Breakdown Of Nancy Meyer's Kitchen Aesthetic & How To Replicate It At Your Home

408 Interested |
3.9K  Views

Swapping lives, finding love, reunions, and ultimately choosing to listen to your heart and assailing to one's (almost) happily ever after, any movie by the writer-director-producer Nancy Meyers is an ultimate source of comfort. You can always count on her movies for a lovely time that leaves the heart a little more relaxed and a little more hopeful!

Meyer's movies have also attracted close attention to their interiors, inspiring many trends and aesthetics that have come to be known as 'cult Meyers'. From a cosy cottage in the meadows (cc: The Holiday) to an open Spanish home in California (cc: The Parent Trap), the homes in Meyers's movies are an integral part of the plot and narrative trajectories that accelerate falling in love with the whole spectacle.

If you are an ardent follower of Meyer's stories, then you also know that it's the kitchen space that Meyer creates, which uses absolutely masterful storytelling. They are luxurious yet cosy and homely and serve as the background of many pivotal scenes. Marble countertops kitchen islands, beautiful copper pots, fresh flowers, open shelves, and many other features create a languid space of comfort and peace that looks comforting and inviting.

As someone who loves all things elegant and chic, the kitchen style of Meyer's really captures the fancy of the decor enthusiast in me. And for all our sakes I have picked four movies —Something's Gotta Give, The Holiday, It's Complicated, and The Intern— written, directed, and produced by Meyers (so we know, it is pure Meyer genius), and have analysed the key features embodied in the kitchen that make them stand out and make them a breathing part of the movie ensemble. Here are key design and decor sensibilities used by Meyer, which you can also introduce into your kitchen spaces as well.

Neutral Background

Nancy Meyer's kitchen experience cannot be imbibed without neutral backgrounds. The neutral coastal grandma vibe is an overarching theme in most of her movies, as the natural, beige, off-white walls, cabinets, and shelving feature heavily in Meyer's kitchens.

This aesthetic is most aptly captured in the movie 'Something's Gotta Give', in which the kitchen is where Erica and Harry meet each other for the first time, make late night pancakes while opening their hearts later, and frequently orbit each other here throughout the movie. This beautiful house in the Hamptons is a beautiful space, but the kitchen could be deemed the soul of Meyer's experience. This neutral theme is strong in most of her hits, including movies like It's Complicated and The Intern.

Open Shelving

Open shelving is a recurring feature of Meyer's kitchen experience and one of the easiest additions for anyone to replicate. The best example would be the beautiful kitchen in 'It's Complicated', where the open shelves, adorned with beautiful ceramics, create a cohesive, homely, and slightly boho vibe. Open shelves look absolutely stunning and are easy to install and style. They also serve as a great storage space for all items you need handy.
Metalsmith Mango Wood Wall Shelf

Metalsmith Mango Wood Wall Shelf

4999
Shop On
Ellementry Boxy Wooden Wall Shelf

Ellementry Boxy Wooden Wall Shelf

2990
Shop On
Aaron Wooden Wall Shelf

Aaron Wooden Wall Shelf

2650
Shop On

Subway Tiles

If you look closely at the scenes of Diane Keaton (Erica) in Something's Gotta Give and Anne Hathway (Jules) in The Intern, you will very easily spot many features that are quintessential Meyer's, including the use of Subway tiles on the kitchen backsplash. These tiles add a texture edge to the space while providing a subtle polish while riding on the whole neutral and suburban aesthetic. It's a timeless feature that makes any kitchen space look more elevated, cleaner, and chic, and you can blindly inculcate this idea into a place where you are having a hard time decorating. This might look expensive, but it's easy and affordable to replicate this one (even for renters), thanks to the many peel-and-stick options available on the internet.

10-Sheet Peel And Stick Backsplash

10-Sheet Peel And Stick Backsplash

3557
Subway Wall Tile

Subway Wall Tile

2110

Pendant Lights

When it comes to lighting, Meyer's kitchens take full points as they're designed with an open layout and big windows. What adds to the whole charm are pendant lights. You'll find this addition everywhere; pick any kitchen from any of Meyer's movies, including both from The Holiday. Pendant lighting adds an elevated and modern feel that goes with a myriad range of aesthetics and vibes. This one might be slightly difficult to replicate if you don’t already have electrical wiring, but it's ingenious, functional, and adds a cosy focal point to your kitchen.

Glass Cone Pendant Light Copper

Glass Cone Pendant Light Copper

2800
Shop On
Metallic Black Pendant Hanging Light

Metallic Black Pendant Hanging Light

1500
Shop On
Industrial Vintage Glass Pendant Yellow

Industrial Vintage Glass Pendant Yellow

2000
Shop On

Copper Accents And White Ceramics

When it comes to less permanent changes, your best bet to get a similar aesthetic to Meyer's is to utilise the utensils. Copper, pots, pans, teapots, and white, clean, beige ceramics are core features of Meyer's kitchen. You can spot them in almost all of her movies, with the most extraordinary collection in It's Complicated, where Meryl Streep's character is a baker. You can spot these accents at display galore, which also serve a functional purpose, retaining a chic, cosy, calm, comforting, and chill of Meyer's plots. Another tip would be to add your wooden spoons on display for a rustic charm, often seen in her movies. 

Serving Spoons Set Of 6 Twisted Bronze

Serving Spoons Set Of 6 Twisted Bronze

6000
Shop On
Ceramic Food Storage Jar

Ceramic Food Storage Jar

1549
Shop On
Fiore Ceramic Pasta Bowl

Fiore Ceramic Pasta Bowl

1090
Shop On
Selene Marble Bowl With Wooden Legs

Selene Marble Bowl With Wooden Legs

6550
Shop On
Wooden Spoon Fork

Wooden Spoon Fork

999
Shop On

Bowl Of Fruit

There is literally no count as to how many fruit bowls are present on these movies' kitchen islands at all times. As the ambience of the space is largely leaning toward neutrals, bowls of fruit and fresh flowers stand out and add bright pops of colour that make the entire aesthetic look more lively and comforting. It's the easiest way to add a refreshing vibe to the kitchen space.
Ceramic Dust Brown Fruit Bowl

Ceramic Dust Brown Fruit Bowl

2500
Shop On
Gandola Fruit Glass Bowl

Gandola Fruit Glass Bowl

2799
Shop On
Shankh Wood 1 Bowl-White

Shankh Wood 1 Bowl-White

1499
Shop On
img-user-nitika-yadav-651472295200
239 Followers

A literature post-graduate, with over a year of experience in all things content, and loves writing about fashion, pop-culture, and academia.