ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Inside The Shards: Recreating 1980s LA Interiors with Vintage Finds

architecture-design · 2026-08-08

The new FX series The Shards, executive produced by Ryan Murphy and based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel, recreates the opulent homes of 1981 Los Angeles prep-school elites. Production designer Cat Smith and set decorator Lori Mazuer sourced period-accurate furniture from platforms like Chairish, 1st Dibs, and Instagram sellers, as well as local vintage shops. Key pieces include a Karl Springer bullnose dresser, a Vladimir Kagan-style chair, and a custom round bed. The team also recreated the iconic Hamburger Hamlet restaurant, commissioning a giclée of artist Michael Bryan's original painting. Future episodes feature a skating rink inspired by Xanadu and a Soul Train-like dance show, plus a Homecoming parade float influenced by the Memphis design style.

Key facts

  • The Shards is an FX series based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel, set in 1981 Los Angeles.
  • Ryan Murphy served as executive producer and provided visual inspiration from American Gigolo.
  • Production designer Cat Smith and set decorator Lori Mazuer sourced furniture from Chairish, 1st Dibs, and local vintage shops.
  • Debbie's bedroom features a molded-plastic vanity from Facebook Marketplace and a Karl Springer dresser from Instagram seller Pickin' Through Time.
  • Liz's bedroom includes a custom 15-foot vanity and a round bed with a curved brass headboard.
  • Bret's bedroom has a three-dimensional navy-blue chevron wall and a vintage desk chair by Dick Spierenburg for Castelijn.
  • The team recreated Hamburger Hamlet with custom-made furniture and a giclée of Michael Bryan's original artwork.
  • Future episodes include a skating rink inspired by Xanadu and a Homecoming parade float based on the Memphis design style.
  • Smith and Mazuer paid attention to details like period-appropriate telephones, intercom systems, and pool inflatables.
  • The series aims to capture the aesthetic of early '80s Los Angeles with a mix of high-end and vintage pieces.

Entities

Artists

  • Cat Smith
  • Lori Mazuer
  • Ryan Murphy
  • Bret Easton Ellis
  • Igby Rigney
  • Hayes Warner
  • Wes Bentley
  • Evan Rachel Wood
  • Kaia Gerber
  • Graham Campbell
  • Homer Gere
  • Karl Springer
  • Vladimir Kagan
  • Dick Spierenburg
  • Michael Bryan
  • Steve Chase
  • Lou Hodges

Institutions

  • FX
  • Chairish
  • 1st Dibs
  • Vintage On Point
  • Divine's
  • Sunbeam Vintage
  • Pickin' Through Time
  • Universal Prop House
  • Amsterdam Modern
  • Hamburger Hamlet
  • Sherman Oaks Galleria
  • Galerie Magazine

Locations

  • Los Angeles
  • United States
  • Monterey Park
  • Highland Park
  • Milan
  • Italy

Sources