Filmmaker and design icon Nancy Meyers famously told ELLE Decor in 2012 that she treats the homes in her movies like they’re main characters. Her interiors are an extension of her leading ladies in her films, and it’s clear that she puts an incredible amount of work into these homes which in reality, are just very well-dressed sound stages. It’s this thought and intention that makes them all the more impressive.
How to Bring the Nancy Meyers Aesthetic Home
It makes complete sense that “Nancy Meyers aesthetic” is trending. Who wouldn’t want to capture some of the joy and ease that her films evoke? I chatted with designer Joshua Smith and we did a deep dive into what we think people are really after when they say they want a Nancy Meyers interior—and how to achieve the look yourself.
Joshua Smith
After attending the New York School of Interior Design, Joshua Smith began his career under the guidance of Steven Gambrel. Going on to launch his own design firm in 2013, he was named a “rising star” and “one to watch” by House Beautiful magazine just over a year later. Over the years, Joshua has built an impressive portfolio ranging from modern sanctuaries to country estates.
Why are Nancy Meyers interiors so popular?
There’s no arguing that Nancy Meyers interiors are universally loved. They’re cozy, warm, and we all want to jump through the screen to be in them ourselves, even though her film sets are completely different design styles. “All her interiors speak different languages, yet they all conjure the same feeling of I want to fall into that,” Smith says. “It’s a retreat. There’s something about them that feels good. It doesn’t matter if the home is coastal, country, California, cottage, or traditional—what we get is Nancy Meyers cool. We all want a little bit of that in our lives—a feeling of je ne sais quoi she brings to all of her spaces.”
When we move beyond aesthetics, or what a home looks like, the appeal of Meyers’ interiors is very clear. Smith sees it when he’s working with design clients as well. “People don’t buy houses based on what they look like, but what they feel like,” he shares.
How do you get the Nancy Meyers aesthetic?
The Nancy Meyers aesthetic is more than a look—it’s a feeling. “I call it livable beauty,” Smith remarks. “You can have a space with a sofa, a coffee table, some chairs, and a rug that will be put together and styled, but it’s the layers that will make it feel like home. I think that’s what Nancy does so well.”
So what do layers in a home look like? “It’s the blankets in baskets, or the stack of books by the chair,” Smith says. “We think it’s the big stuff like the sofa that’s going to make a house a home, but it’s actually the sentimental item on the centerpiece of the coffee table that makes it interesting.”
Nancy Meyers interiors are beautiful, but she prioritizes emotional connection. The homes in her films are lived in, comfortable, and they reflect the personality of its occupants. So when it comes to recreating looks for yourself in your own home, imagine who you would be in a Nancy Meyers film. Truly! Who are you? How can your home be an extension of your wants and needs, as well as your personality and style? What’s important to you? And of course, when you step into your home, what do you want to feel?
If this sounds overwhelming or perhaps you just need a little guidance, I’ve rounded up a few favorite Nancy Meyers interiors, the feelings they evoke, and a little more about their particular design style. Check it out below!
The Hamptons Beach House In Something’s Gotta Give
If you want to feel: Energized, light, and ready to fall in love in a house by the sea (whether you actually are or not).
Then recreate: Diane Keaton’s beach home in Something’s Gotta Give
The vibe: Coastal Grandma, quintessential beach house charm
Diane Keaton’s character, Erica Barry, is the blueprint for Coastal Grandma aesthetic. She lives in a sprawling, beautiful beach house in the Hamptons. It’s drenched in blue and white, has rows and rows of books and features plush, overstuffed couches. It’s the perfect setting for a summer romance on the coast.
“It evokes the feeling of bright light, and we all crave that,” Smith says. There is a freshness that permeates the large, open living space of this iconic beach house and Smith says to be mindful of where in your own home you decide to recreate the look. “I always say there’s going to be one moody space in a home where you go and cocoon, and you’re not going to cocoon in the Something’s Gotta Give living room because it’s so bright!” Smith exclaims. “It’s so fresh, it’s light, and you’re going to feel great, vibrant, and energized in a space like that.”
Opt for a coastal living room or an office space that will no doubt keep you inspired. Erica Barry was a playwright after all, and her sprawling desk faced an enormous window, drenching her in sunlight.
The Cottage in The Holiday
If you want to feel: Curled up in cozy knits, sipping hot cocoa in the English countryside.
