HOME PORTRAIT
From Vision to Reality
Intuition and Collaboration Pays Off at the Preserves
By Emily Lowe, Photography by Ahrmed Louis Jean
Behind many of Martha’s Vineyard’s most personalized and polished homes is a collaborative process that begins long before the paint swatches and fabric samples. When top Vineyard Real Estate Agent Jennifer DaSilva, of Point B Realty, helped a friend-turned-client find a home on the Island, the connection between the client and and Vineyard Decorators was the natural next step to turn a house into a home. Vineyard Decorators, one of the Island’s premier interior design and furnishings studios, is known for transforming ideas into cohesive, custom living environments.
In 2016, Jennifer DaSilva recognized the untapped potential of The Preserves development. Its sprawling two to four-acre lots offered an unparalleled sense of seclusion and endless possibilities for custom-built residences, a rarity in Oak Bluffs. With a background in construction and development, Jennifer partnered with her builder to purchase two of these lots, embarking on a journey to create the first homes in the community. They meticulously developed the bylaws, set minimum square footage requirements, and even served on the board of directors, ensuring a high standard for the burgeoning neighborhood. Their initial projects were sold as “spec properties”–clean canvases ready for prospective homeowners to personalize.
This hands-on experience laid the groundwork for Jennifer’s passion, which she now brings to every client interaction. Jennifer’s early work in development at The Preserves in Oak Bluffs taught her that homes aren’t just built–they’re envisioned. That belief naturally aligned with Vineyard Decorators’ bespoke approach to home design, where no two projects are the same and every aesthetic choice supports how a client wants to live.
The Art of Matchmaking: A Unique Approach to Real Estate
Jennifer’s transition into real estate was a natural progression. After years of informally advising friends on their home journeys, she obtained her real estate license in 2017. She views her role as a matchmaker, understanding that each client’s journey to the Vineyard is unique. Her goal is to deeply understand their aspirations, guiding them toward a home that not only meets their practical needs but also fulfills their dreams. This collaborative spirit aligns closely with Vineyard Decorator’s approach to custom home projects–where every detail is meticulously considered to create a truly bespoke living space for each client.
Crafting Bespoke Interiors: Vineyard Decorators’ Expertise
At the heart of many of Martha’s Vineyard’s most thoughtfully curated homes is Vineyard Decorators, a full-service design studio and showroom that bridges aesthetics and lifestyle. With in-house designers, a deep understanding of coastal durability, and an expansive showroom, Vineyard Decorators offers a streamlined path from concept to completion–infusing each space with personality, performance, and lasting elegance.
The Luxe Coastal Retreat
One standout project exemplifying Vineyard Decorators’ capabilities began when a New York stylist–a longtime friend of Jennifer DaSilva’s–sought to create a luxurious, livable retreat on Martha’s Vineyard. The goal: a home that balanced city sophistication with coastal serenity. From floor plans to final styling, Vineyard Decorators led the charge, curating a home that was both glamorous and grounded.
The design team curated a serene entry palette that nodded to seaswept dunes, with a stunning custom blue door offering a classic New England welcome. Inside, ocean-inspired hues and natural textures guided the tone. A stone fireplace anchored the grand living space, while a sculptural chandelier and layered lighting brought warmth and subtle drama. Decorative lighting throughout the home was used as a storytelling tool–each piece selected not just for function but to echo the home’s blend of refinement and relaxation.
Vineyard Decorators also incorporated the homeowner’s playful fashion sensibility, including her love of cheetah print. Spotted textiles were subtly woven into custom pillow packages, providing moments of personality without overwhelming the space.
In the kitchen, form and function met in effortless harmony. The island, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Evening Dove, was topped with a hand-selected quartzite slab mimicking the movement of ocean tides. Woven counter stools and natural window coverings bridged the interior with the exterior cabana, while marbled mosaic tile added quiet texture and elegance.
