(Photography: Supplied)
When I walked into Sooshi Mango restaurant, Johnny, Vince & Sam’s Ristorante, I felt immediately transported into my Nonni’s home.
It sparked a montage of memories; watching Nonna cook her delicious penne sugo in the kitchen, enjoying a family lunch on their plastic-covered dining table, wiping my plate clean with a slice of bread, only to see a floral or vegie design beneath. Drinking water from a heavy, crystal glass and feeling the soft velvet chairs beneath my legs. Seeing their smiles, hearing their Italian accent as they spoke to me in English, and sharing all their memories of Italy. All the while, being surrounded by large cabinets full of bombinere, photos of their life and growing family, as well as crystal glassware, plate sets, and fine china teapots and cups, all of which are saved only for special occasions.
While I considered their style ‘old-fashioned’ when I was younger, seeing an almost replica of it in Sooshi Mango’s restaurant shifted my gaze entirely. I guess sometimes it takes seeing something out of context to realise how much you truly appreciate it, and I found myself admiring it, wanting to embrace my inner Nonna, finding treasure within those smaller details. And now, after all these years, I have my own home to design and care for, and I finally understand.
All our Nonni are so similar, which is why Sooshi Mango’s restaurant is a genius idea. It feels authentic from the second you walk in, with their Italian menu and hit-the-nail-on-the-head decor, all the way down to the cutlery they use. It seems Italians followed the same trend, and that’s made me want to embrace it. Here are 3 reasons you should, too.
3 reasons to embrace your nonna’s interior design
1. Grandma chic is in
There is so much inspiration to take from our Nonna’s interior style, and we’re happy to share that yes, it’s back in fashion. Incorporating pieces of decor or furniture that you may find in their home into your own is what brings the cosy and warm feel, because it’s full of nostalgia and love. Elements like oil paintings, gold rimmed frames, patterned plateware and crystal glasses will never go out of style.
2. Slow fashion and upcycling
The high-quality wooden panels, the patterned tiles, the floral wallpaper, and the plastic to protect furniture at Sooshi Mango’s restaurant. They are all mirrored in my own Nonni’s home and now I finally understand the appeal. It saves money. They were from a time when you bought quality materials and products, and cared for what you had. In today’s society, people buy for convenience and go through furniture, appliances, and decor as quickly as the seasons change.
So, repeat after me: look after what you already own. If something is broken, fix it. Don’t throw it away. At least, that’s what my Nonno always tells me and looking around their home, it’s obvious that’s what they do. My nonno has collections of pots, plants, statues of landmarks from Italy, all of which are DIY-ed in some way. He even has oyster shells from last year’s Christmas lunch on his handmade birdbath outside. When something is unfixable, try an op shop. It’s the unique and old pieces that gives a house character, making it feel more like home.
3. Cook from the heart
All Italians say their secret ingredient in every recipe is “love”. And while nobody will ever make pasta quite like my Nonna and Nonno (ask any Italian, and they’ll say the same), Sooshi Mango did a great job with their menu. When I dined at their restaurant with my husband, we ordered their polpette (slow-cooked beef meatballs, rich tomato sugo and bread), which was, in our opinion, the best dish of the night. It was extremely close to the benchmark set by our Nonni, and we were blown away. We also enjoyed ‘Sam’s Spezzatino’, which is riagtoni with beef ragu and ‘Johnny’s Margherita’. And just like when we leave our Nonni’s, we rolled out of there and fell into a food coma as soon as we got back to our hotel. The only thing it was missing was the constant lecturing to ‘mangia, mangia, mangia! (eat, eat, eat!)’
