'New England' Doesn't Just Mean Coastal — Here's How to Bring the Iconic Style Into Your Home, Wherever You Are

A GIF of three different New England-style rooms. There is a bedroom with patterned wallpaper, an open dining room with a white round table, and an open kitchen and living room with a yellow sofa.

I grew up in South Carolina. I know that's not New England, but coming from the southern part of the United States' eastern coastline, we have certain preconceptions when it comes to design in the Northeast. Namely, navy blue, preppy coastal, a lot of historical architecture, and those iconic Cape Cod shingles. However true some may be, on their own, I'm the first to admit they're a broad misconception of what New England design really consists of.

New England design is layered. It represents years of history and craftsmanship, with a deep respect for place. Nina Farmer, a New England-based interior designer who specializes in characterful, contemporary homes in the region, tells me it's "less about a specific look and more about a way of living. The homes that inspire me have evolved over generations," she shares. "They feel collected rather than decorated, with architecture and interiors that have grown together over time."