if my life were a sitcom

So, this is kind of an odd post--but it is Monday and I'm sure we're all in an odd way anyway--so I'm just going to go with it.

Have you ever watched a TV show simply because you liked the house the characters lived in? Or is it just me? I have often found myself tuning into programs I don't otherwise care much for.....in order to admire the furniture. I had to use You Tube videos because google finally came up against something it couldn't find images of (gasp!). You only have to watch the first 10 seconds of each to see what I'm talkin' about, but THESE are among my all-time favorite TV houses. (and hey! guess what? I just published this and can now see that all my videos are out of order! I am too lazy to do any more cutting or pasting---so just watch and then re-arrange everything in your head. It'll be good mental aerobics!)

Mad About You : (which is actually Frasier)

I loved how they took a huge space and divided up into an office, a dining room, a sitting room, and a TV watching space. I based the decor of my first house on this show---lots of tan, cream and black, Arts and Crafts accents, and a black iron bed that I was forever changing the bedding on. And you have to admit that 13 years later, that buffalo check/toille mix loveseat they had is still amazing!

Will and Grace: (which is actually Mad About You)

I hated this show with a passion--but I couldn't get enough of the New York chic apartment. I think I have the tastes of a make-believe gay man, because if I moved into this place--there'd be very little I would change! My favorite things here would have to be the great leather banquette, the slipcovered chairs, and the photographer's lamp.

Friends: (which is actually Will and Grace)

I am not a big fan of pink or purple or turquoise---but somehow it all worked in this place! The best was just looking around each week to see what they'd changed. Seems there was always something new hanging on the wall, or new flowers in the vase, or a new throw and pillows on the couch. I think its set designers must have loved it as much as their own homes! And who didn't think about hanging a little frame around their peep hole after watching this show?

Finally, Frasier: (which is actually Friends, which means I didn't even get ONE right!)

I think this show was on for almost 10 years and that apartment of his looked as timeless on the last episode as it did on the first....and they never changed a thing. Proves you can't go wrong with neutral colors, texture instead of pattern, classic lines, and great art. And though I'm a happy suburbanite---I would almost move to the city for that view of Seattle!

On the same note, there were also shows that were great but were hard for me to watch because their TV homes really bothered me. Like Everybody Loves Raymond. That house had way too much oak, yucky wallpaper that didn't match with anything, and kids toys piled up needlessly everywhere. I think it was suppose to represent "real life"---but, that's kind of why I watch TV---to ESCAPE real life! Show me unattainable beauty people! Actually, that show was funny enough that I learned to turn a blind eye and appreciate the benefits of plastic slipcovers on a couch.

I guess if my life were a sitcom, I would be living in an impeccably styled loft in a big city somewhere..... and also there would have been a laugh track and clapping running throughout this whole post making it seem much wittier and clever-er than it was :)!

Do you have any favorite TV houses?.....or any that you hate?