The interiors edit: How to embrace the Nonna Chic trend

Irish Independent

21 hours ago

Live la dolce vita with citrus interiors that riff on a Sicilian summer and channel the traditional charm of Instagram's loveable pasta grannies
The cottagecore grandmother is cooling her heels in her floral kitchen, meanwhile Nonna Chic granny is polishing her Murano glass and folding her vintage napkins in time for big family gatherings this summer.
Meet the latest trend to hit our homes: Nonna Chic, an aesthetic rooted in the warmth, conviviality and traditional home of the Italian matriarch. Who knew Italian 'nonnas' were the new super influencers?
Ever since the culinary wisdom and soothing ravioli-rolling techniques of these 'pasta grannies' hit our Instagram feeds, we've been obsessed. Take a quick glance at @pastagrannies on Instagram, which has amassed over a million followers, and you'll see 84-year-old Sicilian granny Giuseppa making maccheroni, and 92-year-old Pina making chestnut gnocchi, complete with vintage apron and headscarf in a classic Italian kitchen.
It's not just the traditional pasta methods we're drooling over, it's those kitchens: humble and traditional with checked tablecloths and patterned tiles and a smattering of vintage kitchenware, and a worktop sprinkled with flour — it was only a matter of time before their wholesome style gained a certain cachet.
Part of the charm of the Italian nonna aesthetic is rooted in its lived-in feel: that hand-painted bowl from Puglia, an embroidered tablecloth from Palermo — pieces that will revisit your table and home for years to come.
But it's also about that hit of a Sicilian summer in all of its citrus zingy-ness. So if you're dreaming of a summer spent lolling under the Italian sun, Aperol spritz in hand, you can invite some dolce vita vibes with blue and white napkins and lemon jugs, fun sardine-inspired homewares and prints that make you feel you're somewhere south of Sorrento.
A key part of any Italian lifestyle is food and a dining table filled with serveware, vases, and coloured glassware for the large family get-togethers. Penneys's Mediterranean/coastal-style tableware is a sunny hit of sunshine with plenty of beachy charm and nods to the sea across ceramics, glassware and textiles, including sardine trays and side plates, fish-shaped jugs and lemon-shaped vases. Mix it up with its shell-shaped vases and tableware for that more refined Italian style.
Immediately reminiscent of an Italian summer, Maison Flanneur's range of tableware and linens perfectly captures that sweet spot between traditional and modern styles of Italian homewares. 'Puglia' plates and scalloped napkins embroidered with lemons instantly feels like a Sicilian summer table.
Italy's love affair with lemons is a timeless story. Since antiquity, lemons have symbolised prosperity and have long featured in Italian homes, from bedlinen to tableware and statement pieces like Sicilian head vases and large jugs adorned with the citrus fruit. We love Bordallo Pinheiro's citron pitcher or M&S's version for a fraction of the cost.
You could also just hit Bettina Ceramica for all your Italian tableware needs. Inspired by her Ligurian mother Bettina, Natalie Sytner has scoured the country from Sicily to Vento in search of a collection of traditional Italian ceramics that showcase the families and artists keeping the hand-crafted process alive. There are beautiful scalloped cake stands, wall candle holders and hand-painted acquasantiera (holy water stoups) with multi-coloured glazes.
Zara's collections always feel evocative, and its high summer campaign is no exception with homewares which riff on the Med. Think sardine salt and pepper shakers, striped bottle openers and tablecloths and vintage beach umbrellas.
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It's about creating a house that feels 'lived-in', one filled with summer stories and simple pleasures — good food, sunshine and family.