That infallible reality TV franchise “The Real World” kicked off its 20th season last month. This time, the cast of seven strangers makes their home on a studio lot on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard. The show airs at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on MTV.
What grabbed our eye: Sophisticated yet irreverent interiors are by now old hat to “Real World” fans, but there was something else that rang familiar about this Hollywood home. A newsletter from Chicago-based home-design retailer Chiasso alerted us to the fact that more than 100 pieces of their furnishings star in the house. Chiasso devotees have begun to recognize everything from the company’s signature Diamond Sculptures ($28) and Kiki Table ($48), both in the living room, to the “telephone room’s” Infinity Stool ($178) and Zhenni Table Lamp ($178).
How did it get there: “The Real World’s” identity is anchored firmly in all that is hip, and the house’s design plays a huge part in that. So it’s no surprise the show’s production company was drawn to Chiasso’s huge selection of contemporary furnishings and accessories. “Over the years, ‘The Real World’ has come to be associated with the freshest, hippest brands out there,” says Morgan Cohen of Bunim-Murray Productions. “We’ve developed a certain standard that has to be upheld.”
Cost: Prices range from $38 for an aluminum Scoop Bowl (shown on end table) to $698 for a glass-topped Slim Accent Table (shown as coffee table).
How you can get it: Chiasso has conveniently corralled all of their featured furnishings online under a “Real World” house tab. Or stop by their Chicago store to see selected items. 2122 N. Clybourn Ave., 877-244-2776, chiasso.com.
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