FRIENDS - What makes Monica's apartment such an aggregating and special environment?
- Adriely Salvador
- Jul 26, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 26, 2024
This acclaimed series that won the hearts of young people in the 90's and continues to be a great success, even after 30 years of its recording and the death of some actors, such as Matthew Perry, interpreter of the iconic sextet character, Chandler Bing, in October 2023.
Full of funny, happy and moving stories, unquestionable talent and charisma from each of the performers, the series is capable of making us feel truly connected to the characters and their dynamics, as if they were really our close friends, being a perfect option for an effective "dopamine injection" in our free or sad hours. Those who love them simply can't stop watching. Once you've finished, watch it again, or put on a random episode to enjoy while you cook dinner for friends or during any other activity that allows you to feel light and at ease with life.
But, let's think here: what, besides all this dynamic of the series that we love so much, makes us feel this "comfort" when watching it and that always motivates us to keep watching and, suddenly, we don't realize it?
Because I come here to tell you that the cozy and vintage feel in the decoration of the series' environments, especially in the corner of the group of these six young people, commonly known as Monica's apartment, is largely responsible for the sensation generated in us. Yes! The maximalist style, full of information, but very well composed and without disharmony, the typical "grandma's house", so adored by me and many of you, is strongly present in Monica's iconic apartment. It's not just because of a spacious living room and an established hostess that this apartment was almost always a meeting point for friends, in addition to the famous Central Perk. Who out there, crazy about Friends, doesn't remember when Chandler made a joke about the apartment to Monica, referring to it as "grandma's apartment"? Then! In addition to a more classic setting, grandmothers' houses tend to be the hub where families get together, always with that cozy energy in the air.
And how is this maximalism characterized in Monica’s apartment? Let's list here some elements present in it that bring this look and take advantage of the tips to apply them in your home, if you want more coziness!
VIVID COLORS
We easily see the presence of highlighted colors in the apartment’s environments, starting with the entrance door. Together with other walls in the apartment, the door painted in vibrant lilac becomes even more special with the presence of the famous yellow frame around the peephole, giving that unique touch of personality and playfulness for a more cozy and youthful environment.
We also noticed the turquoise blue in the kitchen cabinets, which stand out with utensils and groceries on display in the upper cabinets without doors, which brings a more rustic and personalized character, as it emphasizes the super organized character of the character Monica in the storage of the kitchen environment, in addition to being in conjunction with wooden elements in the structure of the place, exposed bricks on the back wall, patterned curtains on the lower cabinet and window and more classic furniture.
Another detail regarding colors as an element of personality and warmth in the environment is their combination with other different colors, as every color has its opposite complementary color, the combinations of which always work very well. To better visualize how color combinations work, read about colorimetry and the color wheel!
In the background of the image below we can see a perfect combination between a light and prominent shade of green, the lilac tone present further on and on most of the walls in the room and the earthy tone of the structural wood. It is possible to check the complementarity of these colors on the color wheel! ;)
Bright colors are also seen in the furniture. In the image below we see that the chairs are, in addition to different models, also painted in different colors and finishes.
CLASSIC / VINTAGE / RETRO FURNITURE
Look at each image in this article and you will see, from the furniture to the famous yellow frame on the entrance door, a more classic design, which can be created with objects and furniture originally from the period (vintage), customized or not, or retro (furniture manufactured currently in a model and finish that make them look period). Boiseries on cabinet doors, bedside tables and beds, cabinet and drawer handles in more elaborate models, cutouts on the backs of chairs, legs of side tables and bedside tables in carved wood with a natural finish or with painting techniques such as polychrome or patina (effects that imitate wear, making the furniture appear older or rustic).
FLOOR
The floor in Monica's apartment would be even more cozy and warm (literally) if it were made of wood, but the ceramic floor decorated in earthy tones that we see in the photos of this apartment also makes it beautiful and well characterized. The earthy and decorated tones harmonize easily with the elements present.
The application of ceramic floors like this is not very popular in new projects, and is even out of use, but if your objective is to design and ambience a more traditional space and/or in a retro style capable of "transporting" you to previous decades, you can forget what I wrote at the beginning of the paragraph and adopt its application without fear of making mistakes in the design, and you may even save a little more on your investment.
LAMPS, PLANTS AND DECORATION OBJECTS
Look again at each image in this article and at the cuts I made below to highlight the exact items of some of which all environments are filled with decorative objects, and the lamps themselves are also part of this decoration team due to their very detailed classic designs.
In the first cut, I highlighted the kitchen wall, where it is possible to see, in addition to the perfect bricks as covering, the copper pans hanging on a super rustic support, a perfect choice in characterizing rusticity and even the simplicity of old grandmothers' houses, but full of charm and identity.
The decorative plates on the wall and cabinets are also super classic and timeless, which leave the kitchen full of identity and warmth.
A flowery curtain on the window, refrigerator magnets with reminders, a pendant lamp in rustic material and even a decorative ceramic on the pillar on the right characterize the maximalism in the decoration of the place.
On the left side of the bathroom door we see a little frame with a high relief image with prominent colors, a lamp in an iron structure and super elaborate domes to characterize the classic that we love, followed by photo frames, candlesticks with colorful candles and small vases with little plants, soft tones or dehydrated that generate great warmth.
In this other image we see more plants on top of the refrigerator and the green corner right after the bathroom and with the, even, mysterious closet of Monica's mess. There we see more classic lamps with great detail, a metal floor support for another plant and more frames, which are not visible from this angle, but in the image below you can see them clearly on the left side.
Here we have a more comprehensive image of the living room, where we see more lamps (floor, sconces and pendants) that are also super personalized, wall decoration such as the two masks in aged gold, the famous poster behind the TV, more printed curtains, small frames on the right and more plants!
In Monica's room, which we saw previously, I highlighted the decoration with stacked books and a small superimposed sculpture, plus a lamp with a stylized body, all in aged gold, harmonizing with the provençal style of the furniture.
Well, given the above, I believe you can now find some good references from this iconic and beloved apartament to make your home much more cozy and enjoyable to be in and "recharge your battery" on a daily basis!
Until the next post!
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