Golden Oldie: A Room-By-Room Breakdown Of A Quintessentially ’80s TV Home
Picture it: Miami Beach in the late 1980s. Four roommates find themselves navigating love, family and aging as independent women. With their contrasting personalities and backgrounds, these mismatched ladies come together to create a vibrant, comfortable and collected home, blending their individual styles.
With rattan furniture, bold floral motifs, along with gilt and porcelain accents, the set of “The Golden Girls” certainly has a look of its own. The feisty foursome’s Florida bungalow showcases an eclectic mix of ’70s boho, mid-century and Hollywood regency furnishings.
If you’re looking to live like a modern-day “golden girl,” or just curious what Blanche Devereaux’s room would look like today, we’ve had a little fun and recreated the same stylish vibe that flirty Blanche, naive Rose, sassy Dorothy, and witty Sophia exude on the classic TV sitcom. Frankly, we think if the girls saw this article, we’d get a card in the mail that said “Thank you for being a friend.” You’re welcome, ladies.
Restored Square Pretzel Rattan Four-Seat Sofa by Paul Frankl at 1stdibs, $5,990 (Image credit: 1stdibs) Peach and Teal Watercolor Aztec Tribal Pattern Throw Pillow at Zazzle, $31.60 (Image credit: Zazzle) Waterlilies, 1916-19 at Art.com, $41.99 (Image credit: Art.com) Oriental Furniture Ladies Vase at Walmart, $269.99 (Image credit: Walmart) Exquisite Rugs Sultanabad Light Green/Beige New Zealand Wool Rug (10′ x 14′) at Overstock, $4,559.99 (Image credit: Overstock) Scallop Shell Wall Sconce at Shades of Light, $259 (Image credit: Shades of Light) Birds and Flowers 32″ Table Lamp at Wayfair, $428 (Image credit: Wayfair)
The Living Room
The living room of this Miami Beach home was such a prominent staple in the show that it could be considered for best supporting role. Rattan furniture and Asian-inspired decor shine bright in The Golden Girls’ airy and bright living room, which is where the ladies receive an array of eligible silver foxes (think a young George Clooney, Dick Van Dyke, and Leslie Nielsen). The ladies can be found playing rummy, performing tap dances, and singing along to piano duets in their chic and casual living room. What a life they live, those four!
Hoyt 45 in. Metal Round Dining Table at Rooms To Go, $299.98 (Image credit: Rooms To Go) Chippendale Dining Chair at Jonathan Adler, $845 (Image credit: Jonathan Adler) Tommy Bahama Bernini Floral Round Tablecloth, 70″ at Amazon, $24.99 (Image credit: Amazon) Crosley 302 Classic Red Wall Phone at Wayfair, $66.99 (Image credit: Wayfair) Color-Cut Cake Stand at Anthropologie, $12 (Image credit: Anthropologie) Jean Amiot Mid-Century Modern Still Life Painting at Chairish, $595 (Image credit: Chairish) Graham & Brown Taupe and Gold Tropic Wallpaper at Home Depot, $84/roll (Image credit: Home Depot) Nova Deruta Salt and Pepper Shaker Set at Sur la table, $34.95 (Image credit: Sur la table) Ruffoni Copper Cake Molds, 7″ at Williams-Sonoma, Starting at $75 (Image credit: Williams-Sonoma)
The Kitchen
This room is the The Golden Girls’ main hub, where the ladies solve life’s dilemmas and reminisce on memories past while eating cheesecake into the wee hours of the morning. An eclectic mix of decor from Chippendale dining chairs to a mid-century still life, along with decorative accents like frilly curtains and copper molds give their kitchen a lived-in look with plenty of personality.
Safavieh Outdoor Living Rustic Sophie Antique White Iron Patio Set (4-piece) at Overstock, $449.98 (Image credit: Overstock) 32″ Yellow Parasol Umbrella at Paper Lantern Store, $5.95 (Image credit: Paper Lantern Store) Resin Pot Planter at Wayfair, $19.99 (Image credit: Wayfair) Cabana Lemon Yellow Pillow at Pier1 Imports, $16 (Image credit: Pier1 Imports) Gold Hand Held Fan at Etsy, $54.99 (Image credit: Etsy) Outdoor Pineapple Pitcher at Sur la table, $25 (Image credit: Sur la table) Dinner Plates Melamine 11″ Tuscany Set of 6 at Target, $27.99 (Image credit: Target)
The Posh Lanai
The ladies can be found fanning themselves and enjoying a cool beverage on their patio. Iron-framed lounges and tons of terra cotta give this outdoor haven the feeling of a secluded tropical garden with lush plantings like bougainvillea and birds of paradise.
