The distinctive interior design style popularized in films such as "The Holiday," "It's Complicated," and "Something's Gotta Give" can be recreated at home, according to Annie Meyers-Shyer, daughter of director Nancy Meyers and an interior designer herself.
Meyers-Shyer, who co-authored "The Oak House: A Renovation Story With Interiors To Inspire Your Own Home," shared her approach to achieving this aesthetic, which she describes as "effortless luxury." Her own home, a five-bedroom 1940s California house dubbed "The Oak House," serves as an example of this style, featuring creamy neutral palettes, abundant bookshelves, and inviting bedrooms.
Paint Palette
Meyers-Shyer advocates for warm, inviting, and elegant paint colors, shunning both bold hues and stark whites. Her preference leans towards "cashmere shades" over "cotton." She emphasizes the timelessness of neutral tones, suggesting they allow a home to adapt as a family grows. Specific paint color recommendations include Farrow & Ball's Dorset Cream and Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee. She advises testing white paints on an entire wall before committing, as they can appear brighter on a large surface than on a small swatch. For ceilings, she suggests using a shade lighter than the walls, or the chosen wall color mixed at 50% strength, to create a softer, more expansive feel. She also favors a brush-applied finish for woodwork, believing the visible brushstrokes add character and texture. For those who find a preferred color but desire a different depth, she suggests asking paint suppliers to adjust the pigment, often by around 25 percent, to achieve a tailored yet original finish.
Styling Shelves
Shelves in a Meyers-inspired home are not meant to be empty but are integrated into the room's design, filled with books and decorative objects. Meyers-Shyer suggests starting with a clear shelf and grouping items by category—books, artwork, decorative objects, trays, vessels, and keepsakes. The arrangement process involves mixing horizontal and vertical book stacks, allowing items to lean naturally to create a relaxed, lived-in feel, and discouraging color-coding. Decorative objects, such as sculptural finds, framed artwork leaned against the back, or collections like matchbooks, are layered on top of book stacks. The key is to vary height, scale, and texture to create balance across the entire shelf composition rather than focusing on individual shelves.
Floral Arrangements
Fresh flowers are presented as a supporting element, with a preference for using multiple vases rather than a single one. The aim is to evoke a feeling of having just gathered blooms from the garden. Meyers-Shyer champions mono-bloom arrangements, where a single variety of flower takes center stage for a clean, elegant display. She recommends arranging flowers in odd numbers—three, five, or seven stems—for a more organic and natural look. Unexpected vessels such as pitchers and jars, often sourced from vintage markets or charity shops, can be used in place of traditional vases. To achieve a relaxed silhouette, she advises varying stem lengths, generally cutting them to about one and a half times the height of the vase.
Bedroom Comfort
Comfortable layers are essential for bedrooms, including crisp white sheets, plush duvets, and an abundance of pillows. Meyers-Shyer suggests investing in a quality mattress, recommending trying different options in person and noting brands that offer trial periods. High-thread-count cotton sheets, in either sateen (for a silky finish) or percale (for a crisp, cool feel), are recommended for their luxurious feel and improving softness over time. If space permits, she advises adding an armchair or chaise longue to create a private retreat. Bedside tables should be kept uncluttered, with only essentials like a book, water carafe, a small dish for jewelry, and a lamp within easy reach.
