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to late-30s, grandmillennials have an affinity for design trends considered by mainstream culture to be “stuffy” or “outdated”—Laura Ashley prints, ruffles, embroidered linens,” writes Emma.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.
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