You’re looking at the amazing modern beach house from the 1989 comedy Weekend at Bernie’s. If you’re like me, you may have resisted seeing this movie because you wondered how funny it could be to see two friends repeatedly try to pass off a corpse as a living, breathing Hamptons homeowner. How many times can you laugh at Bernie with a drink in his hand? Or Bernie with a string rigged to his arm so he appears to be waving. If you’ve seen this movie, you know one really good reason to watch: the design! Keep reading for details…and LOTS of photos!
I’ll start by saying that even as a child of the ’80s and ’90s, I had never seen this movie. What?! Well, this 4th of July weekend, I finally reveled in its irreverent, polished little world, and it was quite entertaining. For one thing, it’s impossible not to appreciate the physical comedy involved. After all, Bernie (Terry Kiser) has some over-the-top scenes, and even though there’s a stunt double, this actor had to appear as a lifelike dead person time and time again…which must have been a tricky balance to strike!
And then there’s the beach house. THAT. BEACH. HOUSE!!! I’ll talk more about the color palette and furnishings below, but basically this place is a character in and of itself. Even if you’re done with the plot of this film after the first half hour, keep watching for the design. And speaking of the plot (and all of the photos that follow), some CRAZY stuff goes down. So if you see a screen shot with Jonathan Silverman using a piece of firewood as a weapon, just smile and check out the amazing staircase behind him, mmkay?!
The Plot
The plot of this film unfolds like a wacky play with a strong ensemble cast. Larry Wilson (Andrew McCarthy) and Richard Parker (Jonathan Silverman) are determined to upsize their low-level insurance company jobs. Although we’re loving the rooftop setting above (that pool!), these two would rather be successful execs with the means to vacation at the beach at a moment’s notice. Wouldn’t you?!
So when they discover a paperwork glitch that could point to insurance fraud, they share the news with their boss, Bernie (Kiser) in hopes of receiving a BIG pat on the back. They do–and they’re invited to spend the weekend at Bernie’s place in the Hamptons. What they DON’T know is that Bernie is behind the fraud, he’s in cahoots with the mob, and he orders them to be killed. But the mob decides to off Bernie instead.
So when Larry and Richard show up for their dream Hamptons weekend, they discover that Bernie is no longer in the land of the living. Here are a few pics from their arrival! Aren’t we loving the primary colors on those beach umbrellas?!
Uh oh! What do you do when you arrive at the perfect ’80s modern beach house, you discover that your host is dead, and your ultimate beach weekend is no longer a reality? It seems obvious, but apparently there’s a gray area…
Disclaimer: this is Andrew McCarthy like you’ve never seen him before. Gone is the tender heart of Blaine from Pretty in Pink or the sensitivity of Kevin in St. Elmo’s Fire. And the character that remains is quite entertaining! It’s just as entertaining when James Spader plays a good guy, right?!
And Jonathan Silverman–what’s not to love?! He’s the perfect straight arrow to Andrew McCarthy’s loose cannon. The screen shots above and below are from the moment they realize Bernie is dead.
In a nutshell, Larry and Richard eventually decide to phone the cops, until they discover that Bernie planned on having them killed but preferred not to be around when it happened. The answer: making sure he’s around them at all times…and that he appears to be alive. But who needs to focus on a corpse or the mob when you have such amazing ’80s design to enjoy?! On that note…
The Beach House
While it’s hard to believe the beach house used for the exterior shots was a fleeting moment of architectural glory, I’m going to be honest with you: the house was built solely for the purpose of filming and was subsequently torn down. No, it’s not possible to make a pilgrimage to check it out and have your photo taken in front of those beautiful two-toned slats. Alas, we still have the screen shots! Side note: this beach is not in the Hamptons. Seaside filming was done in North Carolina!
Continuing on our tour, even the pool deck furniture is amazing, with its deep teal finish and cylindrical head support pillows in an array of ’80s stripes:
The home’s color palette: eggplant, mint and peach. It’s a nice departure from the usual teal and mauve, and it leaves the door open for a variety of purples, greens and peachy hues. You can see the colors play out in the amazing screen shots that follow:
Aren’t the minty blue/turquoise planters a nice touch?! Richard is quick to point out the original Lichtenstein that hangs in the living area. Can you see him reaching out to it below?
Roomy sectional sofas and ample throw pillows featuring gold squiggles create a decadent look that rivals the apartment in Wall Street, while octagonal coffee tables with peach marble finishes further the opulent vibe. Basically, the interior takes lounging to a new level.
And then there’s the bar, with its textured finishes (bring on the speckles). What might you find in an upscale ’80s bar area? Plenty of neatly arranged glassware, green marble accents (that ice bucket might even have a malachite finish), and sculptural objets d’art to top it all off. Aren’t the barstools sleek?
The dining room has a darker look, with black chairs featuring an abstract art pattern, as well as dramatic candles and floral statements. Don’t you love the way pastels and glass block come together to create a beachy look in the screen shot below?
And that fireplace!!! Check out the mural behind Catherine Mary Stewart in the final featured screen shot. Traces of lavender, eggplant and peach make a powerful statement without taking over the room. Retro design meets one of the film’s most exciting moments!
So do yourself a favor and watch (or re-watch) this movie. You’ll feel like you’ve been on a beach vacation. A slightly stressful one, but one where there’s always a chaise lounge ready to catch you after a long night of partying and evading hit men.
Thanks for reading! Check out more ’80s Movie Style posts here. XOXO, Kate
I believe everyone in the 80s wanted a house like that. Ahead of its time.
