Dissecting the Nancy Meyers Aesthetic

What do Cottagecore, The Hamptons and a twist of Santa Barbara have in common? We’re talking about the “Nancy Meyers aesthetic”. Made popular with movies like Father of the Bride, Something's Gotta Give, or It's Complicated, Meyers does an incredible job of captivating audiences and designers alike with her effortlessly chic movie sets. In her films, she creates complex, layered, delicious worlds where we get to feel like in the course of 2 hours, we've been on a much-needed vacation.

We’ve seen this style dissected in interior design, but it’s rarely talked about with exteriors. It feels lived-in and cozy and looks like it jumped right out of a magazine. Her style evokes a feeling of tranquility that makes you want to be IN on that life. It’s graceful, but not fussy, portraying humble luxury and quiet generational wealth. It’s yummy and memorable and is FOREVER classic and why her movie sets stand the test of time.

Her movie sets are definitely designed, but only just enough. The architecture of the house leads the charge, creating a unique canvas and defining the sense of place. Usually located in vibey vacation spots, her characters get to live in these gorgeous hamlets full time, conveying a subliminal sense of slow living, hence the cottagecore reference. The homes are never new or modern, always custom, as if they've been in the family for decades. They are typically bathed in a creamy hue of white. Think Martha Stewart adjacent, yet a tad less curated and far less snooty. I am certain that the homeowners do have gardening help, but the landscape looks like it was added to and tended over a lifetime.

Texture is the star of the show with natural materials like tumbled brick, gravel, slate, stone, and reclaimed wood which is often weathered from many seasons of California sunshine or ocean salt spray.

Citronella candles, torches or bistro lights to set the evening ambience. A pergola or a large, canopied trees give the illusion of a ceiling or roof, providing coziness in the evening and diffused sunlight in the heat of the day.

You can count on an oversized fireplace, along with a well-worn farm table with extra chairs for unexpected guests. Hospitality is always front and center.

The furniture is deep and comfortable with lots of linen pillows or a blanket to keep the night air at bay. Her aesthetic is authentically layered and makes you want to linger while getting tipsy on delicious wine, decadent food, and deep conversation. The fine silverware and vintage glassware are used because every day is a special day to use the good stuff.

The interior and exterior of the home are homogeneous, connected by large doors, and it feels like you spilled out into the garden and dragged the furniture from right inside. Her style creates a genuine outdoor living room.

Nothing feels too precious, and it’s made more charming with the patina of wear and tear. Pots are moss-laden, weathered or chipped, in natural material like terracotta or zinc. The plantings are soft, muted pastels, often casual in arrangement save for the rigidity of a highly organized and tidy potager garden. The landscape provides the much-needed insulation from the harsh outside world.

These landscapes are a masterclass in effortless luxury. They are also totally attainable with the right touches. When planning your own yard, think about adding elements like meandering pathways, arches or trellises draped in climbing roses or honeysuckle for a romantic vibe. Native plants that blend seamlessly and require little effort are always a win. A stone fountain adds a bit of serene noise and a respite for birds. Your outdoor space should feel like an extension of your home. A place where you can sip coffee in the morning, host an intimate dinner party, or simply unwind after a long day.

Nancy Meyers has always had a knack for wrapping you in the ether of her movies. The dialogue is always funny, her characters deep and the stories rich, but I'd say the thing that is always apparent in her aesthetic is that comfort is always of utmost importance.