Bond. James Bond.
We know him by name and martini preferences, and we all have a favorite among actors who’ve portrayed him. But none of us know much of anything about the place he calls home.
Until now, that is.
Advance tickets go on sale today for the Oct. 26 UK premiere of the latest chapter in the 007 saga, Spectre, which will include scenes in James’ London flat–only the third time in 007 movie history we’ve seen where our hero lives. We THINK we know what James’ pad should look like, though: sleek, modern, gadgets to further the art of seduction, a well-stocked bar, a collection of vintage cocktail shakers, and tinkling cut-crystal highball glasses.
Right? Well, as it turns out, not exactly.
Slideshow: the heretofore ‘veddy’ short history of 007 at home
And how about that cheesy cotton bathrobe on Roger Moore? I expected such a great lover to own better nightclothes. But then he probably doesn’t keep them on long, and so why bother when just the girlfriends dress in them?
He isn’t likely home much either, which explains a lot, decor-wise. Makes it tough to get the art hung and keep the fridge stocked.
The specter of Spectre
In April, crews filmed two days, outside and in, a swanky, white-brick apartment house at No. 1 Stanley Crescent in Notting Hill, a district in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Once a cheap and alternative area of London with low rents, it is today quite fashionable. Stanley Crescent is especially posh, as you can see…
We see him gaze pensively out a well-lit window at night (is that wise, James?). And when we notice he’s bought a better bathrobe, we begin to hold out hope for the new digs.
Here’s a daytime view of the apartment building…
Finally, inside…
- One of the books on the coffee table is Birds of the West Indies, which we can assume our fictional James Bond owns because he shares a name with its nonfictional author.
- On the table’s left corner is Jack the bulldog clothed in the British flag, inherited from M in Skyfall.
Which brings us to an inspiration board
At first glance it doesn’t seem like there’s much to draw a “look” from, but there’s more than you may think. All these elements (or something close) appear in this one photo:
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Sources: Hickory slingshot coffee table, Flat Rock Furniture; cylindrical column floor lamp, Restoration Hardware; Vintage double old-fashioned glasses, Waterford; book collection, One Kings Lane; “Winter Road” by Uwe Langman; “Ghost in the Machine” by Antonio Mora; vintage SLR camera by Leica.
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The puzzle of 007
Honestly, this is not the look I expected, but fictional characters evolve with the times in which they find themselves.
A person’s home is an insight into who they are, and I find I like who James Bond is revealing himself to be. Daniel Craig has given us a more vulnerable spin on the famous spy. James is starting to question what he does for a living and how he’s “handled.” The only situation that’s really black and white to him anymore is in a photograph.
