Nerding Out Over Nancy Meyers Kitchens on A Lazy Afternoon

There are certain films you can just stick on and cosy up on a lazy afternoon, Something’s Gotta Give is firmly on that list. I've lost count of how many times I've curled up to watch Nancy Meyers' timeless classic and every single viewing leaves me dreaming about one thing more than anything else, that incredible house.

If you know me IRL or you've followed me for a while, you'll understand why I've been affectionately called a "Coastal Grandmother" more than once, and honestly, I wear the title with pride. Relaxed coastal living would suit me just fine, timeless interiors, fresh flowers, linen, well-loved cookbooks and a home that feels welcoming rather than perfect? Erm yes please.

The Nancy Meyers Kitchen That Started an Obsession

While the entire house is beautiful, it's the kitchen that is coveted by many of us. To this day, I still think Erica Barry’s (played by the legendary Diane Keaton) kitchen is one of the most iconic kitchens ever created for film, rivalled only by the 'It's Complicated' kitchen. Light pours through the windows, the white Shaker cabinetry feels timeless, the black worktops ground the space beautifully and every detail feels collected rather than decorated. It's elegant, warm without feeling cluttered and classic.

Sadly, the kitchen isn't real, although the exterior of the house is an actual property in the Hamptons, every interior room, including that famous kitchen was purpose-built on a California soundstage. Nancy Meyers and Set Decorator Beth Robino and Production Designer Jon Hutman visited countless East Coast homes, photographing the best architectural details before creating what many now consider one of cinema's most beautiful interiors.

Nancy Meyers even revealed that parts of the kitchen were inspired by her own home, explaining that they borrowed favourite windows from one house, doors from another and gradually curated the perfect blend of classic American coastal design.

There are so many elements that have been combined to nail such a classic, timeless style, including the classic white Shaker cabinetry, white subway tiles, large farmhouse sink, glass pendant lighting over the island, built-in shelving for cookbooks, rustic wooden chopping boards and bowls, fresh flowers and of course plenty of natural light. Love it.

The beautiful beach house exterior featured in the film is a real private residence located at 576 Meadow Lane, Southampton, Long Island, New York. Meadow Lane is one of America's most exclusive streets. Unfortunately for fans, the home is privately owned and isn't open to visitors or tours. Exterior filming took place there, but every interior scene amazingly was created on carefully designed film sets.

In many ways, that's reassuring. It reminds us that the magic wasn't about an impossibly expensive house, it was about thoughtful design, proportion, warmth and atmosphere.

Twenty years after Something's Gotta Give was released, people are still recreating Erica Barry's kitchen. Pinterest is full of inspired versions, interior designers still reference it, kitchen companies continue to receive requests for "the Something's Gotta Give kitchen." I completely understand why.

Nancy Meyers has an incredible ability to create homes that become characters in their own right. They're elegant without feeling precious, luxurious without showing off and beautifully layered with books, artwork, flowers and pieces collected over time.

The good news is you don't need a Hamptons beach house to capture the feeling. A few ways to recreate the look include mixing natural woods with crisp whites, cookbooks, ceramics and fresh greenery, using soft linen textiles and timeless lighting, letting natural light become part of the design.

The whole house still embodies everything I love about timeless coastal interiors. Maybe that's why being called a "Coastal Grandmother" has never bothered me, it feels rather fitting. After all, it's less about copying a film set and more about embracing a slower, more relaxed way of living and what could be better than that ey?

It's Complicated Kitchen...

Of course, Something's Gotta Give isn't the only Nancy Meyers home that I've completely fallen for. Every time It's Complicatedis on, I find myself just as distracted by the interiors as I am by the story. Meryl Streep's character, Jane, lives in the most beautiful Santa Barbara-style home, but once again it's the kitchen that steals the show. Warm cream cabinetry, marble worktops, copper pans hanging within easy reach, bowls of lemons, fresh flowers and shelves lined with cookbooks, it feels like a kitchen that has been loved for years rather than styled for a film set.

What I love most about Nancy Meyers' kitchens is that they're never about perfection. They're generous spaces, designed for cooking, baking, gathering and lingering over another cup of coffee. They have a lived-in elegance that feels so inviting, and perhaps that's why they've become so iconic. Whether it's Erica Barry's breezy Hamptons kitchen in Something's Gotta Give or Jane's warm, sun-drenched kitchen in It's Complicated, both remind me that the best homes aren't necessarily the grandest, they're the ones that make everyone feel instantly welcome. I suspect that's why so many of us are still pinning them to Pinterest boards all these years later.