"How I Met Your Mother": Season 6, Episode 2. "Cleaning House"

Production Designer: Steve Olson
Set Decorator: Susan Mina Eschelbach

Source: IMDB


Not all that long ago* I wrote an entry regarding how to recreate Glenn's (Jennifer Aniston) office set in "Cougar Town". After scouring the internet to find the chest of drawers upon which sat 5 vases and a Buddha (I think it's a Buddha, no time to research), I recommended a Moorish chest from Wisteria that was of the same genus but not the species so to speak. Here it is again to jog your memory:

Source: ABC

Now that I am paying close attention to all of the individual pieces that go into a set I've discovered my first instance of an item resurfacing. This week's "How I Met Your Mother" took the cast to the house of Sam Gibbs (Ben Vereen). Check out what's hiding there in the back:

Source: CBS

Either Glenn and Sam shop at the same store or that chest is a popular rental with set decorators for me to notice it twice in the same week. I'd still love to find out who its initial designer/retailer was, and to know more about its authenticity. As I'm in Boston instead of Los Angeles, I doubt I'll get my answer any time soon.

Lastly,  if I were to know ahead of time that I'd be seeing that chest again, I'd like to give it a nickname so I can play my own version of "Where's Waldo?" Right now, all I can think of is "Chesty McChest," and that isn't quite cutting it.

*It really can't be that long ago. I've only written 6 entries including this one.

"Chuck": Season 4, Episode 2. "Chuck Versus the Suitcase"

Production Designer: Cece Destefano
Set Decorator: William DeBiasio
Set Decoration Buyer: Kami Lamprade

Source: IMDB

"I see Sophia stays in the Presidential Suite." So says international spy Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) as he and this partner Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) are tracking a supermodel (the aforementioned Sophia, Karolina Kurkova) in Milan during Fashion Week who is suspected in the arms trading of "superbullets." Wow. "Chuck" plots are fun and goofy when you watch them onscreen, but they sound downright ridiculous on paper. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall during the table read at the moment in the script where Sophia fights Chuck and Sarah while naked. Yes, you read that right.

Well the Presidential Suite is full of goodies, and not just those superbullets. The lamps alone might take me a bit of time to track down. Yep, it's time to play copycat again so I can tell you where to find key elements of the set to help make your home look just as hip.

Stills from NBC

Lighting first. I love how the production team has layered the lamps in here. It makes a moody and auspicious nighttime scene even more so since the majority of the lighting is on and it's still really dark in there. (See: curtain selection below) Below is a selection of facsimiles for you to steal. Well, buy really. There's a Buy More joke in there somewhere but I'd hate to inflict that upon you.

1. Ashanti Orange Table Lamp from LiteSource/Lamps USA. The base is an excellent match, but the shade should be switched out for something white and ovular oval-shaped. I don't think "ovular" is a word. If it's not, it should be.

2. Glass Lamp with Satin Nickel from Target. Home Goods carries this style like crazy as well.

3. Jayne Artichoke Green Ceramic Table Lamp from Lamps Plus. This unique take on the genie-bottle style base gives it added depth.

4. Twine Floor Lamp from CB2. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

5. Lights Up! Devo Table Lamp with Square Base from Design Public. The shade may be larger than the one shown on this set, but I actually prefer it that way. Gives it a funkier edge.

6. Energy Efficient White Fabric 20 ¼” Ceiling Light from Lamps Plus. Classic yet modern, and not fussy. Though I think there may have been a missed opportunity to find a flush mount that was more chic and still not distracting. Perhaps like this Possini European Floral Flush Mount.

The furniture and window treatments were more of a challenge, but I relish a challenge. Here we go:

1. Worth King-Size Platform Bed and 2 Nightstands from Overstock.com. Zen styling in a wenge finish. The nightstands appear to be easy to bolt down which would be very attractive to a hotel buyer. Also available in queen size.

2. Studio Standard Squares Grommet-Top Panel Drapes from JC Penney. JC Penney's curtains never cease to amaze me, as a good deal of their collection is both stylish and affordable (I have found some to be god-awful; however, still amazed overall). I have them in both my dining and living rooms and my guests are drawn to them when they visit. Also, woot to the huge color selection, and drat for making my job more difficult. I believe the color used here is called "Brushwood Multi" but it's impossible to tell 100% with all of that mood lighting.

