If you spend any time online looking at design inspiration, you may begin to realize that a lot of people try to recreate that iconic lived-in-comfortable-coastal-chicness that is synonymous with a Nancy Meyers movie set. And no room is more beloved and recreated than the Nancy Meyers kitchen, which feels like a main character of the plot in and of itself. There are reasons people love them and endlessly want to capture the vibes, but let me tell you: It’s not as straightforward as it looks.

One quick search on Instagram will lead you to hundreds, if not thousands, of beautiful kitchen spaces emblazoned with scripty titles bearing the Nancy Meyers name, but imho, most of them miss the mark. Here’s the thing: The “Nancy Meyers kitchen” works because it feels authentic. It’s imperfect in its utter perfection. No influencer with their laundry list of Amazon affiliate links to glass cannisters, hand-crank brass pepper mills, and scallop-edged cutting board sets is steering you in the right direction.

The genius of a Nancy Meyers kitchen is that no two are alike. They give you that same feeling, time after time, movie after movie, but if you compare Something’s Gotta Give side by side with It’s Complicated, and even further back, Father of the Bride, you can see that they aren’t some Instagram-perfect replicas of each other. Sure, there are copper pots, rattan, slipcovers, and polished-nickel bridge kitchen faucets, but none of them are the pristine white-cabinet-doning, blue-and-white-ceramic-sporting spaces content creators pretend they are.

Let me show you:

Something’s Gotta Give:

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The kitchen in this movie is perhaps one of the most classic Nancy Meyers designs (RIP Diane Keaton, I can’t believe you’re gone). White shaker cabinets, white subway tile, honed black (what I’m assuming is) soapstone countertops, glass-front uppers, lamps, tons of books, lemons in a bowl (always), some random clock, and her signature hefty and somewhat industrial pendant lighting.

It’s Complicated:

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As much as I loved the Something’s Gotta Give kitchen, this room from It’s Complicated (all hail Meryl Streep) may have started everyone’s obsession—including my own—with the Nancy Meyers kitchen. There was just something about that freestanding marble island and the dining table at arm’s length that made this room feel like a place where life happens. There are two kitchen carts (one next to the island, one on the left side of the wall) that I promise you’d never see in a “designer” picture-perfect kitchen, and I love that for this set. A melange of cookware above the range, counters full of everyday items like a coffee machine, toaster, pantry dry goods, and beyond, feels lived in and like this is a very active kitchen with no time to put away the flour.

Father of the Bride (Slide #4):

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Feel free to look at all the slides here, but for this portion, I’m referencing slide four. I actually used to live just a few minutes away from the exterior of the Father of the Bride house (and Jess lives even closer currently, lucky girl), and every time I would drive by, I’d swoon. It’s equally as gorgeous in person as it was in that movie decades ago. Key here is the butcher block counters all around, the straightward white cabinetry, and sooo much out on the countertops that is incredibly charming in a movie, but might make me itch IRL. Regardless, I adore this home.

The Holiday:

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This is perhaps the last coveted Nancy Meyers kitchen, but probably only because it’s the smallest and most “approachable.” It’s still so lovely with plenty of takeaways. A kitchen with a fireplace in its footprint is serious design goals, and I’m taking note of all the platters and crocks and tureens in the shelving above it. Another kitchen cart adds storage (the kitchen cart or freestanding island is a signature of this look, if you haven’t gathered), a compact and humble eat-in kitchen table and chairs with tied-on seat cushions add practicality for a small cottage, and a chalky blue paint color with matching wood knobs is timeless. She used a similar blue cabinetry and knob design in Hallie’s Napa home kitchen from The Parent Trap.

The Intern:

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This kitchen, from the movie The Intern with Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro (which is fabulous if you haven’t seen it), is the most “modern” and tidy design in this lot. It feels almost Parisian in style, though it’s meant to be in Brooklyn. You can see the pendant lighting is similar to the ones in Something’s Gotta Give, a deep dusty blue is used on the cabinets, and plenty is put on display. Nancy Meyers simply does not believe in the concept of empty countertops and enviable org (because that would look quite boring on film, I think).

Now that we’re studied up, I’m going to walk you through three moodboards I put together that can be used as inspiration for the foundation of this style of kitchen. I say “foundation” because the very thing that makes a Nancy Meyers kitchen a Nancy Meyers kitchen is everything else in the space. Real olive oil and vinegar bottles (not decanted into some beautiful thing) bunched together near the stove. Rugged cutting boards, copper pots hung from the ceiling or above the range that look like someone is actually using them (and DO use them!). The coffee maker is out on the counter, not shamefully hidden in an appliance garage. Utensil holders are crammed full of wooden spoons and spatulas. Cookbooks of all ages and sizes are stuffed in a corner somewhere.

That’s what makes it comfortable. These kitchens wear their imperfections with pride, yes, even if most of them are in what would be million-dollar homes in the real world. Nothing is “curated” or purposefully aesthetic. They are well designed, of course, but without the fussy and pristine styling we’re so used to seeing these days in design content. And frankly, I think that’s why we love them. Because they give you permission to stop thinking so hard about what you leave out on your counters or on your shelves. A collection of mismatched mugs? Sure, rock them. A small table lamp on the counter and a clip-on task light above your range? Chic and functional at the same time.

