These Stunning Movie Interiors Will Inspire Your Next Design Project
Interiors are the unsung hero of most great movies. Often times, unless they're large productions like "The Great Gatsby" or "Marie Antoinette," a film's design goes uncelebrated. Sets are excellent studies for interior inspiration: they're designed to appear as though they are actually inhabited, rather than picture-perfect renditions for the camera. Furthermore, their lived-in look can evoke a certain mood that reflects the film's particular disposition. Fair warning: these movie interiors, from lavish and decadent spaces to brazenly modern rooms, are sure to inspire your next movie night—and your next design project.
Set on a small island off the coast of Italy, "A Bigger Splash" is a heady and sun-drenched drama that starts out on pace with quiet island life. However, as the winds begin to pick up in late summer, so do the relationships between the four main characters: a rockstar (Tilda Swinton), a filmmaker (Matthias Schoenaertsa), a music producer (Ralph Fiennes), and his daughter (Dakota Johnson). Stuck in the middle is a gorgeous Italian vacation home, with its laissez-faire approach to decor featuring sparse plaster walls and an eclectic mix of furniture.
Before Lawrence of Arabia, there was Gertrude Bell. While much of the movie is set in the desert showing the her exploits as an explorer, archaeologist, and politician, the rest is swathed in the intricate detail and gorgeous tile of Middle Eastern décor. Although the movie does not do justice to the story of one of the most important historical female figures in the 20th century, the interior and costume designs do not disappoint.
"Marie Antoinette" is a lesson in decadence, and many of the scenes were actually filmed at Versailles. Gilded moldings, ornate wallpaper and maximalist embellishments cover every surface; nothing is left unfrosted. This intoxicating set gives us a dreamy glimpse into the lap of luxury that was the royal world of Marie Antoinette.
An intense love story, the interiors of "Call Me By Your Name" is an ode to Italian design. Set in northern Italy, Luca Guadagnino adds layers of antiquity, collected objects, and faded aristocratic charm for the backdrop of his film. Maximalism and antiques never looked so enticing.
Set in both Tangiers and Detroit, "Only Lovers Left Alive" is a story of two vampires who have been alive since the beginning of time. What would you expect their homes to look like when they've been alive for eternity? Filled with gorgeous textiles and antiques, of course.
Set in the 1950s on the Amalfi Coast, "The Talented Mr. Ripley" beguiles viewers for the first half of the film with timeless interiors that exude with airy, holiday-inspired charm. As the movie darkens, so do the interiors: heavy roman damasks and dark furniture emerge. Both are a delight.
The fashion designer's taste in interiors was just as elegant and sophisticated as her personal style was. In this film, black and white interiors are emblematic of her all-or-nothing relationship with the Russian composer.
The story of a man's relationship with Rome, "The Great Beauty" is a love letter to Italy's capital, and the city's architectural and interior design are at the heart of the movie. Just as his perspective of the city changes as he ages, the film shows a range of Italian interior styles: gritty, modern, gaudy, and traditional.
The family home in the "The Royal Tenenbaums" might as well be an additional character in the story. It reinforces the eccentric nature of each family member, bolstering the insight viewers gain into the larger-than-life, dysfunctional family. And yes, there's even zebra wallpaper.
It's one of the original romantic comedies and still one of the best of the genre. Diane Keaton plays an unpretentious yet quirky wasp who forms an unlikely relationship with a nervously funny Woody Allen. Annie Hall's New York apartment is artfully eclectic, filled with stacks of books, cafe curtains, and plush chairs that feel just as relevant today as they did in 1977, when the film was released.
"I Am Love" was filmed in the imposing Villa Necchi Campiglio, a family home in Milan that was built by Piero Portaluppi in the early 1930s. The rooms are classically Italian bourgeois: understated but grand, luxurious yet relentlessly modern.
Set in contemporary Paris, this Woody Allen film tells the story of an author with a penchant for the past. He gets swept away into periods of history only to find that they're not as dreamy as he'd imagined. It's a beautiful exploration of the “what if,” and fuels nostalgia for bygone eras of interior design. Gertrude Stein’s salon is especially intriguing, with an extensive art collection on its walls that includes Pablo Picasso's portrait of her.
These Stunning Movie Interiors Will Inspire Your Next Design Project
Interiors are the unsung hero of most great movies. Often times, unless they're large productions like "The Great Gatsby" or "Marie Antoinette," a film's design goes uncelebrated. Sets are excellent studies for interior inspiration: they're designed to appear as though they are actually inhabited, rather than picture-perfect renditions for the camera. Furthermore, their lived-in look can evoke a certain mood that reflects the film's particular disposition. Fair warning: these movie interiors, from lavish and decadent spaces to brazenly modern rooms, are sure to inspire your next movie night—and your next design project.
Grab some popcorn and get ready to swoon!
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