'His world is controlled, structured and high-end': The meticulous design process behind Ryle's apartment in It Ends with Us

It Ends with Us – starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni – is a hit at the box office, grossing $US 206 million ($AU 303 million) worldwide to date, according to Box Office Mojo.

And the design process behind securing the right filming locations was a “meticulous” task, according to production designer Russell Barnes, who spoke to Nine’s property team.

The film sees Lily Bloom (Lively) overcoming a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston and pursue a lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance encounter with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) leads to an intense bond where she sees sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents’ tumultuous relationship.

When her first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), reenters and upends her life, she must rely on her own strength and make a difficult choice for her future.

Barnes and his design team searched all over New Jersey to find a loft space for Ryle’s apartment that fit the character’s personality. They settled on a condominium common space with an open-plan layout, customising it extensively.

“Ryle’s apartment is a blend of found space and custom design. We found a loft space with sleek modern bones and customised it extensively to add missing elements,” Barnes reveals.

The team added a custom-built elevator, kitchen, primary bedroom, bathroom, gym and walk-in wine cellar.

“His world is controlled, structured and high-end, so we leaned into a cooler palette and minimalist design to reflect that,” Barnes explains.

“Every piece of furniture, artwork and décor was carefully selected or custom-made to align with Ryle’s character, giving the space a polished yet clinical feel, in stark contrast to Lily Bloom’s flower shop and Atlas’ environments.”

Baldoni, reveals in the film’s production notes, that it was important to use all practical locations.

“When I see a movie, I can usually tell when something or somewhere has been fabricated. It takes me out of the story. For It Ends with Us, there are no sets built on a soundstage and no blue screen anywhere.”

The design process behind Lily Bloom’s flower shop was also “meticulous” and “deeply collaborative”, according to Barnes.

“It began with a thorough breakdown of Colleen Hoover’s book (which the film is based on), mining it for visual cues and descriptions that would guide the look of the space. From there, we dove into extensive research, exploring fabrics, textures and colours that would bring Lily’s world to life,” says Barnes.

The team limited the use of brand-new elements, instead breathing life into beautiful old pieces.

Barnes reveals Lively and the entire team were “so committed” to getting the look and feel of the flower shop right.

“Blake’s input was invaluable. As a designer she brought a unique perspective and insight that helped us capture the creativity and eclectic nature of Lily’s world.”

It Ends with Us is in cinemas now.

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