Royal Tenenbaum Residence
The mind of Wes Anderson creates 111 Archer Avenue and a spectacular mansion from 1899 is given new life.
Living Rooms is a column on YGL that takes a closer look into the designs, details, and character of spaces. A study of what makes a house a home, even when it’s fictional. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to lovely and unique dwellings—sometimes I watch films just to hang out in the spaces on the screen. Here’s to our homes!
Today we are diving into the whimsical world of Wes Anderson. The Royal Tenenbaums is a 2001 comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson and co-written with Owen Wilson. It was my first Anderson experience back in 2011. That’s correct, I was ten years late to the premiere and unaware of many indie films up until that point. It took moving to Vancouver and dating a hipster in the arts scene to introduce me to the works of this extraordinary director. Experiencing an Anderson film for the first time is an experience most viewers don’t forget. Each frame is a work of art in and of itself. Everything is pleasantly organized and surprisingly aesthetic. Anderson’s work has become very distinct and influential over the past two decades. Even if you haven’t seen his films, you have most definitely seen something inspired by them—whether that’s fashion, interiors, photography, or cinema. The Darjeeling Limited (2007) is my chosen favourite of his works but the Tenenbaum mansion is something special, and that’s the space we’ll be exploring together today.
Located in West Harlem’s Hamilton Heights, this is not a stereotypical home for the Big Apple. The five-story brick construction was designed by Adolph Hoak and went up in 1899. It boasts a 6,000 square foot floor plan with over 50 windows, an elevator, and impressive outdoor space—a castle-like property confidently placed in the heart of New York City. Anderson rented the space for six months to get all the staging and filming completed for the movie. If you’re interested in living large, this storybook home is renting for $20,000 USD a month.
The Tenenbaum family required a spacious dwelling with rich history, undeniable character, and strong but time-worn bones. A space to illustrate the eccentric inner workings of each individual. For who can tell the story of a family better than the walls of the home that contained them for decades? Anderson uses decor to speak to his audience—they say a picture is worth a thousand words but I think with Anderson’s obsession for detail, his pictures might be worth a few extra. His brother—a skilled cartoonist—helped him create detailed sketches of each room, then he hired decorators (David and Sandy Wasco) to bring these designs to life. The sketches were included in the sleeve of the DVD case, along with a note from Anderson. Such a beautiful touch! Alright, let’s jump up to the third floor and revel over Margot Tenenbaum’s bedroom.
Arguably one of Anderson’s most iconic characters of all time, Margot Tenenbaum is one of three child proteges in the family—a play writer granted over $50,000 in scholarship funding before finishing primary school. Margot’s room is an extension of her creative mind—worldly, sophisticated, and highly refined—exuding creative talent and wonder. You may have noticed the walls in her room are lined with legendary Scalamandre zebra print wallpaper. Originally commissioned in 1945 as a bespoke pattern for the walls of Gino of Capri—an Italian restaurant in NYC. The story of this wallpaper is spectacular: “314 leaping zebras set against spaghetti-sauce-red” that eventually became an international best selling print. The memorable decor of Margot’s room has lived on by influencing several fine-dining establishments around the globe.
So many original details of the house were preserved including parquet flooring, fireplaces, and ornate molding. Google tells me this is ‘Flemish Revival’ style architecture—recognised by red bricks, stepped gables, and stained glass windows. Turkish rugs occupy nearly every room, sometimes overlapping each other and competing for floor space. Dark wood finishes accent the deep pink walls. Maybe that’s why I love this space so much—pink walls! There are chandeliers in many of the rooms, others featuring vintage brass wall sconces and elegant floor lamps. The lighting plays a big role in adding a glamorous warmth to this home. Although I’m aware it would cost a small fortune to own and furnish this not-so-humble abode, it feels somewhat obtainable on the screen. The space comes with similar flaws to many family homes from a much lower tax bracket. The office is cluttered with decades worth of belongings and unfinished projects while the kitchen could use some serious upgrades. The dusty and unorganized games closet is lit up by pulling a green monopoly house someone tied onto the end of the single hanging pull-string bulb. Now that’s the kind of magic that turns a movie set into a home!
Another lovely installation is the gallery wall encompassing the staircase. So far from pretentious, it consists of children’s crayon art, hand written notes, and a stuffed boar’s head. I love the feel it brings to the front entrance—familiarizing visitors with the lively and accomplished lives of its residents. Just under the staircase is a tiny telephone room equipped with a cherry red rotary phone, chalkboard scheduler, and wood-panelled walls. The small multicolour stained glass pendant lamp brings it all together and then transports you to the lobby of a chic hotel. Oh, to have a tiny elegant room for telephone calls! Makes me nostalgic for something I’ve never had or knew I wanted until now.
It was very challenging for me not to turn this article into a movie review—the star studded cast is quirky, brilliant, and wildly entertaining. If not for the bizarre and poignant storyline, I would highly recommend watching this film for the decor and wardrobe designs alone. Seriously though, the outfits are epic. I will end things here before I ramble on for another five paragraphs about how I wish I could walk these hallways. I’d love to hear your thoughts, let me know in the comments below.
Have you seen The Royal Tenenbaums?
Do you have a favourite Wes Anderson film?
Have you noticed the influence from this film in fashion/design?
*Unless labelled otherwise—all photos are © The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).
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I LOVE this segment you do! And it’s making me want to watch this again immeads.
What a fun look at the house that was used in filming. I like this film. I've thought about being Margot Tenenbaum for Halloween several times, she's iconic and pretty recognizable.