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Were you one of the gazillion people who tuned into the much-anticipated season 5 premiere of AMC's "Mad Men"? And were you one of many who took note of Don Draper's swanky new apartment he shares with his bride Megan? Its sleek modern lines and vibrant touches of color spring from the changing styles of the mid-1960s, and set decorator Claudette Didul took the L.A. Times on a virtual tour of apartment 17B.
One of the books from which Didul said she drew inspiration
Draper's new digs are on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, in a place built not too long before the season's June 1966 setting. Didul said she studied popular decorating books of the era, and also was inspired by Megan Draper's youthful love of bold color, and Don Draper's proclivity for the trappings of bachelordom.The Drapers have "one of those new-fangled-for-the-time push-button phones," in the apartment, along with some thoughtful touches that, while put there by Didul, are meant to make you think perhaps Don was dragged through the Bloomingdale's showroom by the new little missus.
Didul walks the Times through her sources for things like the magazine rack, chairs, curtains, wallpaper and dining set. While many items came from Los Angeles-area sellers, a lot of the items were, not surprisingly, sourced online and at malls and flea markets.
To get your own "Mad Men"-styled home accents, you can definitely find items on Etsy, Craigslist, and eBay, like Didul, and you might want to check out "the antique malls in Orange and Pomona, and the Pasadena Antique Center and Annex and Novotny's Antique Gallery in Pasadena," where you'll likely find some treasures.
For a celebration of the earlier years of "Mad Men," check out Apartments I Like's style tribute, or for more hints on getting the Draper apartment look, try ecosalon's guide.
