*Spoiler Alert: This post has Mad Men spoilers. If you’re not all caught up just look at the pictures!
Millions of fans have been in denial for months, but we are just two days away from seeing the last new Mad Men episode ever. Apart from the phenomenal writing and acting, the iconic show created by Matthew Weiner will go down in the pantheon of television’s most important shows for how it influenced different aspects of American (and global) culture.
In addition to its impact on fashion (skinny ties!), Mad Men is largely responsible for the return of mid-century modern home decor and design that were hallmarks of the 1960s. If you’ve been on the Mad Men ride over the last seven seasons then you’ve been exposed to some stunning homes and apartments in New York City, the Hamptons, Connecticut, Los Angeles and even Europe that showcase this design aesthetic.
In honor of the season finale airing this Sunday, here are our 5 favorite homes from the seven seasons of Mad Men.
1. Don Draper’s Upper Eastside Penthouse
Don moved into this hip apartment at the start of season five after marrying Megan. Contrary to the decor and architecture of the time, Draper’s new penthouse features a stunning wide open floor plan that mirrors the new open and less secretive life he attempted to lead. According to set decorator Claudette Didul, the home was “in a high-rise that feels like it was built in 1960 with a white-carpeted sunken living room and a fascinating fireplace and a Case Study-style kitchen with two pass through windows”.
Don Draper preferred solitude, but his bright and earthy home was perfect for entertaining as well, as exemplified by the infamous “Zou Bisou Bisou” party Meagan threw for him.
2. The Palm Springs Home from Season Two
In one of Mad Men’s best episodes, “Jet Set” – Don ditches the convention he’s supposed to be attending and ends up following a woman to this swanky one-level masterpiece in Palm Springs. This open concept home built in 1949 hosted legendary parties attended by the likes of Lucille Ball and was even the residence of Jersey’s own Frank Sinatra for about a decade. The four bedroom and 6,600 square foot property features a detached guesthouse, two pools and walls made of glass that let in views of the valley.
3. The Don and Betty Draper Residence
Don and Betty weren’t the picture of marital bliss, but their Ossining, NY home in Westchester is the quintessential All-American home. The home featured a sizable backyard, a formal living room and a formal dining room that was frequently used for dinner parties where the Draper’s would entertain work colleagues. The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria recently hosted a once-in-a-lifetime Mad Men exhibit and on display was the actual kitchen from this location. Having had the chance to visit the exhibit, I can say that the kitchen seemed outdated by modern standards, but there is something about it and the home that represents family and the American Dream.
4. Peggy Olson’s Apartment
It sure doesn’t look like much now but Peggy’s decision to buy an entire brownstone in the then seedy Upper West Side is a genius investment that we’re guessing would have paid off big time eventually. A wife and husband who bought a similarly sized building in the same dilapidated neighborhood in 1960 for $18,000, listed it for $5 million a few years ago. They were also taking in about $14,000 a month in rent! If it didn’t work out for Peggy at McCann, we’re guessing she would’ve been just ok holding on to her home.
5. Megan Draper’s Laurel Canyon Bungalow
While her husband Don hamms (pun intended) it up in New York, Megan quits her soap opera gig and heads to Hollywood for a shot at the “big time”. Instead of opting for a home with the same aesthetic as their mid-century modern penthouse, she moves into a bungalow in Laurel Canyon. The home with spectacular LA city light views beautifully captures the “bohemianism” of the hippie movement and is a preview of the changing design tastes that would come with the 1970s. The pine-paneled residence is small but open, and who wouldn’t like to wake up to that view every morning?
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There are a few other homes that could have made the list, including the Betty and Henry Francis residence! What do you think about our 5 favorite homes? What else would you add to the list?
If you’re not too busy weeping over the impending series finale and want to watch the final episode with friends, click here for party ideas that would make Don and Roger proud.
Cheers.
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