“Granny chic” has been around for a while, Gentle Readers, as you undoubtedly know.
While I appreciate forays into granny-dom — an abundance of patterns, primarily florals; a vibrant palette, overstuffed furniture; ruffles; even an antimacassar or two —
when I see a full-on “granny chic” room, I experience an intense urge to dig out the fabric attachment on my vacuum cleaner.
However, my AED team has alerted me to the fact that while the trend may have faded, it never went away. NOT ONLY THAT, it’s making a roaring comeback. Under the heading “you can’t fight city hall,” I’ve decided to figure out how to tweak the style to make it more, well, chic.
Limit the number of patterns — especially floral patterns
You know I love mixing patterns, Gentle Readers! But as you also know, I urge you to mix types of patterns as well as the scale. A large floral print wallpaper with narrow-stripe sofa pillows, for example. But a hallmark of granny chic is piling on the florals. More is more. So Step # 1 in chic-i-fying a granny look is to limit the florals and make sure you have enough solids in the room. Let things breeeeeeeathe.
Ditch the skirted sinks…at least in the bathroom
It’s a cute idea, and I understand the urge to prettify an outdated wall-mounted sink or unattractive pedestal. (I also understand the need for hidden storage.) HOWEVER, the idea of fabric next to a toilet makes me cringe.
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Cute, yes. Sanitary? Hmmm. Beyond a window treatment, a shower curtain provides quite enough fabric in a bathroom, thank you very much. (Especially because you know it’s washable. Or dry-cleanable, in the case of a custom curtain.)
If you cannot resist the urge to skirt, a kitchen or a laundry room is a better idea. Consider a performance fabric, which is more resistant to water and stains. Performance fabrics are available in so many cute patterns now!
Tip: install an under-counter curtain with a tension rod, snaps, or velcro, not glue (!!) to make washing easier. Use cold water but know that shrinking is inevitable. And you’ll have to iron, but I find that quite relaxing. Do your linen napkins while you’re at it ;)
Make wall hangings paper
Sometimes, ya got a big wall to fill. And you either don’t have big enough art, enough art, or the patience to experiment with peel ‘n stick wallpaper. (Points to you for not defaulting to a huge mirror.)
Thus, a single large…something.
An acrylic crocheted blanket is the ultimate in granny, but I don’t know that it ever qualified as chic, whether it was on a sofa or a wall. I don’t believe this warrants a conversation: don’t do it.
Ditto the “bohemian tapestry.” We liked them in high school, but…no. We’re too old and too unironic.
Instead, we are fortunate to have an array of paper wall hangings on the market right now! Murals on paper, really. Our colleague Emma just installed this piece in her new house, and I think it looks fantastic! It’s a chinoiserie-esque pattern that sets the palette for the room. (No other critiques of the room, please. She knows it’s a work in progress!)
Use ruffles judiciously
I’m talking primarily about ruffled skirts on sofas, chairs, and ottomans.
Please note that I said judiciously, not do not use. Ruffled skirts are wonderfully soft and feminine, and they can be hugely appealing in the right context.
We once presented a lovely client with skirting options for some chairs, and she said something to the effect of, “Ruffled, obviously!” I love her for that! I think we achieved a chic-i-fied granny chic look, and here’s why: a) the ruffled chairs are in a bedroom; b) the pastel color palette is unified and quiet; and c) the patterns are coordinated, a nice mix of geometrics and florals.
If a skirted piece of furniture is called for — if you want to add mass to a piece (useful especially in a huge room), or make the room feel cozy — consider a different type of skirt. A flat skirt with tailored corners, for example:
Or a fully pleated skirt:
You see the throughline, don’t you, Gentle Readers? Making “granny chic” more streamlined and current is a subtractive, not additive process. I hope I haven’t discouraged you from experimenting with patterns, wall hangings, and ruffles. I like many elements of “granny chic…” just not all together.
Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, D.C., but we also love working in NYC and on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. We’re now scheduling projects for late fall. Please contact us to discuss.
