Why ‘Coastal Grandpa’ Is the Hottest Design Trend for 2024

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Every time we turn around, a new “design trend” emerges without warning. While we think they can be fun to watch and incorporate in small ways (looking at you, Addamscore and Barbiecore), we typically eschew trendy pieces in favor of more classic, storied ones that will remain timeless for years to come. Rarely does a design trend come along that makes us want to redecorate our entire home—until now. Enter our current obsession: coastal grandpa.

One of last year’s biggest design trends, coastal grandma, was imbued by serene blues and whites, natural materials, breezy linen and beachy touches. Championed by Nancy Meyers’ interiors as well as home brands such as Serena & Lily, the preppy, TikTok-approved aesthetic seemed to be everywhere. While we love the breezy living vibe of coastal grandma—especially for summer—the change of seasons has us ready for more patterns, depth, and moodiness.

Even Etsy is getting on board with a more masculine spin on the coastal grandma trend. In their 2023 holiday trends report, they predicted that ‘grandpa chic’ items—or those with rich tones and a sense of history and comfort—would take off during the last few months of the year. The site has seen an increased demand for leather home accessories (searches for leather poufs have reportedly tripled leading up to the holidays), and searches for wood and marble coasters have more than quadrupled.

But we predict the coastal grandpa trend is here to stay long past the holiday season. This layered look—characterized by saturated colors, brown furniture, rich leather and classic patterns like tartan, houndstooth, plaid and ticking stripes—is inspired by the rugged and wild coasts of the Scottish Highlands.

It’s not a trendy look that can be achieved from buying some moody-colored home goods at a big-box store; the charm is its inherent patina that only comes from a lifetime of collecting antiques and other treasures (think: bowls filled with restaurant matchbooks, a wall of mounted stag antlers or a library full of favorite tomes). A coastal grandpa house is where you want to escape the drizzly, cold days of fall and winter to curl up with a good book in front of a crackling fire.

No space embodies the coastal grandpa aesthetic quite as well as Dornoch Station, a Marine & Lawn property located in the quaint seaside town of Dornoch, Scotland, adjacent to Royal Dornoch Golf Club (a top-three golf course in the world, which only adds to the coastal grandpa vibe, natch). The property was recently named one of our World's Most Beautiful Hotels for 2023—and it's easy to see why.

When designing Dornoch Station, Krissy Melendez, head of design at AJ Capital Partners, aimed to weave in local tradition and forge a strong sense of place. She says, “We work with historical preservationists on each project to develop our palettes comprised of the deep jewel tones reflected in the local landscape, flora, fauna, and cultural dress.”

For a hotel in the Scottish Highlands, only elements from the coastal grandpa aesthetic would do. Melendez says, “Warm, sumptuous moody lighting complements rich materials to invite and restore its habitants.” She adds, “There is no other feeling more comforting or nostalgic than cozying up in a luscious club chair aside a fireplace after a round of golf. These spaces are built for that exact reminiscing; to reflect on old memories and invite those to make new ones.”

One common theme that runs through the coastal grandpa trend (and is seen throughout Dornoch Station) is the time-honored Scottish tradition of coorie, which translates to “nestle” or “snuggle.” Coorie encourages you to enjoy the simple pleasures in life—especially during this digital age when we’re constantly being bombarded with information and stimulation. Whether it’s lighting a roaring fire, making some mulled wine, or cooking your favorite cozy meal, it’s clear that a coastal grandpa home fosters a coorie-approved lifestyle.

We love this trend and think it has major staying power because it’s polished without feeling pretentious. It has the same easy vibe as the coastal grandma trend, but with a much-needed dose of coziness and a classic vibe that never goes out of style. This trend is meant to be lived with: leather gets softer, brass gets a beautiful patina, fabric becomes a little worn, and your collections only become more layered. Just like your favorite grandpa, it only gets better with age.

Here's how to get the coastal grandpa look for your own home:

Vintage Leather Chesterfield Chair

Recycled Wool Blanket Macdonald Tartan

Antique C.1920s Hand Woven Traditional Oriental Rug

The Coorie Home: Beautiful Scottish Living

Vintage Brass Deer Bowl

Mindthegap Equestrian Plaid Wallpaper

Queen Anne Chairs

Pleated Gingham Lampshade

Nutwood and Alabaster Chandelier

La Barge Hollywood Regency Mirror

Worn Velvet Curtain

Highland Cattle on Moor Oil Painting

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