Then recreate: Kate Winslet’s cottage in The Holiday
The vibe: Cottagecore
If the Something’s Gotta Give beach house is bright and energizing, the Rosehill Cottage in The Holiday is on the other side of the design spectrum. “You want to cozy up and read a book in that house,” Smith says. “I want a mug of something, sleeves so long they cover my hands—it’s that kind of energy. It’s like a warm hug”
Recreating the Rosehill Cottage can be tricky, since so much of the charm of the home lies in the architecture that won’t be found in a newer home. The stone walls and wood beams add a ton of character to this cozy cottage, but that doesn’t mean you can’t evoke similar feelings yourself. Thrift chintzy, overstuffed armchairs and don’t be afraid to mismatch patterns. Use a tufted ottoman instead of a coffee table and go for a shabby chic look in your living room or bedroom. Estate sales are full of vintage pieces that would look adorable in a Rosehill Cottage-inspired room. If you find pieces that make you want to curl up with a good book, take that as a good sign!
The California Mansion in The Holiday
If you want to feel: Cool, chic and put together.
Then recreate: Cameron Diaz’s home in The Holiday
The vibe: Contemporary California cool
Juxtaposing the cozy cottage in The Holiday was Cameron Diaz’s California mansion. When describing this home, Smith kept coming back to two words. “So cool, so modern,” he states. While not everyone can live in a mansion, there are ways to evoke similar feelings in your own home. “It’s very tailored. There’s a lot of white, no patterns in this home,” Smith observes. “It’s understated luxury.”
If you want to bring a California cool vibe into your own home, opt for white slip-covered furniture, simple seagrass rugs, and black accents. There are lots of plants and large open windows in this home, so adorn your own with plenty of greenery to add some vibrancy. Have lots of table lamps to give the space some warmth with lighting. Invite your neighbors over and share a meal, just like Iris did in the film.
The Father of the Bride House
If you want to feel: The joy and coziness of family living.
Then recreate: The Father of the Bride House
The vibe: Classic, traditional style
Father of the Bride fully romanticized suburban, family living to a T. Within the first few minutes of the film, you’re introduced to family man George Banks, who delivers a monologue about the love he has for his daughter, his family, and his house. There is such beautiful simplicity in the way he describes teaching his kids how to ride their bikes in the driveway and sleeping in tents in the backyard just for fun. If you want to engulf yourself in warm fuzzies, recreating the Father of the Bride house is a great place to start. “This house was the American dream. A picture perfect home,” Smith shares. “It’s layered with books in the bookcases, pictures in picture frames, and the key was that it wasn’t perfect. It screamed, it’s beautiful, we have kids, and we live here!”
The actual home is a classic Colonial, but creating the same vibe means to not take it too seriously. “With this home, and all Nancy Meyers interiors, you don’t feel like you’re going to mess it up. There’s something about it where you’re not afraid to set a drink down or put your feet up. It’s comfortable. It’s lived in,” Smith continues. To create a homey, cozy vibe in your own home, arrange living room furniture for conversation instead of TV watching, adorn your surfaces with framed family photos, add French doors, and make your backyard a place for dining and family activities.
The Kitchen in It’s Complicated
If you want to feel: Cozy in the kitchen, surrounded by loved ones and home-cooked meals.
Then recreate: Meryl Streep’s home in It’s Complicated
The vibe: California Spanish-Style Ranch with a gorgeous kitchen
The home in It’s Complicated does the same thing all Nancy Meyers’ interiors do without a hitch—it’s warm, inviting, and comfortable. What sets this home apart is the kitchen. Jane (played by Meryl Streep) owns a bakery, so of course the kitchen is the heart of her home. It’s where Streep sips wine with her girlfriends, it’s where her adult children gather as they raid her fridge, and it’s a spot for family meals. The kitchen is sophisticated without being overly fancy, and if you want to create the same vibe in your own home, there are a few things Smith suggests.
“Try a mix of open shelving and closed cabinets. Hang your pots on a rack. Create a space where you can actually sit down and have a meal. Life happens in the kitchen!” he says. These kitchen layers will add charm to your space, and may even make cooking easier with everything in reach. But most importantly, imagine your family or friends all gathering in your kitchen and ask yourself if everyone could be comfortable and happy in the space. Making this gathering place as special as it can be with cozy seating, food and drink is the goal.