It was 7:30 am on a Sunday morning. I waited to make the announcement until Brian was fully pacified by a cup of coffee, had two news articles under his belt, and the kids properly fed and watching cartoons. I started out with, Brian, I need to tell you something.
Brian: Uh-huh?
Me: I think we need a floral sofa. (pause) A floral sofa would solve all my problems.
Brian: UhHUH
Im not going to bore you with our relationship history because its fraught and tedious, but we have been fighting since day one stylistically and Ive never walked in and said: Hell, yes. Just to be clear, Im talking about the relationship between me and my living room (not Brian). I previously thought that I went too traditional in this 100-year-old house, and have been trying to pull myself back ever since. Now realize that I didnt go far enough. If I really want to channel my inner Eccentric English Grandma (and I do) then I need to get far more eclectic and odd. This is not the Grandmillenial trend that has been popping up although I will always regret that I didnt come up with that term myself. Its cooler than that, weirder, and yet more modern (no offense to all you millennial grandmas (??)).
So what is Eccentric English Grandma? Well, its super eclectic, very collected, full of stories some safe, some inappropriate. There is an I dont care because Im on my way out vibe about it, which you could also interpret as brave, risky, and full of confidence. It does not look designed, only lived in and loved. I picture her just a touch senile, with a dirty martini in her hand, perhaps some sort of old Hollywood headpiece, and head to toe in patterned clothes. She freely tells us about her affair with Wes Anderson (a younger man! Grandma!) and maybe she has tons of cash hidden around the house. But shes a little old world too she loves a floral print, shes always ready to put the kettle on and share some well earned life experience, and her shelves are stuffed with souvenirs from decades of travel. My friends love her, and my kids cant wait to visit her because surely she will tell them something they are far too young to hear.
Shes cool.
So how do you define such uniqueness? I am going to try. Lets break down the elements of what Im calling a new/old trend Eccentric English Grandma.
Mixing Multiple Patterned Furniture Pieces
You walk into her home and you are excited because the lady is either colorblind or BRAVE. She mixes so many patterns and has zero rules. But despite it seeming like she is patterning with reckless abandon, she does have some tricks up her sleeves. Lets dive into what they are.
Delicate Prints
While she isnt opposed to bolder graphic patterns, she is pretty into the smaller, more delicate patterns and prints. Small prints are back and its been a while. Since the 80s Id say (perhaps since her heyday).
Just because they are delicate doesnt mean she uses them delicately. She repeats the SAME pattern while mixing in others. If you like something, why not love it even more?
So Many Florals
While delicate prints and patterns are king, florals are the crowned jewels. And it feels about time (if you ask grandma and me). Finally, florals are having a modern moment in furniture, and I want more, and more, and more. Who would have guessed this would be THE trend of 2020? Granda could have.
Here the designers played with mixing floral scales in the same color palette. It keeps your eye happy and interested. EEG (Eccentric English Grandma) APPROVED.
This is true modern floral perfection. So now what we have our prints locked down, lets move on. Grab your martini.
Decorative Lampshades
Whether pleated, fabric, patterned or tapered, she uses lampshades as an opportunity to add some serious texture, dimension, color, and pattern. She always says, lampshades are like the rug of the face. Oh, Grandma. That is utter nonsense. Lets see if we can decode what shes talking about, yes?
Pleated Shades
Im ordering one of these right now. Pleated shades had a breakout moment last year, but now they are a 2020 staple. Bu-bye drum and hello seemingly unnecessary, decorative shade. Remember when minimalism was so big like two years ago? HA.
They evoke feelings of yesterday and yet are so stunningly fresh and modern. Ok, next up
Patterned Fabric Shades
It takes bravery to go so old world with a patterned fabric shade. But there is something so warm, inviting, eclectic and just weird about it.
I want to be in that room so badly. I feel happier just looking at it. Gingham on gingham, guys. Gingham. On. Gingham.
While Im not yet into monogramming pillows, I sure do like the Wes Anderson vibe of the headboard/wall/lampshade fabric. Grandma would be very into this as it is a true design rule breaker. And she loves a hit of animal print. Thats probably where we divide.
Pleated and Patterned Fabric Shades
Why not take both of these awesome looks and put them together. As grandma says, more is more is best. Grandma, how many martinis have you had and can I have one?
Ruffles/Fringe/Skirts
Nobody here is shocked that I love a ruffled bed skirt (or a good couch skirt). Sure, the mountain house screamed simplicity with the architecture and neutral decor, but as a style polygamist this granny was screaming, why so boring??? (FYI, I dont think its boring, just a different vibe for the function of that house which is calm and relaxation. Shut it, grandma).
A bed or couch skirt is innately whimsical and I am highly considering one for the house. Can you guess which room??
Color: Via Painted Walls Or In The Furniture
The all-white wall movement still works in the right space, but in an old house (specifically in a grayer climate like England, or say Portland) you want and need cozy and moody colors. The stimulation and mood-enhancing properties of said colors will change your day to day attitude. Plus, bold colors are so fun.
Take these two rooms for example. They still would have been pretty if the cabinetry and walls were white but with the green they are serious showstoppers.
Now, its no secret that I love red, and its not going away. Its my full-time job right now to try to find the right room to paint red in my house. Perhaps the kids room door and trim? Half wall? Its an absolute burst of energy and bravery right, grandma?
Colorful walls, check. Now its time to top off those drinks and get into my last EEG topic
Antique Frames For Art
While I love the simple grid of art and all matching frames, for the right place, the antique frames and seemingly randomness of the art certainly makes it feel forever lived in. Also, please note the plaid sofa with a ruffle skirt. Also please note the white walls with the gray trim just like Sara did and wrote about this week. Ok, lets look at more awesome vintage frames.
You can go for the same colored vintage frame like those gold-gilded guys in the photos above. OR you can mix and match frame materials, frame widths and obviously sizes. Also, always be sure to mix up the types of art. Use photos, drawings, paintings, etc. Grandma would NOT approve of the one medium look.
Now that you have all the info of where I am headed (design-wise) I have a fun fact about me that I havent told you (I dont think). My great Aunt Flossy moved in with us when I was 8, she was 88 years old. My parents barely knew her but we were the only relatives she had. She lived through the great depression, served in World War 1 and 2 as a nurse, went to college and taught elementary school for decades, never having kids herself. By the time she came to us, she had Alzheimers, a lot of facial hair, and spit on the floor all day. At the time I was a child, then a teenager, so my understanding of her life was immature at best. She lived with us until she was 101 YEARS OLD. I had already left for college. She wasnt the eccentric grandma that Im writing about today, but she had stories. She didnt care what other people thought. She lived far more, worked far harder, and endured far more than my muse today. I would have liked to know her before she had Alzheimers. And while I dont think she cared about decor (she was more into hoarding away every penny in case of emergency), this is for her. I see you now, Aunt Flossy and Ive started telling my kids the story of your life. Im grateful for your strange but now positive impact on my life.
SO. Like I said this is the direction we are going and I want your thoughts.
Are you into this wacky, eccentric English grandma (Aunt Flossy?) Im headed fast and hard into this for our 100-year-old English Tudor. It feels so good to be SO excited again about this living room, and honesty the whole house. Expect an English accent in my insta stories soon
The post New (Old) Trend Alert The Eccentric (And Perhaps Senile) English Grandma and How Im Going To Use It in Our Home appeared first on Emily Henderson.