3. LACK Wall Shelf from IKEA. So enjoyable to look at. So versatile. Holds everything from books to wine.

4. White Leather Sofa from AtHomeUSA. Sleek, white, leather, tufted. Bonus futon action.

5. Small Round Side Table from Etsy. Good news? Perfect match and cool 1960s vibe. Bad news? Only one left in stock which stinks since the suite uses several. Second option is the Swank C Table from CB2.

6. Yield White Vinyl Swivel Chair from Target. This choice is a little off the beaten path, but I can imagine Chuck and Morgan swiveling back and forth while trying to look like cool spies with straight faces. And that makes me laugh.

7. Bliss Living Home Gemini Red Pillow from LinensNThings. So remember when LinensNThings was having serious financial problems not too far back? Well the company has come a looooong way since then and I was absolutely blown away by their decorative pillow collection. Can't speak for the rest of their products, just the pillows. But oh, what lovely pillows.

Side note: If this were a real hotel suite, I would say that most of the materials and finishes would not adhere to US fire codes and commercial grade durability standards, particularly since I'm quite certain I found the exact source for the curtains. But this is supposed to be in Italy, so I think I'll give it a pass.

So there you have it. I have done your spy research for you prior to your important mission. Reporting from The Castle, this is Diana the Design Diva wishing you happy shopping!

"Boardwalk Empire": Season 1, Episode 1. "Pilot"

Production Design: Bob Shaw
Art Direction: Doug Huszti
Set Decorator: Debra Schutt

I have no rationale behind including this poster here. I just really like it.

The aspect of production design that I find fascinating is working with period pieces. The research involved is incredibly time consuming, and in the case of "Boardwalk Empire" required the authentic recreation of not only several interiors, but the entire boardwalk of Atlantic City in1920. Based a behind the scenes video, the boardwalk entailed 300 feet of construction of completely life-like sets and the rest of its eight miles were filled in by the visual effects team. The clip below shows the construction of that set as streaming video, and it's absolutely captivating:



The trick to set design is that you can't just take a look at the year and design around it. If you were to look at a bunch of Art Deco skyscrapers in Atlantic City it would ring ever so slightly false. Instead most of the buildings and scenery were built in the Victorian era with a Beaux-Arts influence. According to Director Martin Scorsese, "There are hardly any remnants of Atlantic City now, the original one. We were guided by photographs of the period, postcards."

Victorian interior architecture/design is showcased heavily on the set of Babette's nightclub, the site of one of the opening scenes. It is evidenced by the dark, Gothic revival wood paneling, the moody green paint, the thick turned balustrade (save for one which I'll get to in a bit), the Battenburg lace tablecloths, etc. As the first scene in that club depicts a "funeral" (a joke regarding the beginning of Prohibition) I found the setting to be cheekily appropriate.

Nucky (Steve Buscemi) and Lucy (Paz De La Huerta) in "Boardwalk Empire"

I'll admit that part of the set (in terms of the "architectural history" of the building within the confines of the story) seems to have been tacked on after its original construction, and that's the balcony. Production Designer Bob Shaw has stated that "There was a real Babette's, and the bar was shaped like a boat."

A still of the balcony level of said boat is shown below, and as far as architectural detail is concerned, I'm quite frankly stumped. I have never seen a balusters in that shape before, and it feels a bit Disney-esque. However, knowing the level of research that went into this production there is certainly a justification for the way this part of the nightclub was presented.

So, I haven't watched episode 2 yet, but I am really looking forward to it. A lot of critics are comparing "Boardwalk" with another HBO juggernaut "The Sopranos". Story- and character-wise, this is a very apt comparison. For me, "Boardwalk" wins hands-down for its extreme attention to visual detail.

