvantaged communities to access zero-emission technologies and reduce greenhouse gas pollution. A Methane Fee will impose charges of up to $1,500 per ton on emitters of this potent greenhouse gas by 2026. The Clean Vehicle credit (30D) offers a $7,500 credit for new electric vehicles and a $4,000 credit for used electric vehicles, aiming to make EVs more accessible and affordable, with operational costs equivalent to $1 per gallon of gasoline. Residential solar and battery storage systems are supported through the Residential Clean Energy credit (25D), allowing households to deduct 30 percent of project costs from their taxes, guaranteed for 10 years and now including battery storage. The Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants program, funded at $3 billion, supports disadvantaged communities in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating extreme heat risks, improving climate resilience, and reducing indoor air pollution. An investment of $1 billion is directed towards affordable housing through the Improving Energy Efficiency and Water Efficiency or Climate Resilience in Affordable Housing program, providing grants and loans for retrofits to advance building electrification and efficiency. Tribal communities benefit from the Tribal Electrification Program, with $145 million to transition to clean, zero-emission electric energy systems. The Zero Building Energy Code Adoption provision invests $1 billion to promote zero-emission buildings, aiming to minimize energy bills and improve health and safety. Finally, the Funding for Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO) provides $3.6 billion to guarantee up to $40 billion in loans, fostering the deployment and adoption of innovative clean energy technologies. These measures collectively aim to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, combat inflation, and create a sustainable, electrified future. #InflationReductionAct #EnergyEfficiency #HomeElectrification #CleanEnergy #TaxCredits #HeatPumps #ElectricVehicles #SolarEnergy #ClimateChangeMitigation