Movie style: The Break-Up

By: Colleen Tully

Interiors

Jul 25, 2008

Movie style: The Break-Up

By: Colleen Tully

Is it possible to love your home more than your spouse? In the movie, The Break-Up, a dissolved relationship did nothing to move either Gary (Vince Vaughan) or Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) out of their luxurious condo. In fact, territorial lines grew deeper and things got uglier as this unhappy couple tried everything to squeeze each other out.

Observing the condo itself, it's no stretch to see how they based an entire film around this upscale dwelling. While the balance between his-and-her decor styles is a hard line to find, this chic condo hit the mark with an expert mix of hard and soft accents.

The look
Carmen Wageman, designer and owner of Stage-Right Interiors in Toronto, explains this condo does more than just mix his-and-her things together. "This room features a wide assortment of styles, including retro, contemporary and traditional. When combined in this way, this style is known as 'Transitional' -- a style that is classic and timeless, simple and sophisticated."

She says a "Transitional" look offers a warm and serene atmosphere through a mix of fabrics (from leather to vintage), sleek-lined furnishings and earthy green-coloured walls.

Carmen recommends this living room for homeowners who value serenity and relaxation. "If you are looking to create a living room setting that invites your guests to kick up their feet and relax for a time, then this is the style you're looking for," she says.

Copy the look
To recreate the look of this condo in your own living room, Carmen suggests the following accents and furniture pieces:

1 Walls
A warm, muddy undertone colour is a great backdrop for abstract art.
• Try Benjamin Moore's Brandon Beige, CC-530

2 Floors
A cream coloured rug with simple lines and leafy accents lends a calm, casual, peaceful look.

Movie stills courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For more information on The Break-Up on DVD, visit UDVD.ca

Carmen Wageman's Stage Right Interiors has grown to become Toronto's largest full-service staging company. Carmen and her team can supply this look from The Break-Up as part of their "in-home" design service.

3 Sofas
White sofa
Straight-line style with tufted back creates a mix of traditional and contemporary. This look is great if a Transitional room is what you're after. Purchased in a cream coloured ultra-suede will give you an extra modern lift with the bonus of the ultra-suede stain-resistant durability.

Couch: Stylus
Style: Haro
Fabric: Endurance Bone
Visit stylussofas.com for dealer information.

Leather sofa
A dark brown leather couch that sits beside a modern style couch relaxes the mood and sets the tone for lingering.

Couch: Stylus
Style: Kyla
Fabric: Dark Brown Leather
Visit stylussofas.com for dealer information.

4 Tables -- clean lines
The glamour of retro can be seen in this simple, edgy coffee and matching end table. The mix of wood and glass keeps this look contemporary and light.

Coffee Table and End Table: Elite
Style: Chelsea
Visit elitedesignfurn.com for dealer information.

5 Chairs -- retro flair
Add a little whimsy to a Transitional space with a couple of retro pattern chairs. This will add colour and style to an otherwise plain pallet. This chair is a balance between masculine and feminine, soft curves and hard lines, and is a must-have for this style of room.

Chair: Rowe
Style: Marcel
Visit rowefurniture.com for dealer information.

6 Windows
A window which combines both dark wood blinds and fabric panels is rich with colour, texture and luxury. Keeping it simple is the key. Limit the pattern and keep the colour of the curtain panels lighter than the walls for a casual urban look.