Trends & Influences: Grand Nostalgia

Recall sitting, legs swinging inches above the floor, on Grandma’s couch. Candy jar full of butterscotch candies on the end table, needlepoint pillow accenting the plastic-draped armchair next to that. Perhaps there’s a coffee table with a neat stack of magazines, an ashtray, and a coaster collecting condensation from a fizzing glass of cola. All is right in the world, everything feels good and special. This is the kind of feeling Grandmillenial aims to recreate. 

Grand Nostalgia, also known as the Grandmillenial style, is an appreciation for a lost, perhaps misunderstood aesthetic. It’s an ache for tradition and a simpler time, and an effort to keep that alive.

In the kitchen, your faucet will be a focal point while the range and range hood will be your statement pieces. Consider a faucet in brass or polished chrome for a sink area that will really shine.

For your appliances, consider appliances that are reminiscent of the 1950s with all the modern conveniences of today. Range hoods always add an extra feeling of polish to a kitchen.

Choose a rug to add color and personality to your kitchen. A rug is a practical element as well as a pretty one, and because rugs come in so many styles, it will also give you a chance to incorporate another theme into the decor.

Your door and cabinet hardware can be vintage, modern, traditional...as long as it’s not boring. Select hardware with a hint of nostalgia to reflect the rest of the decor, but don’t be afraid to mix things up with a more modern finish like matte black or satin chrome.

Traditional white cabinetry offers a classic look along with bridge faucets, which also provide a focal point, especially in a gold or brass finish. Choose light fixtures with color to contribute interest to the space. Display your wine collection in an elegant refrigerator to add character.

There are many Victorian elements available for the bathroom, and it would be easy to get carried away with that particular style. To keep things eclectic, as the Grandmillenial style calls for, incorporate modern cabinet hardware and plumbing fixtures.

You won’t be able to resist a classic soaker tub, however, and where a soaker tub goes a tub filler follows, adding a sophisticated look. A touch of greenery keeps the bathroom looking fresh.   

Grandmillenial lighting will tell a story about your space. A grand chandelier will say “this is where we entertain,” while a Tiffany lamp sets aside a place for reading. Ornate sconces light a dim hallway or flank a painting or mirror.

Place a statement chandelier over your main living, dining, or entry space. Play with the idea of modern pendants in the kitchen over the sink, island, or prep area. Consider textured elements like beading or wicker for light fixtures and furnishings.

The Grandmillenial trend is a recapturing of multiple styles. Within it, you’ll find hints of many others. Mid-century, traditional, Victorian, vintage, romantic and even a little bit of bohemian decor all blend to influence the new traditionalists who have embraced this eclectic style. It’s about nostalgia and interjecting memories and personality-rich charm into your space.