A still from the 1982 film Blade Runner
For today’s interior design-themed post, we immerse ourselves in the world of Blade Runner, Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction masterpiece. In preparation, I went over scene after scene with a fine-toothed comb, watching for decor details in a way I’d never before attempted. In fact, I felt a bit like Harrison Ford’s Deckard, using his photo-enhancing ESPER machine to search for clues!
You may think the set of Blade Runner is filled mostly with futuristic geometry and neon lights. Think again. Like the cluttered yet culturally rich Los Angeles of 2019 envisioned by the film, the sets display a vast combination of treasures with motifs ranging from Egyptian to Chinese. (For a peek at our Blade Runner-inspired design collage, scroll down to the bottom portion of the post).
Let’s take a look at some screen shots from the film. We begin with Deckard’s apartment, a tunnel-like space featuring detailed panels/blocks with a look that combines the ancient with the industrial. In fact, these blocks were made from casts of blocks at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis-Brown House, which was used as the exterior of Deckard’s apartment in the film. We can’t imagine his dwelling without the impact of Wright’s design.:
Deckard's apartment
The textural interest continues in the office of Dr. Eldon Tyrell, head of the corporation that manufactures the human-like replicants Deckard has been summoned to terminate. Note the geometric border behind the owl:
An owl perched at Tyrell's office
Filled with brass bird statues and an assortment of marble pedestals and obelisks, Tyrell’s office is a grand space where golden light bounces off the shiny floor and walls. In addition to the picture at the top of the post, here is another look at the space, with select objects in more detail:
The office of Dr. Eldon Tyrell
Details from Tyrell's office
For today’s Mid-Week Match-Up, we decided to try and recreate the look of Tyrell’s office using the decor of today. Here’s what we came up with:
Decor inspired by Tyrell's office from the 1982 film Blade Runner
We’ll start with Tyrell’s long table/desk and the treasures it holds. Our Brussels Dining Table has pedestal legs and can be found at Z Gallerie. We just couldn’t create a space without Bonsai trees. These Trained Junipers come from Eastern Leaf. While Tyrel’s silver and crystal decanter is likely an antique, our Cocktail Party Decanter from Ralph Lauren is available at Dillard’s. Finally, in the spirit of the bird statues that fill the office in the film (for more details, see the movie clip at the bottom of this post), we selected this Sterling Industries Proud Peacock Bowl, available through Bellacor.
And speaking of birds, we located the Owl on Books above at Z Gallerie. As replicant Rachael asks, “Do you like our owl?” It rests on a Marble Fascia Display Pedestal from Home Decorators Collection. Though not swiveled or upholstered in moiré like Tyrell’s chairs, this Woodhouse Dining Chair in Stockholm Navy upholstery from Jonathan Adler has a similar form, particularly at the top…
…which brings us to the bottom of our design collage. We couldn’t have been happier to find these Pyramid Mirrors in white and grey from Dwell Studio. We think they nicely mimic the detailed paneling/border of Tyrell’s office. To add a bit more sandy-toned glory, we chose a Butari Grand Vase from Crate & Barrel and filled it with a Very Curly Willow Bunch from save-on-crafts.com. To continue the look of Tyrell’s office, all you’d need is a further abundance of marble pedestals and plenty of bronze busts (and bird statues). A setting sun shining through a panoramic window wouldn’t hurt either.
We’d like to thank Blade Runner director Ridley Scott, production designer Lawrence G. Paull and art director David L. Snyder, whose detailed minds created some of the most gorgeous interiors (and exteriors) we can imagine. We’ll leave you with this clip from Blade Runner, which takes place in–you guessed it–Tyrell’s office! Have a wonderful Wednesday…
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