Top 10 Amazing On-Screen Apartments We Wish Were Ours
#10: Christian Grey's Apartment
“Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015)
Whether you love this franchise or hate it, you can’t deny that the primary love interest has some pretty impressive digs. While Ana may live in unremarkable student housing, Christian’s Seattle penthouse is something to be admired. As the CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc., he clearly has a budget most people can only dream of. The view alone must be worth at least a billion bucks. The place is sleek, modern, and minimalist, and doesn’t reveal the secrets of his dubious “playroom” at first glance.
#9: Josh Baskin’s Apartment
“Big” (1988)
In this classic ‘80s family comedy, Tom Hanks plays Josh Baskin, a kid who becomes magically transformed into an adult after making a wish to a fortune teller machine. Of course, once he has all the privileges and capabilities grown-ups have, he goes all out when it comes time to decorate his NYC apartment. He fills it with everything you imagine a 12-year-old would pick in lieu of standard decor. We’re going to admit that even with a job at FAO Schwarz, Josh probably wouldn't have been able to afford this place, but we’ll let it slide since it’s a fantasy to begin with.
#8: The Gang's Apartment
“New Girl” (2011-18)
We’re going to suspend our disbelief again on this one because we can only imagine how pricey it would be to rent this gorgeous loft in downtown Los Angeles. Jess, Nick, Schmidt, and Winston all live in this four-bedroom apartment with an open floor plan and exposed brick walls. The decor is masculine and cozy, lending itself to intense games of True American. The exterior shots of the building are taken at the Binford Building in the Arts District of L.A., though the interior shots are done on a soundstage.
#7: Theodore Twombly's Apartment
“Her” (2013)
The focus of this futuristic sci-fi flick may not have been the interior design, but the version of Los Angeles imagined by the filmmakers was impeccably conceived. Theodore’s apartment in particular is an interesting imagining of what urban dwellings will look like in the near future, featuring extreme minimalism paired with a mid-century modern aesthetic. The floor to ceiling windows let the entire space be flooded with light. Production designer K.K. Barrett and set decorator Gene Serdena would eventually be nominated for an Academy Award for their stunning work on “Her.”
#6: Amélie Poulain's Apartment
“Amélie” (2001)
Of course the enigmatic lead of this whimsical French film would have an apartment to match her personality. Amélie Poulain’s Parisian apartment puts all of the character’s lovable quirks on display. It would take days to uncover all of the secrets of this idiosyncratic home. Her bedroom is the real showstopper, with red printed wallpaper and eccentric paintings adorning the room, including one with a dog wearing a cone on its head. If you want to recreate the look, the dog painting is available as a print on art.com.
#5: Holly Golightly’s Apartment
“Breakfast at Tiffany's” (1961)
While the most memorable takeaway from this 1961 romantic comedy might be the leading lady’s classically elegant wardrobe, it would be a crime to forget about her Upper East Side apartment. The exterior of Holly’s building was filmed on East 71st Street in New York, and while the interior may have been a set, it’s a set we’d move into in a second. The apartment’s decor is just as carefree and irreverent as its tenant, pairing modish furniture with vintage pieces for a truly eclectic mix.
#4: Monica Geller's Apartment
“Friends” (1994-2004)
This creative and colorful home is the centerpiece of “Friends,” with many of the show’s best moments taking place within its walls. The Greenwich Village apartment is technically rented by Monica and Ross’ grandmother, which explains how any of the gang can afford to live in it. The decor is over-the-top and even a little gaudy at times, but the overall result is cozy and homey. Fun fact: all of the “friends” have actually lived in this apartment at one point or another throughout the series… including Ross.
#3: Mindy Lahiri's Apartment
“The Mindy Project” (2012-17)
As far as dream apartments for women living on their own in Manhattan go, you can’t get much better than this one. Mindy Lahiri’s bright and colorful space is decorated in a way that you can only get away with if you’re not living with a dude. It’s unabashedly feminine, with pops of pink scattered throughout. If you look closely, you’ll see plenty of photos of Mindy on display and most of them are real shots from actress Mindy Kaling’s past. While Danny’s industrial loft style apartment is also enviable, we’d choose Mindy’s original place any day.
#2: Blair Waldorf's Apartment
“Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
The Waldorf family penthouse, which can be found at 1136 Fifth Avenue, is just about as beautiful as it is unattainable. Those floors! That staircase! They have a private elevator that opens right into their entryway for God’s sake! The decor is totally opulent and over-the-top, which is fitting for its high society residents. Blair’s private spaces like her blue-hued bedroom and walk-in closet are the things of adolescent dreams. While there are many other cool spaces on “Gossip Girl,” this one really takes the cake.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Don Draper's Apartment
“Mad Men” (2007-15)
Miranda Priestly's Apartment
“The Devil Wears Prada” (2006)
Molly Gunn’s Apartment
“Uptown Girls” (2003)
#1: Carrie Bradshaw's Apartment
“Sex and the City” (1998-2004)
While it may not be as extravagant as some of the other entries on our list, there’s something in the sweet simplicity of this onscreen apartment that puts it a step above the rest. While the apartment she looks at with Mr. Big in the first movie is breathtaking, Carrie’s place from the original series still has our hearts. Carrie’s one-bedroom space in Manhattan is perfect in its classic understated decor with slightly feminine touches. The best part hands down is the walk-through closet leading into the bathroom. We totally get why you would need both doors!
