The homes from your favourite films and series
We all remember a place from a series or a film we love! Here is our selection, just for you.
The purple wall of Monica's apartment in Friends remains iconic, as do the sumptuous villas from some films and series. The StyQR team has put together a little selection of their favourite properties.
A purple wall, artwork and a memorable wardrobe
The first that comes to mind is of course Monica's apartment in Friends! With its open-plan kitchen and huge purple wall. If only we could have such a big flat and invite all our friends!
To recreate Monica's apartment from Friends, start with the purple wall and the open-plan kitchen. The floral sofas, wooden coffee table and large light rug complete the living room décor.
In a much more luxurious style, we were taken with Lily Van der Woodsen's apartment in Gossip Girl. Opulence, artworks and a way of life are the order of the day!
And finally, how could we forget? Carrie Bradshaw's apartment and its incredible wardrobe in Sex and the City! What a time.
Two hotels memorable for opposite reasons
Admit it, you immediately thought of Shining too! Its isolated mountain façade and corridors with orange and red carpet stick in the mind. However, we wouldn't step inside for anything in the world!
The Overlook Hotel in Shining is fictional. The Timberline Lodge in Oregon appears in the film's exterior shots, while the interiors were filmed on studio sets.
Now this one we would happily take a key for life! Its pink, symmetrical façade contrasts with the chilling corridors of Shining. If you haven't yet seen The Grand Budapest Hotel, we highly recommend it.
Villas put to the test by their occupants
We're not quite at Christmas yet but we had to think of Home Alone! The countless classic scenes and the performance of young Macaulay Culkin.
Because their couple was iconic and we watched it again and again, the splendid residence from Mr and Mrs Smith that they gleefully destroy!
The unclassifiables
To us, the saddest home by far! While Harry Potter's family enjoy the good life in a cosy house, he ends up in an under‑stairs cupboard.
Bilbo Baggins's house in The Lord of the Rings remains a memorable setting. A cosy but tiny home, much like its owner. If you want to see the hobbit village in New Zealand, first check what the tour includes: seeing a set doesn't necessarily mean you can go inside Bilbo's house.
Before booking, check the visiting conditions with the organiser. Verify whether the tour provides access to the interior of a hobbit house or only to the exterior sets.
Finally, Bruce Willis's unappealing but very futuristic accommodation in The Fifth Element. Functional, but so impersonal! We're still torn between Gossip Girl and Home Alone. To draw inspiration from these sets, take just one detail for your own place: a colour, a lamp or a flea-market find.
And if all this has made you want to redo your décor, here are some tips to do it without breaking the bank!
From a purple wall to a hotel façade, here are the details that set these settings apart.
| Accommodation | What we remember |
|---|---|
| Monica's apartment, in Friends | The purple wall and the open-plan kitchen |
| Lily's apartment, in Gossip Girl | Luxury and artworks |
| Carrie's apartment, in Sex and the City | Its memorable wardrobe |
| The Overlook Hotel, in Shining | A façade filmed at the Timberline Lodge, interiors shot on studio sets |
| The Grand Budapest Hotel | Its pink, symmetrical façade |
| Bilbo's house | A set to see in New Zealand, with interior access to be checked |
Frequently asked questions
Does the hotel from Shining really exist? The Overlook Hotel is fictional. For its exterior shots, the film features the Timberline Lodge, a hotel located in Oregon.
Can you visit the hotel that appears in Shining?
Yes, the Timberline Lodge is an operational hotel. You can stay there, but you will not see the interiors from Shining: they were filmed on studio sets. Check access arrangements with the hotel before your visit.
How to recreate Monica's décor in your property?
Start with the purple wall, the most recognisable detail of her apartment in Friends. The floral sofas, wooden coffee table and large light-coloured rug complete the living room.
How to take inspiration from a film without redecorating the whole place?
Use a single detail at home: a colour, a lamp or a vintage find. Monica's apartment, for example, owes much to its purple wall.
Which décor can inspire the layout of a small property?
La maison de Bilbon is cosy despite its small size. Bruce Willis's place in 5ème élément shows the other option: a functional, but impersonal, space.
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