Dorothy Draper Brazilliance Pillow Cover at Etsy, Starting at $35 (Image credit: Etsy) Bone Tiles and Brass over Wood Console at 1stdibs, $2,900 (Image credit: 1stdibs) Shell Pink at Benjamin Moore, Prices Vary (Image credit: Benjamin Moore) Safavieh Polar Light Pink Shag Rug (5′ 1 x 7′ 6) at Overstock, $156 (Image credit: Overstock) Ainsley Swivel Chair, Blush Linen Velvet at One Kings Lane, $2,195 (Image credit: One Kings Lane) Conair Oval Shaped LED Double-Sided Lighted Mirror at Amazon, $25 (Image credit: Amazon) Diva Glass Bottle Atomizer with Gold Sprayer at Small Flower, $13 (Image credit: Small Flower)
Blanche’s Boudoir
The bedroom of our favorite southern belle is the butt of many jokes, as Blanche spends quite a bit of her time with male suiters in her room. Palm frond wall decals and bedding give Blanche’s bedroom a contemporary Dorothy Draper look, while pink carpeting and doors add a romantic (and totally ’80s) touch. When Blanche isn’t in bed ::cough cough::, you can find her primping at her vanity.
Safavieh SEA8031A-F Gabrielle Wicker Headboard at The Mine, $260 (Image credit: The Mine) Antique Campaign Chest of Drawers Dresser Oak Victorian, 19th Century at 1stdibs, $1,314.85 (Image credit: 1stdibs) Desire Taupe and Metallic Wallpaper at Graham & Brown, $75/roll (Image credit: Graham & Brown) Bungalow 5 Acacia White Table Lamp Base at Layla Grayce, $609 (Image credit: Layla Grayce) Malika Persian-Style Rug at Pottery Barn, Starting at $299 (Image credit: Pottery Barn) Pride and Prejudice (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions) at Barnes & Noble, $10.91 (Image credit: Barnes & Noble)
Dorothy’s Stately Bedroom
School teacher Dorothy is sophisticated and saucy, and much like her personality her room exhibits an elegant vibe decked out in worldly decor and filled with smart books. Ornate wallpaper is expertly paired with rattan furniture, showing Dorothy’s many layers as a modern-day lady.
Cirrus Clouds at Schumacher, Price Upon Request (Image credit: Schumacher) Washed Linen Duvet Cover at Nordstrom, $199 (Image credit: Nordstrom) Cotton Blend Poplin Ruffled Pillow Shams (Pack of 2) at Overstock, $24.59 (Image credit: Overstock) 4 Seasons Alphonse Mucha Print at Zazzle, $23.50 (Image credit: Zazzle) Mid-Century Modern Club Chairs – A Pair at Chairish, $1,200 (Image credit: Chairish) Dale Tiffany Crystal Globe Table Lamp at Lamps Plus, $249.99 (Image credit: Lamps Plus) Hampton Bay Century Steel 1 Toggle Wall Plate – Brass at The Home Depot, $2.99 (Image credit: Home Depot)
Rose’s Romantic Room
Retro cloud wallpaper (a nod to Rose’s head in the clouds) is a dreamy backdrop for her bedroom (that we kind of wish we had today), which reflects her sweet personality with pink, ruffles and chintz. Through her refined and romantic decor, Rose proves she is more than just a simple Midwestern gal.
Evelyn Wingback Headboard at Wayfair, $999.99 (Image credit: Wayfair) Martha Stewart Collection Soft Fleece Blanket at Macy’s, $50 (Image credit: Macy’s) Custom Barrel Back Vintage Cane Lounge Chairs – Pair at Chairish, $795 (Image credit: Chairish) Ming Cherry Blossoms at Schumacher, Price Upon Request (Image credit: Schumacher) Hudson Valley Lighting Aged Brass Sheldrake 2 Light Solid Brass Double Wall Sconce at Lighting Direct, $450 (Image credit: Lighting Direct) Nearly Natural Peony and Mum in Glass Vase 12″ Multi Color at Staples, $43.89 (Image credit: Staples)
Sophia’s Granny Chic Bedroom
Sophia’s soothing blue room appropriately screams “granny chic” with her dainty floral wallpaper and old-school fleece bedding piped in satin trim. Despite her old age, witty and with-it Sophia eschews rocking chairs and crochet for gilt accents and rich mahogany.