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