I don't know if y'all have found this show yet, but 'Shrinking' is one of my new favorites! The story follows Jason Segel's character as he navigates his own personal grief, as a therapist that still has to treat patients in the midst of it all. It's a perfect mix of reality and levity (as the best shows are) and it is now streaming weekly on Apple TV+ (as is my beloved Ted Lasso as of last week).
Of course I am obsessed with the spaces featured on the show, including Harrison Ford's character Paul's office above.
The production designer, Cabot McMullen, talks about his thought process behind each of the characters, and how that affected the design of their offices in this Variety article.
For Paul specifically, he says:
“We saw him as a bit of an enigma, and so we referenced (the book) ‘Fifty Shrinks.’
“It’s about New York therapists and the commentary that each therapist gives about the choices that they made in their offices was fascinating, some are very intentional and some are not. Others are meant to misdirect the patient into a zone where they’re more accessible.
“In Paul’s case, he has Carl Jung references and there’s artwork. He is well traveled and has a diverse collection of antiques, but if you look around the room, there’s nothing personal in there and you can’t get a read on anything.
“When Harrison came in, he’s a very physical actor who feeds off his surroundings and counts on props, set dressing and production design to fuel his process. So, he came in and said, ‘I need a chair with arms because of his character’s Parkinson’s disease. He started showing us where he needed pieces of furniture so he could do push-ups and exercise. He even wanted a bike in there, as he thought Paul would be a cycling enthusiast.”
Harrison Ford's character Paul is intriguing to me, and I thought it would be a fun design exercise to imagine what his bedroom would look like before we see it on the show! His character is well read and well traveled, and we've seen his office and the hallway of his house, but not his bedroom - at least not in depth.
I imagine a California casual look, with a mix of modern pieces and collected antiques and art. I wanted to add a lot of wood tones with heavy grain for warmth, as well as rich, leathery colors that didn't feel too much like a bachelor pad.
I like adding touches of black for that more grounded touch, but keeping the larger pieces, like the upholstered bed and rug, in an overall lighter palette.
If you're looking for a space like this, all pieces are linked below for you to shop, along with a few extras that also fit Paul's vibe.
What do you think about this type of post? Should I do more design exercises based on popular TV shows?! I would not be complaining at all if you said yes :)
Let me know in the comments below or on Instagram! If you're already a fan of the show, you'll know the last episode of the first season drops tomorrow and I am here for it!!! If you haven't watched it yet, I think this weekend might be the perfect time to binge watch the whole season.