The Sunday Edit: Set Design and Beauty in Television
The First Lady's bedroom in House of Cards, Architectural Digest/HBO
"When absorbed in a book, my imagination runs away with how the characters, scenery and interiors might look. When we visually take in a story, the views themselves become characters, too. When I watch television shows or movies, the story, the relationships and characters indeed intrigue me. Yet, the rolling colorchrome images are what ultimately capture my affection. Deciphering interior design styles or learning how to recreate that aesthetic is at the forefront of my mind when I watch TV, so I am THAT person who hits pause, rewinds or asks what was said because dialogue becomes secondary…”
-Magnusson Team Member, Bianca Durkin
Durkin’s comment sparked a further exploration of various TV-series time-periods and how they remain “catalysts of cool” when it comes to interior design and style trends. There are three cult shows which exquisitely represent distinct modes of design: Downton Abbey (Victorian/Grand Millennial), Mad Men (Mid-Century Modern), and And Just Like That (Contemporary Elegance).
The Grand Millennial Style of Downton Abbey
Created and co-written by Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey is a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century. Set on the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey between 1912 and 1926, the series depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic servants in the post-Edwardian era.
Filmed at the Highclere Estate, the predominant theme is Gothic Revival with Jacobean and Italianate influences. The designers kept most of Highclere's (now antique) furnishings and art intact, while adding accessories. To recreate the servants’ quarters, researchers visited close to 40 English country houses. Almost all featured styles of these home furnishings—floral wallpaper, blue and white porcelain, needlepoint pillows, mixed patterns, ornate chandeliers, Renaissance paintings, silver hollowware, pleated lampshades, toile, chintz and plaid, and brown wood furniture—add character and warmth to a home. These highly coveted style elements are also known as Grand Millennial or New Traditional.
An office at Sterling Cooper on Mad Men, Charles + Hudson/Interior Design
The Mid-Century Modern Mania of Mad Men
The American period drama Mad Men was set in the 1960s. An instant hit, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time. Mad Men captures the zeitgeist of ‘The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit’ and is symbolic of the American Dream in 1950s America. Known for its stunning visual style, the set design, costumes and props were icons of Mid-Century Modern style (MCM) right down to the copious amount of red lipstick, cinched waists and cigarette smoking in every scene.
The writers amassed volumes of research on this idealized era to assure that the series was historically accurate. Classic MCM pieces like Eames chairs, Knoll sofas, Saarinen and Noguchi tables, Bertoia lamps, Modern art, and shag carpets punctuated offices and bedrooms on set reminding the viewer of a highly stylized time that embodied religious faith, patriotism, and conformity to societal norms. This postwar style remains wildly popular and maintains a strong foothold in today’s secondary market, particularly post-pandemic home offices.
Books lining the walls of Carrie’s apartment were carefully selected by Sarah Jessica Parker and the props department on the show. Vogue/Photo: Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max
The Contemporary Elegance of And Just Like That
The first season of And Just Like That did not disappoint with their set design and beauty! It’s been 19 years since Sex in The City ended, and in the reboot Carrie and her friends’ styles have evolved just like ours and remain stunning and aspirational. To quote the celebrated English Interior Designer David Hicks, “The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.” Each character’s home has been created to be “Just as interesting and authentic as themselves,” says Production Designer Miquel Lopez-Castillo and Set Decorator Carol Silverman. The apartments in the show included furnishings sourced from Chairish, Sarah Jessica Parker’s personal collection, and items she saved from Sex in The City.
Carrie Bradshaw and her husband Big’s updated apartment is a compromising mix of masculine and feminine with an incredible closet of his and hers designer delights. Architectural Digest writer Rachel Wallace describes their living room as having an “upscale-eclectic vibe while their bedroom is quite elegant.”
Charlotte York Goldenblatt’s sprawling UES apartment complements her personality with its New Traditional styling (see above). Her space has been refreshed from a stark white newlywed pad to a family-friendly dwelling with warmer tones that compliment her two daughters and loving husband.
Miranda Hobbes’ Brooklyn townhouse received a kitchen facelift and expansion of the living space, which fills our vision with simple cozy furnishings. Miranda and her husband Steve adapted the Hygge Danish lifestyle of staying home and feasting on comfort food with copious amounts of ice cream and Netflix, and their interiors reflect this laid-back attitude.
Whether Grand Millennial, Mid-Century Modern or Contemporary Elegance is your preference, each period is a classic in its own right. And whatever your design preference, there is always a story behind it. Each of the Team Magnusson members have their own personal style, as well. Come and meet us at our next event and tell us what YOU like!
-Authored by Lynn Magnusson, President, Heather Zises, Marketing Director + Bianca Durkin, Designer and Stager