Picture this: New York City, 1998.
Sex and the City's Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte were the epitome of the modern women, navigating life in the big city with all the trials and tribulations of being a single women. From careers, relationship drama and some pretty amazing fashion, the show was iconic and has stood the test of time.
When Sex and the City came out, I was 12 years old, and more than likely barely understood the story lines, but I was always attracted to the glamour of "the ladies who lunch" and the backdrop hustle and bustle of New York City. I think this show started my obsession with Manhattan and an unattainable life that I would never be able to live. Fun fact, I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, studying interior design, for a very short period of time right out of high school - and let me tell you, my being broke in New York City never looked like Carrie's being broke in New York City!
Rent Controlled Living
Living in the Upper East Side, Carrie supposedly paid a rent of only $700 dollars for a one bedroom apartment with a large walk incloset, cute living room and a kitchen that she rarely used, which is completely unheard of. Similar to Rachel and Monica's Friends' apartment (click here for my 2019 Reimagination of the Friends' apartment), rent control was never that forgiving, and rarely exists in 2020's NYC.
Unfortunately the apartment doesn't really exist. The exterior shot is of a brownstone on Perry Street and the interior was a set that was built and re-built throughout the seasons and movies of Sex and The City.
“In New York, you're always looking for a job, apartment or a boyfriend”
Carries interior design style, much like her own fashion sense, was colorful, a bit messy (shall we say lived in) and smoke-filled with late nights at the writer's desk dreaming up her latest dating and sex-centric column. Book lined walls, eclectic furniture and typical 90s lilacs and blues defined the space and made it the perfect bachelorette pad where she spent many a nights crying over Mr. Big, having one night stands or enjoying a nice Cosmo with the girls.
But what would Carrie's apartment look like set in today's design world? Not as a fast forward into realtime 2020 (as we last saw Carrie in the movie Sex and the City 2, she was living with Big in a swanky, more adult and couple-friendly penthouse), but a thirty-something Carrie Bradshaw in 2020.
Sex in the MODERN City
Realistically speaking, Carrie could never afford her upper east side apartment, especially with her wardrobe budget. More than likely she would be living in Chelsea in a studio apartment and definitely would not have a walk in closet!
Sexy, minimalistic art silhouettes would line the walls such as "Minimalist Modern Woman Minimalist Portrait"
...And a faux plant (come on, we all know Carrie couldn't keep a real plant alive) would be seated on this Female Form Side Table...
She'd stay up all hours of the night working at this mid-century inspired desk, Ashford Desk and nervously roll around on the Channel Ivory Velvet Office Chair waiting for her editor's call. The Kelly Wearstler Linden Lamp would lend some light on love, life and her notepad.
Without her enormous walk in closet, Carrie would need somewhere to store AND showcase her Jimmy Choos - the Cameron Clothing Rack would do just that.
Before heading out for a night on the town with the ladies, Carrie would lounge on the super chic Infiniti Grand Curved Sofa with cream colored natural pillows such as the Laverna Pillow and the Dessert Pillow Case while resting her cocktail on the Murray Drink Table.
2020 Carrie Bradshaw
A Carrie in the world of social media, social distancing, White Claws and online dating would be a far cry from the Carrie that we all know and love, her color pallet might be a little more boho and her home style a tad more modern, but she'd still be the same Carrie living by the quote "They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style."
Wanting a room design inspired by a Sex and the City? Contact ABD to find out how to get started with an eDesign Package today!
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