With the release of the HBO film Grey Gardens only days away, anyone who considers themselves a fan of the Bouvier Beale family, or the 1976 Maysles Bros. documentary about them, is likely scouring the Internet for teaser trailers and photos in ravenous anticipation. The documentary, with its real and raw footage of Big and Little Edie Beale’s inner sanctum, has been an excellent resource for inspirational quotes and design ideas for many. (See Rufus Wainwright’s song Grey Gardens or fashions by Laurie Foon) However, the movie delivers a set design that the reality of the documentary could not, jumping back to the heyday of the East Hampton home before its infamous dilapidation.

Production Designer Kalina Ivanov has truly restored Grey Gardens for viewers, reminding fans that this shingle style home wasn’t always in shambles. The rooms truly take on the aristocratic tone and manner once embodied by Big and Little Edie Beale. Although New England traditional in it’s décor, aspects of this room can be incorporated into any home, such as the sleek bar cart and the mixture of prints in the rug and upholstery.

HBO's Grey Gardens living room set.

There is also design inspiration to be drawn from the later ramshackle days of Grey Gardens. The women may have not had much and were definitely living in ruin, but they still had a way of brightening their surrounding with little touches, such as memorabilia and flowers. Pictured below, in both the real Edies’ room and the movie version, are collections of family photos, articles and handwritten letters framing the vanity mirror.

Vanity mirror as seen in the Maysles Bros. documentary.

Vanity collections as seen in the HBO film.

It’s hard to imagine that a woman who went from high society aspiring actress to being famous only for her demise was able to see a silver lining. Despite her cracked mirror, Little Edie manages to brighten her surroundings with a bouquet of daffodils.

“[Grey Gardens] is oozing with romance, ghosts, and other things.” – Little Edie

Little Edie Beale with flowers.

Grey Gardens airs Saturday, April 18th at 8pm on HBO.