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If you're looking for kitchen design inspiration, head to your grandmother's house. Experts say more and more people are looking to create kitchens that are cozy, functional, and filled with personal touches—just like grandma's place. The grandmacore design trend is taking over today's kitchens. If you don't believe us, just look at the data: A recent trend report from Pinterest confirms that the “grandmacore kitchen” aesthetic is gaining momentum, with searches for the style up +545% on Pinterest.
Leaning into this trend is all about finding pieces that feel meaningful to you, from framed artwork to vintage serving trays. Searching through thrift and antique stores for charming pieces is a great place to start. If you're lucky, maybe you even have a few treasures in that box of stuff your grandparents gave you.
This trend echoes a larger shift designers are seeing towards personality-driven design. Rather than opting for a minimalist vibe, more and more people are opting to fill their homes with color, art, and texture. Just look at the retro design trends that are back in style, from patterned wallpaper to decorative molding to gallery walls.
Below, experts share everything to know about the grandmacore design trend that's taking over modern kitchens.
Why is “Grandmacore Kitchen” Trending?
“These kitchens evoke nostalgia and familiar memories, often reminding people of the homes they grew up in, and the warmth of spaces that feel lived-in, while still allowing for individual style,” says Sydney Stanback, Pinterest’s global trends and insights lead. “Rather than striving for a picture-perfect, all-white kitchen, Pinners are embracing spaces with character and charm that reflect who they are.”
Stanback also believes the trend has lasting power. Rather than taking on a gut renovation, the social media platform has noticed that people are seeking “personal, low-lift ways to transform their spaces.”
How to Get the Look
If you’re up for giving this buzzy kitchen design style a try, consider these tips from designer Katie Goodrich of Ivory & Bone Interiors:
✔️ Aim for a collected feel. Grandma would never decorate her kitchen quickly, right? This style calls for taking your time to find the right decor, whether you’re looking for mismatched dishware, decorative accents, or vintage-inspired lighting for your space. “Grandmacore allows for a slow incorporation of homey accessories,” Goodrich explains.
✔️ Shop for antiques. One of the best ways to steal the look is by shopping at antique fairs or online retailers (sites like Chairish, 1stDibs, and Facebook Marketplace are great places to start). You can easily find one-of-a-kind pieces that can add a special touch to your kitchen. “They are a goldmine for understated vintage frames, aged table lamps, and a vintage floor mat for your sink,” Goodrich says. She also recommends looking out for items like pot racks featuring aged copper, rustic plate racks, or hobnail or milk glass sconces with aged brass accents.
✔️ Weave in artwork. “Hang small-scale prints framed with thin wood behind your stove or leaning on your windowsill (glass is optional),” Goodrich says. Keep an eye out for nature-inspired pieces or consider framing one of your grandmother’s recipes.
✔️ Don’t go overboard. Goodrich warns against taking the aesthetic too far. You should still aim to outfit your kitchen with items that hold meaning for you. “Collect items that you LOVE. Don’t get too theme-y just because it fits in your Pinterest board. Each individual piece needs to mean something, either in your soul or truly beautiful to your eye. That way, you will keep these pieces forever and incorporate them strategically as trends go in and out with the tide,” Goodrich says.
