When we last saw Olivia Pope, she was on a plane headed for parts
unknown, but we hope she returns to Washington D.C. in the season four
premiere Thursday night so that we can see more of her gorgeous
apartment. We especially covet the living room, where she cozies up on
the sofa with a (very) generous glass of wine after a hard day being the
fixer extraordinaire — and the president’s mistress.
Lucky for us
and the rest of the Gladiators out there, the set and production
designers of “Scandal” — production designer Corey Kaplan, set decorator
Barbara Cassel and production assistant Sandie Bailey — are sharing the
inside scoop on how they designed the space for Liv so we can recreate
it in our own homes.
The mood
The key
to the space is all about comfort, Kaplan says, “a place where you can
take your shoes off and feel safe. We didn’t want the apartment to be
large, so Olivia can cocoon in her space.”
This comforting cocoon is achieved by a neutral color palette. The living room walls are painted with Benjamin Moore’s Nantucket Gray, while the sofa, two chairs and bench are upholstered in various shades of white and ivory to mimic Olivia's wardrobe.
Olivia’s comfy sofa is a custom piece from the Cisco Home furniture line, The Beaumont, but if shelling out dough for custom furniture isn’t in your budget, you can get the look with the Talbot Premier Sofa in Vanilla from La-Z-Boy.
“Don’t
think too much when you shop for your couches,” Kaplan. “Use your gut.
Think simple, the accessories will spice up the room — pillow, blanket,
standing lamp.”
The
amazing architecture of the living room is based on the glamorous El
Royale apartments in Los Angeles, a rococo-style building that set the
standard for vintage Hollywood architectural elegance and prestige. The
designers selected the place because it's classic, stylish, beautiful
and elegant — all words that would also describe Olivia Pope.
Get the look by
adding similar architectural elements in your home — arched doorways, a
mix of woods and plaster details. The set designers suggest checking
out Rejuvenation, Crown City Hardware and vintage salvage yards for carved corbels and other elements to bring in that same feeling.
Pops of color
Relaxing blues accent Olivia’s living room, adding interest without upsetting the dreamy vibe.
You can get the look of the teal armchair with the Stratford Chair in Queens Velvet Teal from Ballard Designs and add a bit of color with a Dakotah accent pillow from Wayfair or in a Solid Silk Hand-Loomed Pillow Cover in light pool from West Elm.
Tables
Avid
watchers of “Scandal” may have noticed that some living room items have
changed slightly as the show was filmed on location in season one and
moved to a set on season two. One of those items was the coffee table.
Designers needed a larger piece that would accommodate Pope's lifestyle,
which often includes a bowl of popcorn and extra-large glass of wine.
Get the look of the coffee table by giving a coat of matte gold paint to the Andrews Coffee Table from Ballard Designs. Just don’t forget to add a heaping bowl of popcorn and large glass of wine on top.
The “Scandal” designers purchased the side tables from Bassman Blaine in the LA Mart, but you can snag a similar look with the Willow Accent Table at Pottery Barn. Top them with the Safavieh Amy Gourd Table Lamps from Walmart to mimic the ones Liv has from the Pasadena Antique Center.
Art and accessories
While
the overall look of Olivia’s apartment is clean and simple, carefully
curated accessories and personal items pepper the space while abstract
paintings in muted colors, like “Orange Trees” by artist Nancy Crawford,
decorate the walls.
Books, flowers, and other small objects are used to elevate Pope's appearance as a sophisticated and well-cultured woman.
Get
the look by displaying minimal collected trinkets and pictures on
tables and bookcases, or fake the globe-trotter mementos with décor
items like the Buddha Bookend Set from Pier 1 Imports or the Tracery Vase from Birch Lane.