Outdoor living was equally considered. Lounge furniture with Austrian climbing rope details, driftwood-inspired bases, and high-performance materials gave the outdoor rooms both durability and design appeal. Pillows referencing African textiles and ceiling fans with rope accents added unexpected global notes to the coastal theme.
Between the refined coastal interiors of the main house and the vibrant personality of Cabana 21 lies a series of outdoor spaces that seamlessly bridge the two aesthetics. A thoughtfully designed pergola extends from the side of the pool house and offers an inviting spot for al fresco dining. Reflecting the home’s broader design intent–to balance playful character with timeless forms–the dining area features asymmetrical woven light fixtures that adds a whimsical layer of texture and contrast to the classic lines of the furniture beneath.
Just steps away, a custom outdoor kitchen provides all the comforts and functionality of its indoor counterpart. The base cabinetry, painted in a deep blue that echoes the kitchen island inside, also reinforces the complementary colors inside the pool house. The cabinetry is topped with a durable stone countertop that visually ties the spaces together. Traditional design touches like beadboard paneling and timeless cabinet silhouettes are balanced by coastal accents, including woven counter stools that match those used elsewhere in the home. It’s a perfect expression of Vineyard Decorators’ ability to unify multiple design languages–elegant, coastal, bold, and practical–into one harmonious environment designed for living beautifully, inside and out.
Cabana 21: A Masterclass in Personal Style
Yet it was the cabana phase of the project—affectionately named “Cabana 21”–that captured the client’s most playful expression. Designed to package up summer for year-round enjoyment, this bold pool house–affectionately dubbed “Cabana 21”–set a playful tone with a custom penny tile floor and branded accessories like robes, slippers, and hats. The boutique-style experience carried through in every detail, inviting guests into an elevated, effortless escape.
The dramatic lighting was mirrored in the sculptural quality of the custom Hermes surfboard art, blending coastal charm with couture flair. Contrasting trim details and saturated colors added personality, while neutral mid-level tones grounded the space and ensured visual balance.
The interior design team emphasized the bold vision with the contrasting trim package around the windows and baseboards, imbuing a youthful feel to the space while maintaining the sophistication. Woven elements in the form of window treatments and furniture pieces were integrated to bridge the connection with the main house, and anchoring the Cabana with the same refined, coastal personality of the rest of the property. Radiant floor heating ensured the space could be used well beyond the summer season.
To tie the space back to the main home, Vineyard Decorators included woven window treatments and furniture elements, maintaining a throughline of materiality and mood. A custom sectional from LEE Industries, covered in a Sunbrella slipcover, delivered comfort with resilience, designed to withstand wet bathing suits and still look polished. The design, with its throw-pillow-inspired back cushions, offers both casual comfort and the flexibility for rearrangement or sleeping. All the furniture pieces were intended for outdoor use but offered the look and feel of interior-level comfort, ensuring the space wasn’t too delicate to be enjoyed and lived in.
Even the powder room told a story: designed around the client’s love of starfish, it featured grasscloth wallpaper, a porthole mirror, and a farmhouse sink painted in Benjamin Moore Blue Grotto.
In the adjacent bedroom, custom headboards, bold rugs, and handmade pillows from the in-house custom workroom reinforced Vineyard Decorators’ attention to detail and commitment to personal expression.
Whether designing an oceanfront estate or a playful poolside cabana, Vineyard Decorators brings unmatched expertise, creativity, and warmth to every project. More than decorators, they’re storytellers–translating client vision into spaces that feel as effortless as an Island breeze and as expressive as the people who live there.
For more information contact:
Interior Design/Furniture: Vineyard Decorators
Architect: Sullivan Associates
Landscape Design: Barbara Lampson
Main House General Contractor: Dukes County Builders
Guest House/Cabana General Contractor: Perdomos
Pool: Atlantic Pools
Photography: A Louis-Jean Media
Landscape: Vineyard Exteriors
Real Estate Agent: Jennifer DaSilva of Point B Realty