Sconce and the City
“IN NEW YORK, YOU’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A JOB, A BOYFRIEND, OR AN APARTMENT”
Season Two Episode One: Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Some things I may not know. But Sex and the City? Sex and the City, I know…
…“A woman approaching her 30s gushing about SATC? Oh, brother…” you may be thinking to yourself. And honestly, you’d be absolutely right. But the older I get, the less I let something being wildly popular stop me from unabashedly enjoying it. I’ll scream it from the rooftops, with the same pitch and tenacity as one of Samantha’s orgasms: it’s one of the best shows ever made.
For me, those four women - flaws and all - are as much a part of my 20s as hangovers, the realisation that salad isn’t a real lunch, and discovering SPF. They’re in there. Cemented.
I could - and often do - corner people to discuss, at length, the intricate details of the series: why Debbie deserved better, how Samantha is the most loyal friend anyone could hope for, and the fact that Carrie’s tutu in the opening credits cost $5 from a bargain bin. But that’s not what we’re here for today.
Instead, let’s park the Manolos for a minute and talk about what really deserves a deep-dive: the interiors. You don’t need another blog post telling you how influential the fashion was (and still is, because it really is). This isn’t about that. It’s more about the colours, moods and spaces that evolve from season to season: what shifts to reflect the time, and more importantly, what stays the same.
Starting with, of course…
Carrie’s studio
Our favourite interiors in Sex and the City: Carrie’s West Village Apartment
It’s a rent-controlled fantasy where Duck Egg meets effortless clutter, and it’s chic as. Though it likely smelled like an 850 square foot ashtray and there wasn’t a carb in sight, no matter where Carrie was in her life (or however she was self-sabotaging that season), this place always felt like coming home.
That being said, do I wish that Carrie held on with Aiden long enough to see how the two apartments would have looked knocked through? Abso-fuckin-lutely, kid.
Big’s Bachelor Pad
From the familiarity of Perry Street to the aloofness of Fifth Avenue, Big’s apartment is hyper-masculine, expensive and the archetypal 00's money man cave. We rarely see it, because he’s rarely there. He’s a man about town who’s either working or chasing tail. His apartment is an elusive space we (through the lens of Carrie) are rarely made to feel at home in. But what we do see screams big dick red energy.
CHARLOTTE’S UPPER EAST SIDE APARTMENT
I can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when we’re treated to the inside of the Upper East Side Princess’ One-Carat apartment. It’s a WASPs wet dream and one of the only major interior transformations we see in the show. From Mallard to Millwork, Charlotte created a space where every cushion is plumped within an inch of its life and the hydrangeas are always freshly cut, with artwork that gently whispers “I went to Smith”. It’s elegant, proper, and as unrealistic as Charlotte’s expectations in men.
Maranda’s brooklyn brownstone
If I had a nickel for things we’ll never forgive Miranda for... I’d be able to afford her $3M home in Brooklyn that she was sooo inconvenienced by moving to,
Without going off on too much of a tangent about how Miranda didn’t deserve Steve, what must be applauded is his foresight that owning Brooklyn property would soon become a license to print money, making their first family home - no doubt - an absolute goldmine right about now and a hefty retirement fund. You’re welcome.
So with all of that said I couldn’t help but wonder, were their throw pillows just decor, or silent witnesses to all their bad decisions and takeout-fueled breakdowns? Did that sound like a convincing Carrie line? Anyway… all of this to say, multiple re-watches have me noticing just how much the spaces - from closets to cocktail bars - impact the mood, dictate the vibe and help tell the story of four single girls in their 30s in New York City. Whether that be Miranda’s sofa with added lumbar support or Samantha’s ceiling mirrors for “ambiance” - each design choice is an extension of who they are, and I for one think that’s great.*
Now, hand me a Manhattan.
