Designer Inspiration: Modsy Designers Share Pop Culture-Inspired Room Designs
Editor’s note: This blog was conceived and ghost written by me. I worked with members of Modsy’s design team to create designs based on popular film and tv from that time and even created two of the designs myself.
Popular film and television have played a huge role in our day-to-day lives for a long time. We've all enjoyed chatting about our favorite shows and what new movies we stan with family, friends, and co-workers for decades. But since the beginning of COVID, the impact of our favorite TV shows and movies has increased significantly. As we've gone in and out of quarantine, faced new variants, and learned how to balance WFH and homeschool the kids, we've become even more attached to our favorite content. Whether we're watching for an escape or gaining a little perspective, the media we consume is bound to impact our lives and interactions. And interior designers are no exception to the rule—they're only Netflix-binging humans, after all!
So, we got curious and asked some of our designers what shows and movies have impacted them and their design styles over the last year. We were more than happy to hear them dish their favorite recent pop culture moments from film and TV. They even took things one step further and returned with some great pop culture-inspired designs and fun tips to get each look at home.
Bridgerton
Netflix's hit show Bridgerton is the true definition of eye candy! From the gorgeous cast (hello Regé-Jean Page) to the stunning mix of soft pastels and ornate, often feminine-feeling furnishings, Bridgerton epitomizes luxury and excess. The show's set decorator, Gina Cromwell, did a great job filtering Regency-era design through a modern lens. They really amped up the color and pattern in each space, reflecting show producer Shonda Rhimes' concept of a more inclusive and youthful period piece.
Inspired by Rhimes' playful take on historical dramas, I created two Regency-inspired designs that ditched the era's more fussy aspects. Instead, I added a modern twist that feels very au courant but is still relatable. –Modsy designer Mackenzie R.
How To Get the Look
If going full-on Bridgerton is too much for you, try sprinkling in some classical-inspired touches in your space. Think vintage gilded mirrors or an elegant chandelier.
Chunky Italian furniture is super on-trend right now and mixes really well with more ornate, classic pieces. To create a sense of cohesion between the styles and maintain the femininity of the show, stick to a pastel color palette. The result will be playful and sexy, just like Bridgerton!
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
At Modsy, we're big fans of show creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. (Hello, Gilmore Girls!) But the set design for Sherman-Palladino's smash hit show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is a constant source of inspiration for me! I specifically love the main character, Miriam "Midge" Maisel’s Manhattan apartment. Its layered design is full of personality and blends two very distinct styles—classic-traditional and mid-century modern. The mix of these two styles perfectly captures the complex nuance of Midge as a character.
On the one hand, she's devoted to her traditional (and very academic) Jewish family. But, on the other hand, she's a talented comedian who refuses to stick to the rigid social norms of the late 50s and early 60s New York, and she will do anything for her career. She's also impeccably dressed at all times!
The show's production designer, Bill Groom, did a marvelous job creating Midge’s space. I really love the way he talks about bringing the show's designs together. In an interview on his process, he said, "Good design is great no matter the period. So I think you can create a world that's very comfortable in a modern way and just set it in the period in question." I tried to adhere to this philosophy when creating my show-inspired design. I decorated a living room that feels classic and feminine but has a modern and playful edge, like Midge. –Modsy designer Katherine B.
How To Get the Look
Start with a poppy palette! Midge's apartment has many pastel base colors, like baby blue and blush-colored walls. The accent colors burst in bright candy apple red, turquoise, and gold, adding a modern appeal to the overall design.
Use curved furniture for feminine appeal. We typically think of mid-century furniture as masculine—with lots of angularity and strong lines. But Midge's apartment shows us the style is versatile and doesn't have to stick to gender conventions. Her space is filled with curved foundational furniture and luxurious velvet upholstery. To get the look, mix furniture with curved and streamlined shapes with classic touches—like wooden pieces with ornate carving or inlay to add some of that vintage sophistication.
Dune
Canadian director Denis Villeneuve has developed a reputation for his moody and atmospheric films, and 2021's sci-fi epic, Dune, is no exception. Based on Franks Herbert's beloved novel, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a young man who travels to a hostile planet to ensure his family's legacy.
Villeneuve and production designer Patrice Vermette do a fantastic job illustrating the archaic yet technologically advanced universe of Dune through beautifully designed sets that feel both ancient and futuristic thanks to a mix of natural materials, angular lines, minimal styling, and ornate furnishing.
Though the tone of Dune is frequently dark, it is also undeniably beautiful. With this in mind, I thought it would be a fun challenge to capture the overall vibe of the movie's moody decors but make them more approachable. To do this, I chose a mid-century modern space with rich wood wainscoting to echo the movie's angular and contemporary sets. In addition, I chose a dark earth-tone paint called Night Shade by Benjamin Moore to keep things moody. I also layered in more traditional foundational furniture—like a black velvet chesterfield sofa—with more contemporary accent items. All this brought together the movie's old-meets-new aesthetic. Finally, I added a couple of touches of gold to bring some warmth and approachability to the space and stuck to a circle motif as a nod to Dune's famous sandworms. –Modsy designer Jake H.
How To Get the Look
Stick to a mostly monochromatic or earth tone palette to capture Dune's stark beauty at home.