And all of this said, *you* are going to be the missing piece to all my moodboards below. YOUR stuff, your condiments and salts and cooking tools and rolling pins and kitchen towels and favorite cut flowers and bowls of fruits. None of these will fully be true to the Nancy Meyers name because they won’t have a human element. But what they will do is help you get closer, because even though I said people struggle to nail the look online, there are definitely bullet points you can hit, including:

• Industrial or lantern-style pendant lights
• Bridge faucets (in polished nickel or aged brass)
• Freestanding kitchen carts and islands
• Butcher block, Carrera marble, or soapstone countertops (opt for a traditional eased edge, or a more ornate double ogee or coved Dupont edge profile)
• Cup-style cabinet pulls in aged brass, polished nickel, or oil-rubbed bronze
• Simple but special tile backsplashes
• Comfortable dining tables in timeless styles
• Rattan, slipcovered or spindle-back dining chairs
• The extras: Copper cookware, white ceramics, well-loved cutting boards, tea kettles, drip coffee makers, wooden cooking tools, linen accents, functional industrial elements, condiments in original bottles, pretty but simple glassware, serving ware put on display, etc.

Now let’s put this to paper with real shoppable products:

Nancy Meyers Kitchen: Rental Kitchen or Budget Refresh

Pendant Light | Polished Nickel Kitchen Faucet | Butcher Block Island | Peel & Stick Delft-Inspired Backsplash | Black & White Peel & Stick Floor | Butcher Block Counter | Brass Cup Pull | Dining Table | Rattan Dining Chair

As someone who has only ever rented *and* doesn’t have a huge budget right now to invest a large amount of money into a kitchen overhaul, I wanted to start with this version. Almost everything here is reversible, with the exception of the countertops, which, of course, are not renter-friendly, but they sure are budget-conscious if you’re looking for that angle here. That pendant light is less than $200 (and I might be eyeing it for my own breakfast nook!). There are cheaper kitchen faucet options, but this is one of those things that you don’t want to totally skimp on. If you’re interested in swapping out your faucet, earmarking at least $300 for it is ideal for something that won’t be peeling or spraying you in the face in a few months. Not a cute look, trust me.

If your countertops are staying put because of budget or rental status, you can bring in that homey kitchen vibe with a small island like this one from Wayfair. I love the built-in storage baskets and hooks for hanging cooking utensils. Oh, and those two surfaces you see are both peel-and-stick from Chasing Paper. I just love the Delft-inspired one for a backsplash that can go right over whatever you have, as long as it isn’t overly textured. And the black-and-white one can go on the floor for a super classic look. Both have creamy ivory tones, so nothing is stark white (Nancy Meyers loves a warm glowy white.) Affordable IKEA cup pulls are easy to install and remove for whenever your lease is up, and the dining table and rattan chairs are great either in an adjacent eat-in kitchen or separate dining room, too.

Nancy Meyers Kitchen: Mid-Range DIY Makeover

Lantern Pendant | Wood Freestanding Island | Brass Faucet | Glazed White Backsplash Tile | Soapstone Countertop | Ivory Cabinet Paint Color | Oil-Rubbed Bronze Cup Pull | Slipcover Dining Chair | Wood Dining Table

Here’s a slightly more coastal vibe (minus the blues), thanks in part to the slipcover chair, the creamy white paint color that you can use to paint your own existing cabinetry, and the oil-rubbed bronze hardware. And that tile looks so good and hand-glazed for under $10 a square foot. Traditional soapstone countertops mimic the Something’s Gotta Give home (keep them honed and matte for a low-maintenance approach); an aged brass faucet is a nice marriage with the hardware for a not overly matchy-matchy look. I went with two wood tones between the table and the island because these spaces often look like they were pieced together and collected over time. Oh, and that Pooky lantern would be gorgeous above a room with slate or even terra-cotta brick floors (and it’s very affordable, too).

Nancy Meyers Kitchen: High-End Full Reno

Range | Pendant | French Gold Kitchen Faucet | Black Spindle Dining Chair | Wood Dining Table | Polished Nickel Cup Pull | Kitchen Cabinetry | Tile Backsplash | Marble Countertop | Marble-Topped Freestanding Island

And finally, the full monty, the cherry-toned sundae, the, well…you get the point. The apex of the Nancy Meyers kitchen moodboards had to include actual cabinetry, a marble-topped island, and an enviable range. For the cabinetry, I pulled a style from CliqStudios that felt classic thanks to the mitered interior molding and a flat-front drawer. A dusty blue would have been stunning here, or a soft linen white as shown. The spindle back dining chairs remind me of the breakfast nook in Father of the Bride, and are a more traditional take on the spindle chairs in It’s Complicated. Polished nickel cabinet hardware adds some crispness, and the French gold faucet is light and airy but will age beautifully. And here’s an actual tile in a similar Delft-style, which would be stunning either across the whole kitchen or even just as a feature wall above the range. Carrara or Calacatta marble is clutch to the high-end look, and the solid wood table is something that will look good and timeless basically forever.

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Alright, my comfort movie-loving friends. We’ve reached the end. Much like a Nancy Meyers movie, it’s hard to leave this world of effortless home beauty, but I hope I did justice to the look and helped you understand what levels up the foundation to truly nail the aesthetic. Remember, it’s all about you and your things, and don’t be afraid to leave all the things you love and use frequently out on the counter. After all, I just know Nancy would encourage that for a good shot. 🙂

Until next time…

Can’t get enough of Nancy Meyers? Jess helped a reader get the look in their living room, and I wrote a longer deep-dive feature on the look last year you can dig through. Enjoy!

Opening Image Credits: Design & Styling by Orlando Soria | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: At Long Last! The Londo Lodge Kitchen Is Ready For Her Close Up FOUR YEARS Later!