25 years on, Gilmore Girls still inspires our home decor
For some of us, the transition from summer to fall calls for a dozenth rewatch of Gilmore Girls. Practically synonymous with autumn, the beloved series, which turns 25 this month, is cozy as they come. At Homes & Gardens, we believe that the comfort largely stems from the show’s distinct interiors, which embodied the early aughts, New England sensibilities, and retro decor all at once.
From Lorelai’s shabby-chic home, which is adorned with vintage furnishings and quirky accessories, to Luke’s Diner, a classic Americana-style haunt with cafe curtains and a no-phones-allowed sign looming, the spaces of the show combine sentimental objects with a familiar, lived-in feel (and, notably, an aversion towards sleek, contemporary designs).
‘It’s like a modern spin on nostalgia,’ Lauren Crasco, a production designer on seasons 2 and 3 of the show, explains of the aesthetic to Homes & Gardens exclusively. ‘So many of the things we did had references in the past. There was a timelessness. It was using lived-in pieces that already had a lot of history to them. I think of Gilmore as being a simpler time in the U.S. A lot of the things we did harken back to the turn of the century or the 1940s.’
Shop the Gilmore Girls-inspired edit
KitchenAid Drip Coffee Maker
Big and beautiful, KitchenAid’s drip coffee maker is one of the easiest our editor has ever tested. It’s incredible value for the flavors and capacity of this beautiful brewer. We’d like to think the Gilmores would approve.
This stunning curtain set features a blue and cream color palette and delicate florals, perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, or even living rooms.
Aliceville Storage Bookcase
Perfect for displaying books, photos, or ceramics, this antique bookshelf is handsome in its dark wood finish.
While the influences on the show’s interiors are wide-ranging, the designers looked to books and magazines for cues on creating environments that feel historically and geographically accurate (the show is set in the fictional town of Stars Hollow and Hartford, Connecticut).
‘Classic Country Inns was definitely one of the books I used [for reference] when we had to expand the inn that Lorelai was working at,’ Lauren says. ‘We did the dining room… there was an inn in Maine that had this beautiful painted wallpaper. I know I absolutely use that as a reference for the Independence Inn.’
Quality materials were of utmost importance, which Rachel Kamerman, the production designer in the show’s later seasons, explains contributed to the overall homeyness.
‘There was no Pinterest,’ Rachel explains. ‘It was super analog, a lot of magazines, a lot of books. That way, I understand the language that I want to speak when designing a set, be it architecture, detailing the mold, and wallpaper. I knew that I wanted to do real materials… sometimes with sets, people might tend to do a vinyl faux flooring or a faux tile board, and I knew that I wanted to bring in as many real elements to get that textural nuance.’
Known for its pop culture references and extensive dialogue, it makes sense that attention to detail was extended to the maximalist set decoration on the show.
‘I’m probably more of a minimalist in certain ways, but on this show, I was really able to lean into very decorative sort of trends,’ Lauren tells Homes & Gardens. ‘And there was a lot of hand-painting. There was a lot of stenciling. If we put wallpaper into a room, I had my painters one time go in and with gold paint and outline a bunch of the leaves. I said, ‘We need to make this really sparkle.’ So there was an opportunity in the way that the characters reacted to their environment that allowed me to kind of be a little more maximalist.’
Naturally, antiques and heirlooms make up a huge part of the set dressing on the show, from Emily and Richard’s luxe Connecticut mansion to Lorelai’s eclectic living room. It turns out that these accessories came to fruition through active vintage hunting and personal crew possessions.
‘We got a collection of antique spoons for the dining room of the Dragonfly Inn, and then created artwork and did shadow boxes with that collection. That was a vintage find. I also used some old family photos because if you’re using artwork, it has to be licensed or cleared. That was certainly very precious to me to know that they were kind of guardians of the set, too.’
If you’re looking to replicate this timeless and blended style into your own home, Rachel recommends an approach that feels, aptly, very book-loving-Rory-centric.
‘Look online for set photos of things that I created or the other production designers and their set decorators have created over the years on the show,’ Rachel recommends. ‘Go to bookstores, go through design books and magazines, and really embrace all of it.’
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