Building the Loft
It was talked about a couple of months in advance, and then we had access [to the space] about a week in advance. We wanted to have an attractive urban apartment that young people would identify with. [The goal was to make it] a contemporary, clean, tasteful looking apartment space.
Casting Couch
It kind of just got coined as ["the casting couch"]. That space was originally going to be a bedroom. [The loft] was originally going to be three bedrooms, so that area was not intended for that. Then one of the producers wanted it structured differently, where there was this so-called casting couch space. It was pretty much thought of as a neutral, office-like environment where they would hear about whether they had been cut from the show or would be continuing on.
Loft Furniture
[We got the furniture] from a number of different sources, but it wound up being just from a Manhattan long-term furniture rental place, not really a prop house. Some local retail purchases were from IKEA, Pier One, Target and places like that. The bigger, bulkier furniture was from a leasing company.
Living Room
The living room space overall was fun because it was a double height space. It was nice to transform that from this very bleak, raw space and give it a personality by adding really fun window treatments with a couple of layers of drapery with window blinds. The living room sort of set the tone and the personality because that was the big common space. They did this original piece of InTurn artwork that was on the double-hyped staircase that led you up to the bedrooms. It set a tone of the spirit of the place. Also, the entry door with the logo and title of the show brought you into the spirit of this specific place.
Kitchen
The space came very raw, so it began with making the appliances work and adding lots of light and putting handles on the doors and drawers. Then completing the kitchen with potted herbs and stocking it with food. Those finishing touches are what added a personality.
Bathrooms
The bathrooms we gave a souvenir-y, New York look.
Bedrooms
They were really cramped. But there was different bedding, and they all had different color towels. It all coordinated nicely, so it was easy on the eye and the inhabitants could feel like it was tailored to them a little bit, too.
Close to Home
The loft is two blocks away [from the ATWT studio]. A thousand feet away. It was a three minute walk.
Feedback
What’s different about [doing something like this] is in the regular sets, there's pre-written material and scenes you know characters are going to do in the environment. This was really about providing a habitat for people you did not know. It was fun to meet them. I did hang out the first day when they were arriving because I was curious about their reactions. They all had this really positive feedback. It did work out to be a more fun space than they were used to. [They were all like:] "I would love to live here if I could." I was pleased.