She points to a recent Nantucket project with the design and build firm Shelter 7 that features a neutral, timeless color palette that lends itself to personal pieces woven throughout—like surfboards that the ASD team sourced to hang in the family room, representing the nautical sport that the family enjoys together, and Slim Aarons photography hanging in the dining room that was found during a family vacation.

"We are crafting specialized interiors based on what our clients love most,” Sterk adds. The interior designer would describe this as adding “soul” to the homes, all while giving the possibility to layer endlessly with pattern, texture and color. The interior designer also notes that she’s seeing a lot more unique characteristics being used in furniture, referencing nature, wood detailing and organic shapes. Note the layering of woven materials throughout the project, which carry a casual feel. “It’s a simple philosophy,” she says of the textured pieces. “Beauty comes in all forms; it adds character and balance to the layer in juxtaposing elements.”

When asked about the future of color in interior design, Sterk notes the trend in popularity toward jewel-toned hues over the past year. “Adding saturated, brighter colors into interiors adds a fun-loving layer,” she says. But this doesn’t necessarily mean throwing a neutral palette away. Looking forward to 2024, contained spaces like powder rooms are still perfect for “treating like a gift box of color,” while pillows and other home accessories are a great way to thread the tone throughout without losing a timeless aesthetic. “Add in trends sparingly and in smaller details that will be easier to shift out in time,” she suggests—noting that this goes beyond color and into other recent trends like moody wallpapers and the ever-popular bouclé fabrics.

This is where Sterk’s emphasis on the importance of a timeless interior comes in—it can be hard to dismiss trends, but as long as there’s a clean palette, there are ways to filter them in. “One can shop furnishings and accessories that are on trend today as well as the timeless pieces that are design staples,” she says. This was her thought process in this project with Shelter 7. Located off of Cliff Road, the home presents an interior rooted in beautiful architectural details that support the timeless interior design intent. It allowed other more important items, like the aforementioned artwork and surfboards, to shine. For other homeowners, it might be a family heirloom. Sterk adds, “It is a classic, timeless base to layer onto over time with collected finds.” And that’s something that will keep on giving.