We have stayed at the Loring House several times now and always appreciate that it is easy walking distance to town, the ferry, and the fairgrounds. And it sleeps 14, which is great for big families like ours to share with friends and relatives!
It is a low-frills sort of place, but that is just fine. It is a charming older Craftsman home, with wood floors and cozy nooks. For big groups you will get to know each other with 4 or more to the room, but the rooms are still roomy enough. There is a spare kitchenette upstairs but we have never used it. There is room to lounge about and to get to know each other around the kitchen table, various nooks, and the nice yard. The charcoal BBQ works well. There is no dishwasher but bonds are made over things like sudsy hands. The water is hot and 3 bathrooms means rarely a wait, even for large groups. The internet is good if you can't pry the phones out of the hands of the younger crowd. The DVD player wasn't working for us - but who uses DVDs anymore anyway?
For bigger groups be aware that dishes and silverware will get tight, and there isn't a table big enough to comfortably seat more than about 8 at one time (but that didn't stop any fun). There were plenty of pots and pans that we needed, and a coffee maker and microwave.
We will definitely be back again next time we take a trip to the islands. Thanks!