Cougar Town: Season 2, Episode 1. “All Mixed Up”

Production Designer: Gary Warshaw

Set Decorator: Archie D’Amico

Sometimes a space is meant to be an expression of one’s true soul. At other times, it is merely meant to project an image. In the season premiere of “Cougar Town”, the office of Jules’ (Courteney Cox) new therapist Glenn (Jennifer Aniston) aspires to be the former, only it’s determined by the end of the episode that her anger management issues prevent her achieving the type of zen so carefully orchestrated in her work atmosphere.

Jules (Courteney Cox) in "Cougar Town"

SUCK IT! Sorry, but when Glenn tells Ellie (Christa Miller) what she wrote on the note she left in a fender bender I kind of adopted that phrase in my vocabulary. It’s very therapeutic to shout it in an empty room for both frustration and amusement.

So here is what I see as the idea behind this place of therapy. Glenn declares herself to be an “empath” and her office is meant to convey a womb-like environment with Glenn holding court as Mother Nature. Global touches are spread throughout for Glenn and the patient to feel connected with the entire human race, and especially our ancient ancestors. I never thought I’d ever write the words “How to Have a Hippie Home Office” and have it actually make sense, but I could see elements of this style being used to create a meditation space.

Glenn (Jennifer Aniston) in "Cougar Town"

As set decorators tend to find their furniture at a rental warehouse, it’s nearly impossible to copy this set entirely. However, there are a lot of retailers who carry items in this earthy, eclectic style.  If you like this look, here are some suggestions as to how to achieve it.

(I love Photoshop. It allows me to put all of these items together and make it look like one pic.)

1. Moorish Chest from Wisteria. Not an exact match, but provides a global element to the room, as Glenn likes to look like she's traveled the world to gain so much wisdom.

2. Brentwood Sofa in Ashford Paisley from Ballard Design. It's important to choose a sofa without cushions on the back, since to create the eclectic look seen here the cushions will be a contrasting style. More on that later.

3. Eames Lounge Chair from Design Within Reach. This is a mid-century classic that's comfortable and works within most environments. Well worth the investment.

4. Andorra Window Panels from Pier 1. Hurry! They're on clearance for $19.88 each!

5. Nash Glass Cocktail Table from Room and Board. I would suggest the ebony finish to hearken back to the chest.

6. Jacquard Pillow from Urban Outfitters. This is merely one example. When looking online use keyword searches such as "Jacquard", "Ikat", and "Kilim" for Glenn's southwestern accents. "Hand-blocked" pillows are in the same family look-wise but I find that the quality is not as great. UPDATE 9/29/10: found this gem in my searches from Crate & Barrel.Works like a charm.

As for paint, keep it simple. Navajo White is a standard color for most paint manufacturers and works with everything you see here. Then, all you have to do is enjoy the honeysuckle.

Rubicon: Season 1, Episode 9. "No Honesty in Men"

Production Designer: Henry Dunn
Set Decorator: Jacqueline Jacobson-Scarfo 

AMC's "Rubicon" is an incredibly underrated show. I'm no network marketing exec, but I think that the "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" audience that perused the show’s advertising campaign saw a drama based solely on a conspiracy plot that didn't have marathon legs necessary to maintain long-term interest. Heck, the tag line for the campaign was "Not all conspiracies are theories." In the beginning, while all of the players were being established, that was somewhat true. What has developed is a rich, character-driven, taut exercise of the psychology of people in jobs where difficult and heartbreaking decisions are made on a daily basis.

This particular episode of this particular show inspired this blog. I was watching “No Honesty” and noting the detail of the sets, and had a minor epiphany on one in particular. The show appears to derive a distinct influence from film noir, which springs from the plot and the writing.

I would have thought that I'd have been inspired by the posh digs of widowed socialite Katherine Rhumor (Miranda Richardson) that look like they could have been inhabited by Ingrid Bergman's character in Notorious, or the dingy Sam Spade bachelor pad dwelling of analyst Will Travers (James Badge Dale), or even the sickly and claustrophobic office setting at the American Policy Institute.

Instead, I zeroed in on the apartment of Andy, a woman Will spies on in a manner not unlike that of Rear Window, and determined that (minor spoilers throughout!) her place is the ideal hideout once he destroys a bug in his apartment.

