Have you ever heard of a Grandmillennial? If you have not, it is because it is a relatively new term coined by this House Beautiful article by Emma Bazilian published late last year.
A Grandmillennial is someone “Ranging in age from mid-20s to late-30s, grandmillennials have an affinity for design trends considered by mainstream culture to be “stuffy” or “outdated”—Laura Ashley prints, ruffles, embroidered linens,” writes Emma.
After I read this article I realized… OH, THAT IS ME! I have ALWAYS been a Grandmillennial! I knew there were other people my age who were anti-minimalism and into new traditional decor!
We like toile, chintz, ruffles, lace, wallpaper, embroidered linens, slipcovers, needlepoint, antique china, silver and shy away from the trendy mid-century modern, farmhouse and other new decorating trends.
Grandmillennials are all about layered and “cluttered” looks – not all bright white rooms in the same monochromatic color palette. Not that there’s anything wrong with that style, but it’s not Grandmillennial style!
Grandmillennial style is considered “granny chic” – what our grandma’s would decorate with. Except I find this term is a misnomer for several reasons:
1. It is more like great-great-granny chic. I don’t know about you, but our Grandma’s of today decorated with well, items from the 1940s and 1950s— what is currently making up the trend of mid-century modern. Don’t believe me? Check out what you mainly see in antique malls— so much mid century.
2. I think calling it Granny chic is a bit insulting to the both the younger AND older ladies out there. To the older ladies, it is insulting to consider what they have likely decorated their whole life as “granny” or “old lady”… and to the young ladies, it is not cute to call them a “granny” because they like timeless decor!
For me, the GRAND in Grandmillenial comes from this: we like GRAND rooms… color, patterns, layered looks! Really, just timeless decor. Doesn’t matter your age, really!
The article defines Grandmillennials as a design trend, but to me, it isn’t a trend at all! My style has been influenced starting at a young age when I would go with my parents to estate sales. You see, back then (mid 1980s), what was going up for sale is what was collected at turn of the of the century- many pieces from 1880s-1920s.
Have a piece of brown furniture? Grandmillennials will let the woodwork shine.
I love all of the antique porcelain and china! I love the antique linens, the inlayed furniture. My childhood bedroom was wallpapered in a Mario Buatta chintz!
I was thinking though, what is it REALLY that a Grandmillenial is… it is someone born in the Millennial Generation that just likes classic and timeless interiors and style.
If you like timeless interiors and style, we really appreciate the same things but perhaps are just born from different generations.
I am in my mid 40’s and I love GRAND everything! Mirrors, furniture, everything really… I shop antique stores, auctions, and estate sales. I love painted furniture for others, but for me, all of my furniture has carved details and none of it is painted. I have doilies, detailed silver candle sticks, and french pleat curtains… some of my friends call me an old soul, I do not care for the trends. I am who I am… Frank Sinatra filtering through my home, Christmas? Why yes, I do love going over the top. I do not care what people think… we have an old English Cottage and I have filled it to the brim with antiques. 🙂 I shiver when people mention shopping IKEA and other like minded furniture stores. Bring on the grand old pieces that will last the test of time.
Author
Yes, you like what you like, regardless of trends! I love MORE is MORE!
Hello, Bon Jour! I’m 59 and seems like yesterday my mom was decorating with chintz and purchasing all of the beautiful French country antiques that I’ve since inherited. Unfortunately, I have too many windows and not enough walls for her gorgeous armoirs and kitchen hutch, but am making do. Just love your blog, I stumbled on it today while looking at kitchen designs. Thank you for giving me hope that my mid-20s girls will one day come back to a more traditional design standard. I can’t store some of this furniture forever while waiting for the Chip and Jo show to fade away. (Not that I don’t like them, but once you have the really good stuff, you’re not going over to the farmhouse style).
Author
Welcome to my blog!! One thing about the houses of today I noticed is with the open space concept there are not enough walls in the house to display all the artwork and put hutches and furniture against! Keep the furniture in storage for now… what is old is always new again! I do like chip and Joanna especially in their earlier days because they did use more antique pieces in their houses, but now they have developed their own line and it’s all new and looks all the same as the other stores.