Why do people still deceive the public about the real location where this movie was filmed, it was filmed almost entirely in Bald Head Island, in the Ocean, off the northern tip of Oak Island, North Carolina!!
No. I was the art director. The house was built on the beach at Ft. Fisher. The home owners on bald head island wanted to review our house designs!
We bailed on them due to constant meddling in our temporary set designs.
The governor’s office offered the Ft. Fisher beach area.
The marina in the movie was Bald Head Island.
Thank you for weighing in, Michael! What an honor to have your input. The house was definitely my favorite “character” in the film, and so many of us would love to hear more about what it was like to design it.
The only thing not fully show was the bedrooms . How many bedrooms did it have?
I’m trying to make a LEGO version of this house
I am watching the movie for the umpteenth time. I need comedies. I would love to find if possible the mint green chaise lounge (2 in movie? Any suggestions? Thank you!
Hi Michael. Do you know if anyone has the floor plan to the house? As a fan I wanted to build the house in a 3D environment as a project. Thanks in advance 🙂
I’m watching the movie right now and was wondering if this place still stood and what it looked like today. Nothing seems to age worse than a modern 80’s styled beach house. That’s too bad they had to tear it down. I could imagine someone buying it. Look at that view!
The house is totally iconic! I’m glad you enjoyed watching the film. It definitely holds up over the years. Too bad we can’t say the same for the exterior of that beach house!! Thanks for your comment.
but the house was built as real house? or some stage only to film?
I’m glad you wrote this, This House has been seared into my memory since I was 10 years old. It is everything! I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one who watches this movie mainly to list after the design! Also the penthouse apartment in 3 Men and a Baby might have this place beat if it wasn’t for that heated pool lol!
Thanks for your kind words!! I’m definitely a huge fan of the penthouse from 3 Men and a Baby. In case you haven’t seen this, I profiled that place as well…
http://mirror80.com/2015/04/three-men-and-a-baby/
Thank you again for your comment 😀
Es una de mis películas preferidas,de vez en cuando la vuelvo a mirar.Se que la casa de la playa se construyó solamente para la película,quisiera saber el lugar exacto donde se construyó la misma.Saludos desde BAHIA BLANCA – ARGENTINA.
I loved this movie. I watched it in the 80’s with my boys and their laughter was contagious. Tonight I am watching it with my husband and we were discussing the house and he said that he wished they would have packed it up and moved to our lot. I just love the way the house is built and the furnishings are awesome and the movie is still a hit in my book.
I have contacted movie crew members and plans were not kept, but the designer was Gwathmey-Siegel firm, and it’s closely modeled after their Cogan Residence.
Great research! I’m looking at photos of the Cogan Residence and the similarities are very noticeable: https://i.imgur.com/zc1W5nz.png
That imgur photo is actually the De Menil residence.
http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/de-menil-residence/
I think, the Gwathmey Siegel firm have the plans, somwhere in the archive. You dont know anything about that?
I’ve heard that they donated a lot of their blueprints to Yale.
No chance to get the plans for them?
Amazing research, indeed! Thank you, Evan and Bri, for keeping this conversation going! There is definitely resemblance between the two homes. The angles and lines are stunning.
I grew up in Wilmington and had no idea it was filmed. That’s insane. I always heard about Dawson’s Creek and Cape Fear, but no one told me about Weekend at Bernie’s. My mind is blown!
Oh man! I love this move…. For these exact reasons…. I’m a child of the 70’s a d grew up in the 80’s. And love 70’s 80’s and 90’s design and fashion. My house was built in 82 and has some super retro features. Like a second floor curved solarium on the front of the house,red clay tiled roof….. a second floor studio with Santa Fe windows looking down over the living room. I love it all! I loved this article! You have a fan
I saw this movie for the first time and theirs so many parts I watched over and over…especially scenes of the house. I not sure I believe they tore it down. Why?…why would anyone do that?
My only guess is, it was slapped together and not built to last or up to code?
I was an extra on “Weekend at Bernie’s” so I need to make a little correction about where the house was located. It was built in Kure Beach on state land so it had to be torn down after the movie was filmed.
(Of all the extra work that I have done, people are most impressed that I was in this movie. LOL)
We need more information about your time as an extra STAT! Lol
I agree with Evan! Mary, please feel free to share tidbits about your work as an ’80s extra!!
It’s a bit down the coast from Kure Beach, slightly below the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area.
The area of the house is slightly further south of ‘Fort Fisher State Recreation Area’. As on google maps. North of that area you can see where the coast kicks out slightly. When they arrive at Bernie’s house from the beach, you can see the buildings of this area just north of Bernie’s house.
Oh, Kure Beach on State land. It looked temporary from underneath (when Bernie kicked someone off the property). Wouldn’t it make more sense to actually build a real home and then sell it? Has anyone copied this house somewhere?
I think a couple mentioned, but the state let them build the “house” on their state land, it was only temporary. Think of it like allowing a production company to use a national park for a cabin scene, so the company builds a small cabin, and then had to tear it down when production is over.
I know it’s been awhile since you published this, but thanks for writing, it’s a fun read and it’s obviously still getting engagement recently. I also like reminiscing about the underappreciated design aesthetics of late 80s films. The kids today think this era was all neon colors and synthwave patterns, but interior design trends in the real world were actually a lot more like the beach house’s muted palette of pastels and faux textures.
The funny thing is that it probably wasn’t that expensive of a build even though it’s portrayed as a super high end home; the real estate itself was probably more than the cost of the build! And even though it’s a different example of that era, the rural Victorian country home in Beetlejuice also reminds me of this same aesthetic, after Delia Deetz deconstructed it into her own personal “avant-gothic” art statement. 🤣