As played by Annie Parisse of "Law & Order" fame, Andy is a mischievous, free-spirited painter who finds Will's honesty to be a fun and somewhat kinky lie. It was her bathroom that caught my attention.

Will Travers (James Badge Dale) in "Rubicon"

Now, as I thought about this new blog and how I would write about this set, I realized that analysis comes with a healthy dose of speculation. I feel that there are times when my speculation will highly outweigh my analysis, but speculation is much more fun. Aaaaaaaannnnd, I digress.

First of all, this bathroom actually looks like that of a "cheap" New York rental. It features inexpensive ceramic white tile (in two different shades, suggesting that the landlord did a patch job at some point), an old shower bar with a hint of soap scum, the builder's grade pedestal sink, and the completely unflattering three-sided mirror/medicine cabinet (also patch job updates). The light switches erupt with the loud click found in pre-war circuitry (which I actually find quite charming, since I have that in my house and that's the story I'm sticking to) when turned on and off.

Here's where the speculation comes in. I'm going to guess that Andy did not select the paint color for that bathroom. It's too much of a direct contrast with the palette of her paintings and the furniture, which I attempt to demonstrate in the still below:

Andy (Annie Parisse) in "Rubicon"

My, but AMC really likes their promo stills moody. But take my word for it, the walls and flea market style furniture found in the rest of her apartment are in neutral tones to serve as a backdrop for her abstract paintings, all of which remain on the warm side of the color wheel. I hope you can sort of see that in the shot above. This makes sense, as that warmth with a hint of spiciness is also reflected in the presentation of the character.

Therefore, my supposition is that Andy's position on painting the bathroom was either a) not a priority for her, or b) not allowed as part of her tenant agreement. The shower curtain, the footstool, and the linen armoire were selected to work with the existing color. Visually, the sky blue hue (which is a shade that, as a side note, "women loooooove" according to a mustachioed paint counter guy I encountered in Hoboken) and the stark lighting allowed the audience to clearly follow Will's movements in that tiny space as he hid his secret files on top of the armoire, while showcasing the cold and solitary nature of that act.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, then please try to catch up with "Rubicon" on AMC on Sundays at 9pm/8c. Those with On Demand can take advantage of a couple of 4 minute "catch up" clips to assist in doing so. It's worth the time investment, and such a pleasure to watch.

Blue paint color: Unknown, but Benjamin Moore's "Soft Jazz" is a similar look.

The Set

As my "About Me" states, I love interior design, and I love pop culture. One I have spent a lot of money to learn; the other, a lot of time. The former prefers to float within the realm of high art (and science, but that's for another blogger to dissect); the latter is more esoteric.

There are a lot of people who write about interior design extremely well. I follow them on Twitter, and then over to their blogs. Some of them include Habitually Chic, The Brass Petal, Create Girl, and the ever-pervasive Apartment Therapy, which I find fascinating. All of these sites (and many others I could not name here) contain a lot of gorgeous eye candy and the fantasy world they present makes me feel sloppy drunk with pleasure. I say "fantasy world" insomuch as these places do exist, but often in private homes we will never see outside of a handful of photographs. Therefore, their idealized design is unavailable to the masses.

Then there are the folks who write about pop culture, and especially television, which in my estimation is seeing a huge rise in its ability to visually convey a story over the last decade. With the advent of cable series and the risks these series have been able to take with their storylines, we have watched this dichotomy of their attempt to portray authenticity under the guise of a hugely fantastic premise. Bloggers whose work each week to scrutinize the story, characters, and dialogue of long form narratives, include my husband, who writes at Boob Tube Dude ("Nepotism!" the masses cry), and those of his colleagues at HitFix and AOL’s TV Squad.

What I want to do here is take a look at the work that the art director and the set decorator have done in analyzing a script and designing the environment in which their characters live and work -- their reality, so to speak. Sometimes, like today, I will provide a relatively thorough analysis, while at other times you might get to see that I actually have a sense of humor.

People in this day and age love their favorite shows and movies, and love to inspect every detail (thank you DVR and LOST). While that happens, I'll be here enjoying the view.

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