Monica’s apartment on Friends is so iconic that any fan could recognize it — even without Rachel, Chandler and the gang in the pictures. But is it still recognizable with a modern makeover?
Modsy, an interior design startup, reimagined the huge two-bedroom that every member of the cast called ‘home’ at one point, redecorating the space to keep it up-to-date with modern design trends.
And suffice it so say, the apartment looks totally different, with just a handful of details from the show.
New York life: Monica Geller’s apartment in Friends is iconic and instantly recognizable
In need of a modern update? But interior design firm Modsy questions whether it would still be decorated this way in 2018
The one with the furniture upgrade: They took a space designed to look nearly identical to the apartment and gave it three makeovers
Stayin’ in the city! First, they thought about how Monica and Chandler might have redecorated if they didn’t move to a house in Westchester
Movin’ on up: For one thing, they’d surely have a flat-screen TV by now, and the decor is more modern too
Her style: The new look is certainly more streamlined and tidier, which super-neat Monica would likely love
Less spunk: The purple walls have been repainted and the apartment is done in mostly neutral hues
View: If they wanted to check out Ugly Naked Man, they’d now have to maneuver around a computer
The apartment that was once rented by Monica’s grandmother is a main setting for all ten seasons of the show.
Though Monica lives there for nearly the entire run — thanks to the the fact that she keeps her dead grandma’s name on the lease and still benefits from the rent-controlled rates — at different times she lives with Rachel, Chandler, and Phoebe.
Chandler and Joey take over for a short while, and it’s revealed in one episode that Ross lived with his grandma for a summer.
Many superfans could describe the place in their sleep: The walls are purple, an empty yellow picture frame hangs on the door, and the kitchen with a small table are to the left when you come in.
The living room has a sofa and chairs facing a TV, above which hangs a French poster. Doors to the bedrooms are on either side, and a bathroom is situated just to the side of large windows — through which the characters can watch Ugly Naked Man.
Monica’s rules! The apartment mostly stayed the same for ten seasons, even with different people living there
The frame’s still on the door! Modsy also tried to guess how Rachel would have redecorated if she moved in
And Ross? They said she’d go for more of a chic, less-is-more vibe
On the move: Rachel moved in during Season 1 without any stuff of her own
Stuff: The newly-decorated apartment is certainly less cluttered than the original
ChicL The new decor certainly reflects Rachel’s interest in fashion
But what if it didn’t look like that? The apartment decor was perfect trendy for the ’90s, and still worked through the early-’00s when the show wrapped.
But in 2018, the people at Modsy say, it would likely be decorated differently. They decided to plan what the place would look like, using an apartment setup with a layout nearly identical to Monica’s apartment — but the similarities end there.
Modsy created three different design schemes. The first, they said, is what Monica and Chandler might have done to spruce up the place, had they not moved to Westchester when the series ended.
They told Today that they gave it a ‘rustic warmth’ makeover, painting over the purple walls with a neutral color. But there is a place for sentimentality: The purple door and yellow picture frame stayed as an accent.
The couches and chairs were swapped out for pieces that are more modern. The throw pillows are new and neutral-hued.
Last one! They also reimagined it for if Joey had moved in when Chandler and Monica left
Alternate reality: Joey moved to California after the show for his own spin-off
Personal touches: A few of Joey’s things are there, like the white dog statue and the foosball table
Doing well for himself: Joey also seems to have upgraded his chair
Hangout: All six members of the cast lived in the apartment at some point
The coffee table and side table have been replaced, while the French poster above the TV has been moved to the other side of the room. The TV, of course, is also now a flat-screen.
The blue cabinets and shelves in the kitchen have been ripped out, and most of the wall art has been replaced, too.
The team at Modsy also figured out what the place would look like if Rachel moved in and took over for Monica and Chandler.
They imagined a ‘less-is-more, chic’ approach, with lots of white, ivory, cream, and blush.
Finally, if Joey had moved in instead of moving to California, it would have more of a manly feel — though the Modsy team gives Joey a lot of credit for having style considering his former living situations.
They did, however, find a place for Joey’s white dog statue (bought when he was briefly making money) and the foosball table that he had to smash to free a lost chick.