Lemon Spritzes, Nancy Meyers, and a New Era of Hosting — 'Gen Z’s Martha Stewart' Shares Her Essentials for a Non-Fussy Spring Soirée

Gen Z is staying in — and Kenzie Elizabeth’s making the case for comfort, citrus, and connection

Kenzie Elizabeth
Meet Kenzie Elizabeth: Gen Z’s Martha Stewart, a tastemaker whose modern approach to hosting is a little bit "grandma," and a little bit limoncello.
(Image credit: Kenzie Elizabeth)

Kenzie Elizabeth is — and isn’t — exactly what you’d expect from a Gen Z creator. She hosts a hit Dear Media podcast (House Guest), maintains a robust online presence, and at 27, is already building a growing lifestyle empire. But when she’s not recording, designing, or curating digital moments, she’s creating real ones — in the garden, at the table, or somewhere in the middle of a Nancy Meyers-inspired, lemon-drenched soirée.

Welcome to It Girl domesticity. This new era of hosting and spring table decor is less “brat," more Jell-O cake, and a vintage tablecloth.

“Eventually, you get tired of the bars and start to want to host your own nights at home that feel more special,” Kenzie says. “Grandma hobbies are the best. I always say grandmas have lived the longest, so we should trust what they say and how they spend their time.” The goal isn’t just to entertain, she adds, but to regulate your nervous system.

It’s this warm-blooded, nostalgia-forward ethos that fuels her entire world: from recently-launched (and already best-selling) Friend of Mine dinner party conversation cards to the content she shares with a generation of like-minded twenty-somethings eager to trade overstimulation for ambiance.

Tablescape by Kenzie Elizabeth

Kenzie suggests mixing guests intentionally. Placecards, she says, are key — encouraging conversation between people who might not otherwise cross paths.

(Image credit: Kenzie Elizabeth)

A Kenzie Elizabeth gathering isn’t about fine china or party tricks. It’s about ease. “In my opinion, a perfect gathering is one where everyone just feels comfortable and relaxed. As long as the host is at ease, the guests are able to relax,” she says.

This spring, she’s channeling the spirit of the zeitgeist with a singular fruit — the lemon — with all the Gen Z specificity of blueberry milk nails and strawberry girls, and a touch of Jacquemus (whose new LA store is, of course, dipped in banana yellow).

“I'm in a lemon phase currently,” she says. “My grandma just gave me her lemon plate set, so I’d be using all of those. Tons of lemons for the centerpiece, a yellow striped tablecloth, lemon napkin rings, etc.” For the menu? “Limoncello spritzes and lemon possets for dessert.”

Naturally, there’s also a Nancy Meyers dinner party series in progress — one themed evening per film. The Holiday (2006), It’s Complicated (2009), and Something’s Gotta Give (2003) are already checked off. “Next up is Father of the Bride (1991),” she says.

So right now, the mood du jour is a little kitsch served with a side of charm. And it just might be the future of spring entertaining.

Below, Kenzie shares her essentials for pulling off the perfect lemon-scented soirée — complete with tips, tricks, and a few ideas reworked from grandma.

Consider this your invitation to stay in.

To cap off the lemon-scented soirée, Kenzie serves her go-to cocktail: a riff on the margarita from Honor Bar Dallas.

Her at-home version — Clayton’s Margarita, plucked from The Defined Dish — calls for one cup of good tequila, ¼ cup Cointreau, ½ cup fresh lime juice, ½ cup simple syrup, and a teaspoon of egg whites (trust the process). Finish with a tajín or salt rim and lime wedges.

It serves four… or two very committed guests.

Julia Demer
Style Editor

Formerly covering fashion at L’Officiel USA, style maven Julia Demer brings her love of design to Livingetc’s world of interiors. As the title’s New York-based Style Editor, Julia's work reflects a sharp eye for detail and an innate passion for aesthetics. Her journey began with a strong foundation in design, honing her craft at renowned establishments like The Row and even establishing her own eponymous fashion brand. Julia’s design background is evident in the way she thoughtfully curates shopping edits, always maintaining a focus on emerging trends while preserving timeless sensibilities. For Julia, fashion and interiors go hand in hand, reflecting her lifelong commitment to perfecting the art of style.