I’m pretty sure most people don’t realize how much work goes into finding just the right thing for a set.
When you’re designing a commercial, interview, event, or photo shoot, it’s not enough to find something that looks great. It has to be the right style, the right size, the right color, the right price and, most importantly, it has to actually be available when you need it.
And that last part can be a real circus.
This particular project was for an amazing British client who was coming to Nashville for a conference. They wanted a strong mid-century modern aesthetic for their interview setup. Easy enough, right?
Well… the creative direction came together a little later than I would have liked, and the petty cash followed even later. Meanwhile, the shoot date was getting closer.
So I started hunting.
For about a month, I checked the best mid-century modern antique shops, vintage dealers, rental houses, Facebook Marketplace, you name it. I was basically stalking furniture.
A huge thank you to Art Dogs Props, which is always one of my first stops when I’m looking for something specific and cool.
I also made regular trips to places like DASHWOOD VINTAGE, looking for that perfect MCM piece. I found a beautiful console that would have been perfect for the interview background.
And then, while I was standing right next to it, someone bought it.
Over the phone.
I watched it happen.
That’s how fast the good stuff goes.
I checked LYKKE HAUS too, but their pieces move just as quickly. So I started making the rounds every few days checking what was new, what had sold, and what might have just come through the door. Facebook Marketplace became part of my daily routine as well.
Because when you’re sourcing for a set, you can’t always shop from a catalog. Sometimes you have to hunt.
Finally, when the money hit my account, I decided to try Music City Modern, a local shop specializing in mid-century consoles. They have a small warehouse that is open to the public for just one hour on Saturdays.
One hour.
Of course I went.
And we got lucky. There were several consoles to choose from.
I ended up choosing the longest one because it filled the wall beautifully and gave us exactly the scale we needed for the interviews.
The shop is run by Brian Hygge, who imports many of his pieces from England and beautifully refinishes them. He also has a collection of seriously cool vintage pinball machines tucked away in the warehouse.
Brian is a true collector, and you can tell he genuinely loves what he does. The craftsmanship and care that go into these pieces are pretty special.
And that’s the part of production design people don’t always see.
The finished set may look simple. Maybe it’s just a console, a chair, a lamp, a few accessories and some artwork in the background.
But getting those pieces into the room at the right time and making them feel like they belong there is a whole different job.
That’s the hunt. And honestly, I kind of love it.
