Anne Hathaway's Earthy Green Living Room Corner Perfects the Swiss Chalet Aesthetic – It's the Most Transportive Way to Design in 2026
Moving away from typical bright California aesthetics, Anne embraces botanical hues and cozy textures for an entirely unique nook
When you picture a Hollywood actress's Southern California home, you might envision a bright, modern, oceanfront property – but Anne Hathaway embraces a completely different aesthetic.
Designed by architect Myron Hunt, her SoCal abode draws inspiration from a traditional Swiss chalet. According to interior designer Pamela Shamshiri, this means the home is filled with rich wooden paneling and warm textures. While this Alpine look flows throughout the entire property, nowhere captures it quite as beautifully as Anne Hathaway's living room.
When Studio Shamshiri renovated the 1906 property – which was originally built as a hunting lodge – they aimed to preserve most of its historic architecture. Consequently, the original wood panels remained, establishing a natural, earthy foundation for the room's color palette. While these deep brown tones make the space feel incredibly cocooning, the atmosphere is perfectly balanced by Hathaway's vibrant choice of green furniture.
Shop the Anne Hathaway-Inspired Edit
This sofa checks every single box. It features a stain-resistant velvet, a single continuous bench seat, clean track arms, and a low-slung, ultra-cozy profile.
The most striking element of the lamp in Anne's living room is the pleated empire silhouette, and this captures this exact architectural shape perfectly. The structured folds of its pleated cream shade mirror the same high-end feeling of the one in her living room.
The Cora pillow is celebrated for its refined finish that plays beautifully against a velvety surface. Layering it onto the rich, deep olive or moss green velvet sofa creates immediate depth, matching the high-end comfort of a relaxed California lodge.
The Anthro Shade features an artistic, stylized print. Because the prints are distinct but share a graphic, hand-carved, Arts-and-Crafts textile heritage, they won't clash. Instead, they interact exactly like the piece in Anne’s home.
This natural wood rounded table adds a warming twist to a '70s-inspired Alpine scheme. Its superior construction and stylish look are perfect for a living room, especially when decorated with books like Anne's.
If you look closely at Anne's room, the curtains have a heavy, primitive texture rather than a flat, shiny fabric. These curtains are crafted with a textured linen-polyester weave for a similar tactile look.
As we enjoy the bright warmth of summer 2026, bringing the lushness of nature indoors feels more relevant than ever. Green continues to dominate interior design trends this season, and there is no better way to introduce the hue than through a major statement piece like a sofa. David Harris, the design director of the global design house Andrew Martin, agrees.
'The color palette for sofas is all about evoking a sense of warmth. We're seeing a resurgence of rich and earthy tones,' he says. Among the most celebrated of these shades is 'lush green' – a tone that looks particularly beautiful against dark wooden browns or rustic brickwork. 'These hues not only add a touch of sophistication to a space but also create an inviting atmosphere,' Harris says.
Martin Waller, the founder of Andrew Martin, adds, 'Clever use of color can emulate distant places and heritage features. If you want to create an intimate and cozy space, emerald green packs a full, but at the same time, understated punch of color.'
'It can transport you to the cool tiled floors of Marrakesh or to the traditional drawing room of a late 18th-century Georgian mansion, and it's being used more and more in interiors today.' While Hathaway's living room transports us straight to the Swiss Alps, these transportive qualities can evoke any destination you desire.
In the corner of Anne's living room, Shamshiri complemented the wooden walls and green sofa color with intricately patterned curtains featuring a watercolor design of flowers and birds – a beautiful nod to the blooming summer season outside. She also introduced a mustard-patterned rug, creating a playful juxtaposition against the room's more traditional elements. This vibrant color combination is strongly supported by designer Matthew Williamson, who is widely known for his bold yet refined projects.
He recommends starting with tonal shades of green, like those seen on Hathaway's sofa, to build a luxurious foundation for your space. 'Picture rich emeralds, lush moss greens, and hints of jade intermingling seamlessly. To elevate this palette, I'd introduce complementary hues such as sumptuous golds and pops of mustard,' he says.
For those looking to mirror this quietly luxurious finish in 2026, Williamson suggests pairing these botanical greens with warm mustard accessories and shimmering metallic accents.
'Imagine accents of shimmering gold metallics or warm mustard yellow creating a harmonious and lavish ambiance. This combination evokes a sense of grandeur and elegance, perfect for creating a truly luxurious space.'
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