Decorating Pages: TV and Film Design Designing Amazon’s Hedda: Cara Brower on Rebuilding Ibsen’s Classic
In this episode of Decorating Pages, Emmy-winning set decorator Kim Wannop sits down with Production Designer Cara Brower to talk about designing Hedda, Amazon MGM Studios’ new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler—now streaming on Prime Video.
Brower—whose credits include Candyman, The Marvels, Twin Peaks: The Return, Us, and Hail, Caesar!—explains how she found and transformed a single English country estate into Hedda’s entire universe: grand staircase, dark entry hall, sensual bedroom, secret telephone nook, glass conservatory with a deadly chandelier, and a lakeside bonfire that bookends the story.
The conversation digs into:
How Ibsen’s original themes of power, boredom, control, and societal constraints on women informed the design choices
Layering Victorian architecture with Art Deco curves, 1960s-inspired pattern, and bold modern art so Hedda’s home feels like a socialite’s act of rebellion
Designing Hedda’s bedroom as a cold, sensual, almost Hollywood-boudoir space that belongs entirely to her
The engineering and cross-department chaos behind the film’s glass chandelier set piece
Why shooting mostly on location—with minimal VFX—makes the film feel more immediate and theatrical
Perfect listening if you love period drama, literary history, and extremely opinionated wallpaper.
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Discover the Art of TV & Film Design with Decorating Pages Podcast
Hosted by Emmy-winning Set Decorator Kim Wannop, this podcast takes you behind the scenes of your favorite shows and movies. Each episode features in-depth conversations with the industry’s top production designers, set decorators, prop masters, and art department professionals, offering rare insight into the creative process of visual storytelling.
Whether you’re a film and TV fan, aspiring designer, or entertainment industry pro, Decorating Pages Podcast is your backstage pass to the world of production design. Learn how sets are built, stories are shaped visually, and characters come to life—one episode at a time.
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🎬 Explore More from Decorating PagesLove the behind-the-scenes world of TV + film design? Check out these exclusive resources curated by Kim Wannop, Emmy-winning Set Decorator and host of Decorating Pages Podcast:
🎓 Learn Set DecoratingTake my Set Decorating Masterclass—15 audio lessons packed with insider tips for breaking into the film & TV industry. Includes FREE Quick Reference Template. Start here: https://www.decoratingpagespodcast.com/masterclass