The Hotel Room...

I can't even tell you how gorgeous Mrs. Redwood's (yup I called her that) hotel room was in person.   Soft and neutral but stately.  Even the window treatments and bed canopy are grand and simple at the same time. The only things that aren't blue or ivory are the lamps on either side of the sofa.  Blue and ivory with dark wood and gold accents.  Crystal lamps, crystal chandelier and crystal decanters.  Simple...but elegant.  Here's a quick look:

 

A few details you didn't see... Right down to the room service cart.

Shopping for Jeannine

The Department Store where Olivia and Quinn take Jeannine to get interview ready was one of our biggest sets in Episode 302.  And yet, it went by so fast.   Awww...you say?  Such is the life of a set we say.  We often don't know whether a set will ultimately become a featured moment or a cut moment or a shuttertone fast paced photoburst moment once it hits the editing room.  We treat all the sets the same.

This set was done on location in a space that was pretty close to being bare.  Truth be told, our heads kind of exploded when we saw the space for the first time.  BUT every episode presents its challenges and we have to move at Scandal Pace through them so there is no time for whining.  We hunted down some upscale mannequins, shoe, accessory and jewelry display fixtures.  The Decorator chose pieces that gave it a very exclusive boutique feel rather than mainstream department store display items.  The clothing and accessories on display include some items our department rented as well as some key items brought in by the fab team over in Costumes.  Collaboration is key.

There are large gold and crystal torchieres for lighting.  A comfy seating area with plush rugs and a few plants give the space some life and comfort.  There's even a grand piano in the background space by the stairs.  My personal fave piece is the huge framed mirror sections that create the fitting area where the women of OPA do their work on Jeannine.  (Can we all get these installed at home?) 

So yes, this set flew by on the screen.  But in the end, we have to do as much work as necessary to give the director and the actors what they need to feel they're in the right space.  It has to feel like they're inside the script...a little Alice in Wonderland if you will.  In this case - it's Olivia in Shondaland.

The Bunker...Under Attack

So.  The bunker. 

It feels like this bunker is the most talked about space in Episode 301...and it certainly wasn't because of what I'm sharing here!  You could feel every single word and every single beat of silence in that room.  The air was thick with tension and emotions.  And my goodness - I thought Mellie was gonna start levitating and casting spells at one point.  I get it Mels.  You're tired...and I FELT that girl.  I felt that.

Ok focus.  Not much to say about the bunker but y'all were excited by it so we're happy to share.  So exactly what is this space?

Sterile looking cement and steel bunker.  Everything in the room is military.  A tanker conference table, clear plexi rolling boards for maps and other info, monitors to watch feeds, conference phone equipment on the table and a little cold and utilitarian (but still edgy) seating at the far end.  Government issue.  Secure.  Underground.  Think about where the prez and his peeps are ushered off to quickly so they can continue running things in safety while the world above them is under attack.  That is the premise of the bunker.  We realize the parallels when Olivia says: "We're already under attack."