Jessica Chastain’s Exquisite Jewel-Box Living Room Is a Study in Custom Upholstery, Period Architecture, and Old-World Sophistication
Deep green velvet, metallic accents, and a bold chandelier give Jessica Chastain's space a rich, regal look, while softer hues and minimal forms bring balance
The interiors of on-screen period dramas have always provided plenty of inspiration for our own homes, but thanks to our obsession with all things Bridgerton, with talks of Season 5 already underway, the show has inspired a Regencycore aesthetic, and the A-list have been getting on board, too. Jessica Chastain's jewel-box living room is one such example, which features a grand chandelier, textured velvet-like walls, and luxe upholstery.
While Recencycore itself is nothing new, the latest series of Bridgerton has brought on a new peak in searches for grand, luxe decor from the era. In fact, home improvement service, TaskRabbit, recently reported a +43% increase in gold-related decor tasks, and Google searches for chandeliers rose by 58% during the month the series aired, so it's clear that our desire for all things regal isn't waning. Jessica Chastain's New York apartment, designed by Carrier & Co Interiors, features these hallmarks of the trend and more.
Article continues belowShop the Regency Core Living Room Look
Textured wallpaper leans into that Regency look that makes a room feel cozy yet expensive and luxurious. This peel and stick version is super easy to apply, and can be used on other surfaces, too, like cabinetry and tabletops.
A crystal chandelier is the epitome of Regal luxury and can set the tone for the whole room. This one has a gold tone, which warms up the crystal and would work beautifully in contrast with the deep green of Jessica Chastain's living room.
Echoing the fancy flourishes of Jessica Chastain's coffee table, this piece oozes Regency elegance, whilst the distressed plaster finish gives the impression of an antique to be treasured.
With a classic English silhouette, featuring roll arms, and turned wooden legs and rounded cushions, this sofa can be ordered a velvet shade of your choice and makes the ideal addition to a Regency-style living room.
Chinoiserie was a popular print during the Regency era, with motifs of birds and exotic flowers featuring heavily, so this throw pillow in rich velvet tones and pretty print would stand out beautifully on a dark green sofa.
A gold-rimmed mirror with an ornate frame like this one, makes a real statement hung above a fireplace in a Regency-style living room. In Jessica Chastain's home it reflects the chandelier to double the luxe effect.
Jessica Chastain's space is so enveloping thanks to the textural green walls, which, paired with natural wood elements and gold accents, brings an innate warmth. That's the key to this jewel-box aesthetic.
Whilst Jessica borrows Regency style elements – from the elaborate chandelier (Bed, Bath & Beyond has a similar piece to get the look) to the gilded mirror, the rest of the decor merely hints at the era, instead of going full Bridgerton, which is partly the secret to its success.
'The goal is not to make the room feel period-specific, but to introduce a sense of elegance through shape, finish, and detail.,' explains Meisna Yousuph, Interior Designer at Design Concepts. 'In practical terms, that can mean a decorative mirror, a pair of tailored seats in velvet or performance fabric, antique brass hardware, or even a subtle chinoiserie or botanical pattern used in a contained way, such as on wallpaper or behind glazed cabinetry.'
Whilst patterned wallpaper is another wonderful way to bring in a hint of Regency-style chinoiserie, a simple throw pillow (like this Anthropologie velvet cushion) or two can also achieve the same nod to the era. And when it comes to color, keeping things simple is more important than you might think.
Joanne Loftus, President and Owner of Archival Designs advises: 'Stick to muted jewel tones. Bright saturated colours tip the whole thing into costume territory fast. The Regency palette was actually more restrained than what people assume when watching Bridgerton. The show uses lighting and fabric to make colors pop, but the actual wall tones and surfaces lean muted.'
According to designers, that restraint is crucial to ensure the look feels more like a design-led home than a film set. 'The biggest mistake I see homeowners make is going too far,' warns Joanne. 'Limit period-inspired pieces to three max and make modern elements the focal point of the rest of the room. You might choose an ornate mirror, velvet stools, or some silver tea ware presented on a sideboard. That's enough. In my experience, the goal is a room that implies the Regency period, rather than recreating it. If someone walks in and thinks "Bridgerton" you've probably gone one accent too far.' Katie Harbison explores how to master mixing old and new in her dedicated feature for Homes & Gardens.
And no Regency-core living room would be complete without a chandelier, says Hannah Armstrong, Interiors Expert at Heal’s. The rise in chandeliers has resulted from period dramas and movies such as Wuthering Heights and Bridgerton.' But, she warns that the same level of consideration in terms of choosing the right style for your setting applies: 'Chandeliers can bring a grand and sophisticated feel to the home, but they have to be styled correctly so they don’t look overdone or tacky.'
Hannah adds: 'In Bridgerton and grand Regency-inspired homes in general, chandeliers were only a small feature in a very grand space. In an ordinary home, chandeliers can be a lot more difficult to style, given a lack of space.' In terms of positioning, Jessica Chastain's living room gets this spot on. 'Because chandeliers are bold, sculptural pieces, they should be treated as the focal point of the room – a chandelier works beautifully when it’s aligned above another big element of your space, such as a dining table or coffee table, as it helps to create a sense of balance. Avoid overcrowding the room with other ornate pieces. Keep furniture streamlined and opt for low-profile sofas, minimalist sideboards, and neutral rugs to let the chandelier shine.'
This sense of balance in Jessica Chastain's home is achieved through the addition of her simple jute rug, some muted accent chairs, and a cream sculptural lamp, while the chandelier and gold mirror create a real Regencycore moment. As Meisna sums up, the Regencycore aesthetic is about 'decorative moments that bring warmth, romance, and character,' and Jessica Chastain's living room has those in abundance.
Now that you know how to give your interiors the Regency core look, why not take it outdoors, too, with these Bridgerton-inspired garden ideas?
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