Provincetown in Massachusetts is one of the top gay vacation destinations in the US. Across its summer season, it hosts a wide range of LGBTQ festivals and gatherings, and a high proportion of is population is gay. Even out of season, it boasts a unique charm all of its own.
Many have fallen for its fishing village appeal, relative quietness, windswept sand dunes, and laid-back vibe.
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It’s little surprise that it’s attracted some A-list celebrities to invest in property there. In fact, the only downside to Provincetown is that because it’s a relatively small community with a limited number of residences, room rates can prove costly at the busiest times of the year.
That’s not something you’ll have to worry about if you’re a friend of über-producer Ryan Murphy. The man behind Pose, American Horror Story and many other hits shows brought property on the peninsula with his husband, photographer David Miller. In fact, the two men love the area so much they got married on the area’s famous sand dunes seven years ago.
The two men recently invited Architectural Digest to look inside their newly restored private guesthouse. They bought it four years ago and have lovingly had it restored with the help of Manhattan-based designer David Cafiero.
They also own a beachfront property that they stay in with their two young sons (Miller has posted photos of them in Provincetown to his Instagram – see below).
The guesthouse was once the studio of Abstract Expressionist Hans Hofmann (1880-1966). He moved in the mid-40s and worked in the space for the next two decades.
Provincetown has a reputation for attracting artists and other creatives that stretches back over 100 years. It’s part of the reason it became such a gay enclave.
Murphy and Miller were determined to preserve the building’s spirit. There’s plenty of exposed brick and wood and nautical touches. They even kept some of the original paint splashes and a paint-splattered stool as a reminder of its past.
“Those pieces, the tools of his trade—those are our Hofmann works of art,” Murphy told AD. “They’re beautiful and they’re personal.”
They’ve added their own touches, such as two large prints by Herb Ritts: One of Madonna’s ex, Tony Ward, and another of Elizabeth Taylor. Taking pride of place in the lounge is a giant Georgian chandelier that’s fixed to the ceiling by ship rigging. Its candles, when lit in the evening, bring a suitable ‘wow’ factor to a beguiling, history-drenched interior.
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Sadly, as a private residence, you’ll have to find your own Provincetown accommodation elsewhere. After signing a $300million deal with Netflix in 2018, it’s unlikely Murphy will be putting this place on Airbnb any time soon!
Check out more photos at Architectural Digest. The December issue of the magazine is out now.
