Seven Darling Pieces for Your Home That’ll Earn Nonna’s Tick of Approval

Photo: Courtesy Of Alex And Trahahana/james Tolich

Get gran on your team with a sweet swan serving dish handmade in Melbourne, a bright olive oil bottle or a set of sunny pinstriped napkins. And remember to call her more.

Words by Grace Mackenzie · Updated on 29 Aug 2024 · Published on 08 Aug 2024

If you’re lucky, when you think of your gran you’ll think of warmth and love. Style? Perhaps not. But what started as a fashionable lean into cardigans and pleated slacks is now a fully-fledged personality: the Italian nonna. And she’s in the kitchen.

Meals held at well-dressed tables with linen napkins and artful crockery. Golden olive oil decanted into vintage-style bottles. We’re into it. Here’s the kitchenware that’ll get you nan’s nod of approval.

Porto Cucina bottle

$39.99

Nonna knows best, and honestly, she’d want you to up your olive oil consumption. It heals all, you know? Keep the golden liquid close in this porcelain vessel adorned with sweet Italian cursive and olives. Red stripes anchor it in nan’s classic mishmash style, and the spout will stop any spills.

Shop at Porto

The Gruel Goblin sardine cross-stich pattern

$9.90

Keep your next Ortiz can handy and get stitch-happy, people. (You’ll make g-ma proud and refill your tin.) Maddie Jones is behind The Cruel Goblin, a place for vintage-tattoo-style cross-stitch designs. Try your handiwork out on the salty little fish, then pop it on the mantel, right alongside nan’s kindergarten photo of you.

Shop at Etsy

Nonna’s Judging You Dolce & Salato tea towel

$14.95

While you could be doing dishy dishes with this patchwork number, it really belongs on your wall. The Italian finger-pinches of approval. The blazing jumble of colours. The Negroni in centre place. Hang it up for a bright and constant reminder that Nonna’s judging you – and you should call her more.

Shop at Nonna’s Judging You

Dancing Grass Green Feast tablecloth

$130

This playful verdant spread will keep your table set 24/7 (and inspire your shopping list when planning your next at-home dining date). The print is made by Argentinian designer Camila Martinez, who was inspired by Greek grans after spending last summer there eating simple, excellent food.

Shop at Dancing Grass

Service Swan Duo dish

$340

Attica’s former resident ceramicist is half of the team at this new grandma-chic tableware label. Its sweet double-bowled serving dish is supervised by a swan, bowing its head at your service. The darling piece is made from eggshell china and recycled glass, and should be stored safely in the nice crockery cabinet.

Shop at Service

Alex & Trahanas Parasol pasta bowl

$89

The scalloped edges of this green-striped beauty make it a real old-school charmer. Just imagine Nonna piling in twirls of saucy spaghetti before a showering of parmesan – bellisimo! Each ceramic bowl is crafted then hand-painted in Puglia, so they’re even more at home if you’re dining by the sea.

Shop at Alex & Trahanas

Asouvla Home Apollo napkins

$90

The coupled-up team behind newly launched homewares label Asouvla is inspired as much by their time spent in the Mediterranean sun as their own careers in the hospitality industry (which counts Sydney’s esteemed Greek restaurant The Apollo). Impress Yiayia with these sunny pinstripes folded at every setting, bonus points for the matching tablecloth.

Shop at Asouvla

This article first appeared in Domain Review, in partnership with Broadsheet.

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About the author

Grace MacKenzie is Broadsheet Sydney’s food and drink editor.