A decrepit saltbox cottage in a hidden nook of Chilmark, behind Menemsha Pond on Martha’s Vineyard, has been transformed into a dynamic, avant-garde showpiece and a business incubator for Morgan Studio’s husband and wife team, Nate and Lauren Morgan.
The shingle style and the saltbox shape drew our attention the most. Lauren remarked, “It was just so classic.” We saw the house’s bones—the excellent ones.
Despite its attractiveness, the 100-year-old cottage had drawbacks, including small rooms, dark brown beadboard walls, and little insulation, which necessitated some architectural and design assistance from the Morgans. Nate is an architect, and Lauren is an interior designer.
It was really gloomy. According to Nate, all of the rooms were somewhat divided into these small boxes, and the windows were not very large.
Naturally, some aspects of the redesign process were non-negotiable, such as the 1,500-square-foot house’s footprint. In order to create the kind of independence that isn’t always possible while working for a client, the Morgans layered in warmth, light, and a few daring, surprising twists while maintaining what worked.
According to Lauren, this residence is about the sunset. Saying that it’s about the view isn’t really revolutionary, but it is. It’s simply breathtaking.
Some of the yellow and orange hues used throughout the house, such as the yellow range in the kitchen, are inspired by sunsets. Additionally, the Morgans transformed a closet on the second floor into a daybed nook that provides a front-row ticket to golden hour.
According to Lauren, the sunset is reflected back by several yellow, orange, and gold elements.
Once an opera singer’s soundproofed room, the downstairs has been transformed into a private guest suite with a striking double shower that has eight body jets. However, the house is more than just a design endeavor. It serves as a marketing tool as well.
By purposefully approaching the refurbishment as a show house, the Morgans were able to exercise their creativity without seeking customer permission.
“It’s so much easier to sell than something on a screen when you can take clients there and show them in person,” Nate added.
Although this idea is not new in large-scale architectural or real estate development, boutique firms are increasingly using it to convey their entire design philosophy in a concrete, lived-in manner.
However, the salt shack is more than just a showpiece for the Morgans. In addition to being a comfortable place to host guests or enjoy a Vineyard sunset, it is also a rental property.
Nate remarked, “We love the idea of this being a 100-year-old kind of thing—we feel a part of us that we kind of saved for another hundred years.” All those stories would have been gone if someone had come down and just knocked it down and started anew from that exact footprint.
Design flourishes were not sacrificed for history. Moments like the blue ombre staircase, a design concept Lauren seized the opportunity to execute after a customer had previously rejected it, are examples of how function and whimsy can coexist.
I said, “I can do the blue ombre,” as soon as we entered. She remembered that this was the house.
Moving from the conceptual stage to completion can also be facilitated by this flexibility.
Nate stated, “We know where we want to start in terms of plumbing fixtures, material tiers, and that sort of thing.” It simply moves much more quickly.
This independence also applied to luxury purchases, such as high-end kitchen layouts, plumbing fixtures, and Forbes & Lomax designer lighting.
According to Nate, it enabled us to conduct some upscale activities that are probably not possible in a 5,000-square-foot home.
In a small residence, money goes farther, and the team was able to allay any concerns about sacrificing quality, Lauren continued. Adding luxury to this living portfolio also gives clients the chance to get creative and ambitious with their own design projects.
We plan to take people to this project and demonstrate our work to them. “It’s a physical portfolio,” Nate remarked. It firmly sealed the deal. After that, contracts were signed, which is fantastic because people were drawn to what we accomplished.
However, designing a chic, unique home required more than simply good taste. It was a calculated action that made it difficult to distinguish between work and play. The Morgans created something that felt authentic and aspirational rather than a sample-filled showroom or a clinical office pitch that makes use of tablet screens or computer monitors. Now, prospective customers can explore the area and get a sense of Morgan Studio’s mission.
The Morgans enjoyed the creative process more than the financial gain. Additionally, they are working on two more display house projects.
“As a team, this is a great creative outlet,” Nate added. We have somewhat demonstrated that this is an excellent method of expressing a concept without sacrificing any quality.
Do you have any tips for others wishing to go a similar refurbishment route?
Lauren advised buying a home you adore, making a list of your reasons for loving it, and keeping that list in mind. As long as you maintain focus on the initial objectives, all of those things are possible.
“With this house, you’re telling a story,” Nate continued. The important thing is to remember where the narrative originated, regardless of whether you revere the original or give it new life.
As much as the golden hour cascading on Menemsha Harbor, this home’s warmth comes from that fusion of homage and reverence.
According to Nate, if you perform poorly, you draw in poor prospects. We exerted all of our effort, and it was successful.
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