Mix more ornate and traditional furniture with modern accent items. But keep the material selection to a minimum. This space uses mostly dark wood to maintain a sense of consistency among various styles.
Add a few brighter room accessories to keep things from looking too dismal.
Remember, as they say in the film, "fear is the mind-killer," so don't be afraid to go bold with your design!
White Lotus
If you're into buzzed-about TV shows, you've probably watched (and loved) White Lotus. The show chronicles the misadventures of the guest and staff at a Hawaiian resort hotel over the course of one week. After binging it, I felt amused and shocked by the quirky cast of characters—and I absolutely fell in love with the tropical-inspired hotel rooms. Each guest suite was designed to reflect its inhabitants' personalities and the tropical environment.
The Tradewinds Suite, where the Mossbacher family stays. It is filled with deep blues and nautical wall art and reflects Fred Hechinger’s character Quinn's pull toward his new friends who live on the island.
The Tradewinds design really spoke to me. Thanks to those rich ocean blues and vintage-inspired tropical prints, the room captured a nostalgic tiki vibe without feeling overdone. I tried to recreate the same restrained and soothing coastal feel in my design by using lots of natural materials in the foundational furniture and tropical-inspired patterns on the walls and bedding. The end result is all chill and none of the White Lotus vacation drama! –Modsy designer Becky S.
How To Get the Look
If you're looking to capture that Hawaiian resort vibe in your space, try experimenting with natural textures, like wicker and rattan.
Use light colors and floral or tropical prints—particularly in upholstery, bedding, or wallpaper.
Pops of real greenery are a great addition, as well! It’s the perfect way to capture that tropical vibe.
Wes Anderson Movies
Filmmaker Wes Anderson's sense of style—especially his set and interior design style—is an unmistakable hallmark of his films. In fact, his impact on interior designers is so prevalent that almost every designer contributing to this blog post wanted to take a stab at interpreting his work!
The French Dispatch
Wes Anderson is a total auteur. His visual style is so iconic that practically anyone can identify one of his movies from a still frame. His latest movie, 2021's The French Dispatch, is no exception. Anderson and cinematographer Robert Yeoman deploy their love of direct wide-angle camera shots to their usual aplomb in the film.
Per usual, almost every frame in The French Dispatch showcases the beautiful geometry of the architecture and decor, allowing the audience to take in every ornate detail. The set for the office of French Dispatch Editor in Chief Arthur Howitzer Jr.—played by Bill Murray—is quintessential Anderson. It's brimming with bold colors, patterns, and an eclectic assortment of furniture that reflects the storied lives of the magazine's staff. I loved it!
I created my design in a Spanish-revival style living/dining room from the 1930s because the arched entryways and parquet flooring recalled the geometry of the film set. Anderson uses yellow a lot in his movies, so I chose a paint color called Golden Retriever by Benjamin Moore in the living room area. And added an Art Deco-inspired wallpaper from Serena & Lily in the dining room, bringing depth to the space. Next, I selected a mix of mid-century modern-inspired foundational furniture with more bohemian accent items. The final touch was selecting room accessories. I used refined materials like coral and marble and paired them with quirky modernist portraits to capture the worldly vibe of one of Anderson's characters. –Modsy designer Jake H.
How To Get the Look
Embrace bold, vibrant, and quirky colors. Rich yellows, pinks, and greens are featured heavily in Anderson's films.
Take a maximalist approach to decor. Think “more is more” and layer in lots of rich fabrics and patterns.
Be a collector. To get that worldly, bohemian Anderson vibe in your home, incorporate ornate decorative objects and lots of greenery.
The Royal Tenenbaums
I've always been so inspired by Wes Anderson's movies. He has a really fresh take on nostalgia that's campy and fun. I particularly enjoy the sets in 2001's The Royal Tenenbaums. The contrast between maximalist style and Flemish Revival architecture is vibrant and fun!
To design a space inspired by The Royal Tenenbaums, I took a maximalist approach to styling, layering lots of colors and patterns. I also brought in a quirky collection of art and decor that looks like it was accumulated over time, making the space feel lived-in and chic. –Modsy designer Mackenzie R.
How To Get the Look
Mix in some modern elements, like a chunky coffee table and a pair of streamlined marble accent tables, with traditional foundation pieces for an eclectic look.
I also love a gallery wall to piece together some fun and funky art pieces in a cohesive way and get that Tenenbaums look!
Accidentally Wes Anderson
Like my fellow designers, I love the aesthetic in Wes Anderson's movies. But I gravitate toward more minimal spaces. Thankfully, Anderson has such a broad cultural impact that you can find his influence everywhere, including the popular website Accidently Wes Anderson. The images on the site depict real-world architecture and design that’s reminiscent of Anderson's sets.
Each photo is vivid, playful, and meticulously constructed, but they tend to be a little more pared back than something out of one of his movies. They offer the perfect inspiration for the kind of clean, modern look I love! And that’s exactly what I used to bring an Accidentally Wes Anderson design to life! –Modsy designer Becky S.
How To Get the Look
Stick to clean lines and geometric shapes! Geometric rug patterns can be a great place to start.
Go minimal with your furniture shapes and styling for a clean, pared-back look.
Don't be afraid to have fun with color! Try painting the wall, molding, and even wall panels—if you have them—in bright blue or pink.
