architect design™: BUtterfield 8 movie sets

Monday, September 8, 2014

BUtterfield 8 movie sets

This past weekend I watched the movie that won Elizabeth Taylor her first Oscar in 1960, BUtterfield 8. While Mrs Taylor's performance and the movie as a whole were excellent I have to say what stole the show for me was the NYC apartment of her society 'boyfriend' Weston Liggett played by Laurence Harvey.

The neutral tones of the apartment were predominantly gray with black doors and white trim. Sound very 2014 to you? I also loved that the plaster casings around the door - seen above -and in the fireplace surround seen in the first photo were a very classical Greek key. Design inspiration is everywhere if you just look!
Apologies for the photo quality which I took of my tv screen!

8 comments:

Blue said...: I'm glad someone knows his Greek keys from his Chinese frets!; September 8, 2014 at 1:13 PM
ArchitectDesign™ said...: Haha, I do what I can! When the movie started I just thought 'well hello there, I need to photograph this'. Love this modern but classical casing technique....I've seen smaller versions but never anything so hefty before. I have a plaster sample of a similar moulding but I thought it was meant as a crown backer!; September 8, 2014 at 1:15 PM
Mark D. Ruffner said...: Hi, Stefan,

What I like about those Greek key surrounds is the scale. What otherwise would be a handsome detail suddenly become a focal point. I'll bet the architect or interior designer was an admirer of Sir John Soane.; September 8, 2014 at 2:15 PM
Chronica Domus said...: I need to watch this film, thank you. Judging by the apartment set, I think I'll like it. The Greek key is a classic element used to full impact here. Just beautiful!; September 8, 2014 at 3:08 PM
A Perfect Gray said...: Good eye. And great pics, especially from an iphone. I saw a few snips from the Graduate recently and I am dying to see it again just for the interiors. Now I see old films in such a new way. donna; September 8, 2014 at 3:24 PM
Row homes and Cobblestones said...: Stefan,
Haven't seen this movie for many, many decades, Time to revisit this movie ... I guess that tired clique of everything old is new again applies. Can't wait to see the interiors.
I've been placing grey into my sepia tones throughout my home, it just feels relaxing. As is often said there is no such thing anymore of an original idea. Yikes if this is true ... but I agree what old seems to be fresh and new.
Vera; September 8, 2014 at 5:02 PM
Thomas Hogglestock said...: Have you seen Woody Allen's film "Interiors"? Not my favorite Allen film, but the interiors are pretty understated and chic, and bleak actually. Which is all a metaphor for the human lives depicted in the film. Worth a glance for the background.; September 11, 2014 at 11:25 PM
Bethany [at] Powell Brower Home said...: just that door and greek key moulding in the background of your last picture makes me NEED to see this. plus, i am a huge e.taylor fan. more so for her national velvet days though, versus her white diamonds days :p; September 15, 2014 at 1:31 PM