Capturing Nancy Meyers Coastal Chic

We continue our quest to capture Nancy Meyers coastal chic ingredients! It started RIGHT HERE. (If you’re as interested in the interiors as you are the storyline of Nancy Meyers movies, you are bound to find inspo here!

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Capturing Nancy Meyers Coastal Chic

When is coastal chic more than a décor style?

Going coastal is about admiring simple things, slowing down to savor, and connecting to nature through the beauty of sea, sky, sand, and plant life. It is about honoring natural materials such as cotton, linen and cashmere.

Aspirations to infuse ordinary days with simple elegance and everyday romance.

The aesthetic and lifestyle may especially appeal to homebody types who create subtle backdrops for peaceful moments to unfurl within a safe haven.

One of my favorite things about laid back coastal casual style? How I can skip uncomfortable high heels and underwire pushup bras. (Hahahaha…reconstructed boobs unaffected by gravity and time don’t need ’em doncha know!)

White tees, denim, and chambray button-downs belong in the rotation.

Self-care includes long walks in nature, reading, crocheting, sipping lemonade or wine, gardening, painting watercolors, and uncomplicated healthy recipes.

How Does Coastal Chic Vary From Preppy Chic?

Preppy all-American style seems to overlap with coastal romance. However, the interiors may reveal discrepancies. A prepster may be more likely to reach for chintz, plaid, and fussy wallpaper patterns.

These selections may feel too fussy for a coastal granny’s taste. Also, a lot of preppy lovers favor colorful maximalism whereas there’s a more pared-down quality and room for contemporary to coastal chic environments.

“…preppy decor’s roots remain in exoticism as popularized by upper-class European society” – House Beautiful

While both styles are rooted in sophistication and classicism, romantic coastal Nancy Meyer types are maybe more influenced by the natural world, solitude, and the rhythms of the sea.

They may treasure driftwood as decor more than exotic chinoiserie.

Is a Barefoot Contessa Lifestyle Expensive?

Diane Keaton’s character in Something’s Gotta Give (Erica Barry) owns an oceanside Hamptons beach house that would cost a fortune. Not a simple or inexpensive lifestyle to emulate!

“The vibe is very ocean inspired and feels vacation-ey. It also looks effortless and chic and is easy to copy at any price point.” – NY Post

Can you truly capture the vibe on a budget? It depends.

Sure, a single room can be decorated with a chic coastal look on a budget. However, it’s the authentic lifestyle and carefree mindset that comes with a steep cost.

In the 2020s, FREE TIME is also wealth. So if you should have hours for coastal grandmother hobbies and pursuits, maybe your bank balance is irrelevant.

For many folks, experiences trump expenditures.

Arranging a branch in a vase or freshly plucked flowers from the garden in a simple ironstone pitcher? It can feel more lifegiving and rich to a CG than shoe shopping.

“A coastal grandmother doesn’t care for thong bodysuits…She likes heirloom tomatoes and going to bed early.” – Glamour

Ha! That tickles me every single time because YESSSSS, Glamour. No thong bodysuit can compete with an heirloom tomato on planet coastal granny!

Is the Aesthetic More Martha or Ina?

Even though Lex Nicoleta says coastal grandmother “is not fully Ina Garten,” it’s hard to imagine anyone who comes closer!

Ina’s calming disposition, recipes, and entertaining suggestions are accessible yet utterly chic.

Yet I wonder if coastal grandmothers appreciate the IDEA of her ideas for perfect soirees more than the actual execution of them. Hahahahaha.

It remains countercultural to value rest. Oh, and by all means, MAKE YOUR HARD WORK LOOK EFFORTLESS!

Coastal peeps need pajama time and lazy days. Intimate Ina Garten-esque gathering with a simple menu that won’t require exotic ingredients or days of prep? I’m in.

Capture a Nancy Meyers Romance at Home

Emulating an effortless, Something’s Gotta Give look? Ummm. It’s Complicated and requires effort!

Study The Movie Sets!

We shall not discuss the number of times I have paused scenes to spend more time with the set decoration of a Nancy Meyers movie.

Train your eye. Notice the architecture, layering, and furniture placement.

Notice what’s there and what’s not. BTW. The interiors within that unforgettable Hamptons manse in Something’s Gotta Give were actually movie sets built to Nancy Meyers’ specifications.

Even the kitchen countertops only appear to be soapstone! They were painted to look like the real thing.

Endless Interpretations of Coastal Chic

Must we live on the coast to capture the flavor?

Absolutely not. I’m pretty landlocked myself.

But we can be breezy far from the sea!

Aim to keep it classic – even in the garden where boxwood seem always to be a good classic idea.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to be near the sea (above and below: M+M Interior Design).

I may not live near a coast or enjoy grandchildren, but a coastal state of mind appeals!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and whether the aesthetic suits you too.

Tour a Lovely Beach Cottage

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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