(Photo credit: Aeman/Adobe Stock)
While there are no empirical data available on the subject, the anecdotal evidence is abundant. Most agree that grandma is one of the most beloved of the family members. Period. Why? Well, she has a LOT going for her.
First off, kids of all ages cherish their grandma because she is sweet, kind and permissive. She lets them get away with almost anything! Plus, she’s clearly the best cookie baker on the planet and can tell a story better than ANYONE.
Finally, over the past couple of years, grandma has also become a “go to” expert on home design, especially if she lives on either coast. It’s time to take a closer look at “coastal grandma” interior design.
What This Means for You — Interior design trends come and go at a rapid rate. For the past decade, the annual Acme Brick “What’s Hot and What’s Not” survey has chronicled the “rise and fall” of dozens of these trends, but a few have remained popular for several years. One of those is “coastal grandma” style, and homeowners of all ages have adopted it. Does this look and feel like something you would love for your home? If so, read on.
Looking for some new home design products to spice up your residence? Click here for some great ideas that even grandma will love.
How Did Grandma Get So Cool?
As with many current trends in fashion and home design, “coastal grandmother” style was introduced on social media. The term was coined by TikTok influencer Lex Nicoleta and refers to a relaxed, elevated way of living. This is the lifestyle exemplified by Diane Keaton in the movie Something’s Gotta Give and Meryl Streep in It’s Complicated.
According to design writer, Joan Kosmachuk, it’s interesting to note that at age 26 Nicoleta has at least a dozen years to go before reaching the age of a typical grandmother.
“The style she promotes is not bound by age, or geographical locale, although she defines a West Coast grandmother as a woman who loves Pilates, martinis, and cashmere sweaters. And says that an East Coast grandmother prefers pottery class, cappuccinos with skim milk, and white button-down shirts. Still, the underlying concept is about romanticizing your own life, and you can really see the appeal against the backdrop of our current economic, political, and post-pandemic times.”
According to an interview published by BuzzFeed, Nicoleta explains that “a coastal grandmother is a successful woman who creates a beautiful life for herself by embodying elements of coastal living and homemaking.” The article adds that the #coastalgrandmother tag on TikTok now has 4.8 million views.
Music helps define the coastal grandma feel. BuzzFeed notes, “Nicoleta’s 79-song coastal grandmother Spotify playlist has nearly 50,000 followers and includes the greatest hits of Frank Sinatra, Otis Redding, Norah Jones, and John Legend. The quintessential coastal grandma song is, of course, ‘This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)’ by Natalie Cole.”
To understand that coastal grandma vibe, the editors of Better Homes & Gardens suggest the following: “To put yourself in the right mindset, envision the clear and cool natural light you encounter on an early morning walk on the beach. Coastal grandma style has a duality: Relaxed yet refined, casual but elevated. It conveys a warm, inviting, laid-back luxury without being overtly cozy. The lines are clean, and the designs are unembellished and minimal.”
Two Important Considerations for This Look
The BH&G editors point to two important considerations for capturing the coastal grandma look They are:
# 1 Palette and Pattern
“Coastal color is a range of subtle simplicity. Start with 50 shades of white, ivory, and cream, all mixed together. Then layer in neutral tones borrowed from nature—stone, sand, sea, and sky: Tan and beige, taupe, and pale, watery blues. Introduce accent colors like deeper blues and shell pink with a light hand. Use little to no pattern and keep it simple and abstract if you do.”
#2 Materials and Texture
“Natural fibers like cotton and linen are the go-to choice for fabrics, from light, gauzy sheers to heavier twills and canvas. For accents, think touchable—chunky knits, nubby boucle, maybe even some tailored fringe.
“Various weaves of natural fibers like rattan, jute, sisal, raffia, and seagrass come into play for accessories, furniture, and rugs.
“Add seagrass baskets to hold throw blankets or pillows. Woods take their cue from driftwood—light, bleached and whitewashed. Hardware in metals like brushed nickel keeps the feeling soft and sophisticated.”
Four Acme Products for the Coastal Grandma Style
Any home of any age can catch that coastal grandma wave. All it takes is choosing home improvement products that suggest that “life's a beach.”
Flooring with a “driftwood” aesthetic is a good place to start, especially in a living room.
Casablanca flooring, available from Acme, is a premium hardwood with a trendy matte finish and light wire brushing reminiscent of hand rubbed oil finish floors. Casablanca is made using green materials and is offered in 7" wide planks and a unique 3 1/2" wide herringbone pattern. This hardwood flooring is available in three species of wood. American Walnut, Hickory & European Oak.
The kitchen is the most important room for a home designed in the coastal grandma style. Unfortunately, it is also the messiest. The durability and clean look of porcelain tile is perfect for this entertainment hot spot.
Connect tile from Acme reflects the contemporary nature of the present, where everything interacts and is mixed. Combining different stones, a unique and original surface is created, where diversity becomes the new beauty, to be discovered through a slightly “lived-in” texture in which delicate colors, a variety of designs and natural veining intermingle.
This flooring is a perfect mix that generates an extraordinary new look, suitable for any type of indoor environment. Connect, is a one-of-a-kind porcelain tile that is made with Microban antimicrobial technology, ensuring that anything from wine to whatever is easy to clean up, while the floor remains germ-free.
In many ways, the coastal grandma style is a “whiter shade of pale,” a phrase made famous by the 60s band, “Procol Harum.” Accent walls are an excellent way to introduce some subtle color to this interior environment, and when thin brick is painted, the brick texture enhances the color.
English Cottage Thin Brick available from Acme Brick is real brick which offers savings, fast installation, and an extensive color selection. An interior brick wall brings added warmth to an area such as a kitchen or family room and when painted using Romabio limewash in the colors that are popular with this style — tan, beige, taupe, watery blues, deeper blues or shell pink — the results are stunning.
Thin brick go up quickly with little disruption to the homeowner's activities and its light weight means that no additional wall support is required. Typically, an interior residential application such as a contrasting wall can be installed in one or two days.
It’s Complicated but Simple
If you delight in the simple pleasures of domesticity, love the soft sophistication of subtle colors and natural bliss, but you’re nowhere near your grandmother’s age, rejoice! Coastal grandma might be your look. And no, you’re not off your Adirondack rocker.
Most likely, you simply appreciate what Meryl Streep learned in her witty movie. It’s complicated. It’s also very cool.
Acme is more than brick. To see just how much more, click here. Your grandmother will approve.