Everything is Marvelous!

January 31, 2018

When I saw Rachel Brosnahan win a Golden Globe for Best Actress, I’d never heard of her OR “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

But now I’m three hours into streaming this Amazon gem, and I might stay home tomorrow to finish it!

The formula of this show is a total win for me: ’50s New York, terribly chic women, The Village and its early comedy clubs, an appearance by “Lennie Bruce,” and a script with laugh-out-loud lines scattered around.

Oh, and did I mention a gorgeously furnished, pre-war apartment on the Upper West Side?

The heroine, Miriam “Midge” Maisel, is a twenty-something, intelligent, and elegant wife and mother of two who obviously has a flare for decorating. We’re introduced to her home by a long hallway from the elevator. The front door opens to a dream foyer, bigger than most bedrooms, that smacks of Hollywood glam.

I love the idea of the vanity”desk” here for dashing off a quick goodbye note, and the fabulous mirror where you can take one more look to make sure there’s no lipstick on your teeth.

And the pink rug and wallpaper! How perfect is that salmon pink. Especially now that pink is permeating everything in today’s world, I admire the set designer for the vintage yet au courant touches that are so fun to pick out!

Midge’s living room is spot on.

Again, a unique pink rug, with a black and red bull’s eye to anchor the center; a sectional that anyone would covet today; two very contemporary chairs for the times that look like they might be Wegner or Risom originals… The tall antique Asian screen that gives the room its coziness and credentials. Probably something Midge’s mother cast off. (The parents live in the same building, and have a much more traditional, stuffy apartment with some period pieces.)

If I had decorated Midge’s place in the ’50s, I would have been quite proud of this project! The unique combination of furniture pieces, the colors (that pink!) and the bright yet cozy nature of the rooms make me like Midge and her whole vibe from the moment she opens the door.

We get to glimpse Midge’s dining room during a family dinner that turns sour.

But the room remains unbiased in its elegance and soft lighting. Check out the striped drapes–dramatic yet not overpowering. And Midge’s bold decision to add a modernist lamp in the corner! All is softened by candlelight and the warm ivory woodwork against the pristine white walls…

In a quieter moment, we are guests in the Maisel kitchen, which is the most darling vintage kitchen I’ve every seen.

As Midge feeds her baby, let your eye wander around to catch the Mexican tile floor, white subway tile backsplash, that oh-so-red trim everywhere, and the best touch–a contemporary art piece on the red wall. That lime green wall phone so cleverly picks up and highlights the art in the adjoining hall, as well.

Once we’re invited into the master bedroom, we’re really understanding Midge, and realizing her husband, Joel, has zero interest in adding his two cents to the furnishings!

Again, that luscious pink. And the black faced side tables add some weight. That’s a good touch. The rest of the white furniture fades as the polka dot drapes, sheers and bed coverlet take center stage! Symmetry of mirrors and lamps, bed crowned by the dramatic window. It’s a perfect love nest…