Anne Hathaway’s Whimsical Breakfast Nook is Breathtakingly Calm – and it’s Inspiring us to Re-Think Our Under-Used Spaces
Natural materials, soothing paint colors, and an indoor-outdoor aesthetic make for a wonderfully serene space
Far from the glamor of her Hollywood life, Anne Hathaway has shown us that her taste in home decor has a far calmer and dreamier aesthetic. Namely, we've fallen head over heels with her Southern Californian breakfast nook, which is not only light and airy but styled with beautifully crafted furniture and punctuated by whimsical details, such as scenic wallpaper set into the wood panelling.
Designed by Pamela Shamshiri of Los Angeles’ Studio Shamshiri, the brief for the 1906 Swiss chalet-style property was to inject it with sophistication, magic, and fun, and these elegant breakfast nook ideas certainly capture that spirit.
The former home of both Yves Saint Laurent and film director Wes Anderson, the Myron Hunt-built house already had great bones – but we're loving how Anne Hathaway and Pamela Shamshiri have used calming paint colors and natural materials and textures to create a wonderfully relaxing space.
The custom-made seating booth with its inlaid wallpaper panels and collection of scatter cushions in complementary shades feels so artisanal, while the juxtaposition of the statement chairs in contrast to the heavy dark wood table is a lesson in how to mix different woods like a designer.
On that note, I love the mid-century modern aesthetic of the beautiful mismatched Carlo De Carli for Cassina chairs – a full set is available at 1st Dibs, but if you want to celebrate quintessential Italian craftsmanship, like Anne Hathaway, it comes with a hefty price tag. However, you can get the look for less with these similar Damon Cafe dining chairs from West Elm.
Anne Hathaway's kitchen features the same kitchen cabinet color combinations as seen in the breakfast nook – soft, powdery blue-greens – as well as the untreated wood ceilings and board and batten detail, creating a feeling of consistency and flow throughout her dining spaces.
What we love most though about the breakfast nook is how the designer has honed in on the biggest selling point of the space – that fabulous view with a banquette-style window seat idea. It's not only space saving but a wonderful way to enhance an under-used space, such as a bay window, and create your own calming breakfast nook.
Shop Calming Breakfast Nook Essentials
If you're thinking about recreating a breakfast nook like Anne Hathaway's, these pieces, which pick out her calming color palette, are a wonderful starting point.
Pick out the soft blue-green shade in Anne Hathaway's breakfast nook with accessories like this throw cushion, which is made from wonderfully tactile velvet to enhance the comfort factor.
This simple but elegant bowl makes a beautiful centerpiece for your breakfast table – pile it high with fresh, seasonal fruit for a subtle and natural display and pick our matching dark wood tones in furniture.
These are the exact chairs used in Anne Hathaway's breakfast nook, by designer Carlo De Carli, and this set of six is an investment, but if you love mid-century Italian design, they're sure to become treasured heirloom pieces.
This handy peel and stick wallpaper leans into the naturalistic look of Anne Hathaway's breakfast nook and is ideal for getting creative with panelling to achieve the feeling of bringing the outside in.
If you can't stretch to Italian designer furniture like Anne Hathaway, these mid-century style chairs are a pretty close match and you can choose from two different woods and up to 57 different fabrics.
This contemporary pendant light is inspired by the organic shape of raindrops, and is another way to bring natural influences into your calming breakfast nook, just like Anne Hathaway.
If you don't have the space for a calming breakfast nook like Anne Hathaway's, there are plenty of other clever and creative ways to use unloved areas in your home, however small. Take a look at our piece on coffee station ideas for a small but satisfying breakfast moment.
