#in nads’ post series fics I like what she does by calling it a museum and a sepulcher

[terrainofheartfelt]

Oh, here’s a question! If Dan and Blair were going to get a place together - assuming one isn’t moving into the other’s space, but they’re getting a whole new place to build their lives together in from scratch - what do you think it might look like, and what do you think the vibe would be? I always thought it was… interesting how at the end of 6x10 we got a glimpse into what Blair and Chuck’s townhouse was like (even though it 100% didn’t feel like them at all), and I’m curious what sort of space Dan and Blair might create together!

So first of all, I have had the MOST fun thinking about this answer so thank you for that. 🤍🤍🤍

This post is brought to you by @strideofpride and her dream home tag.

Okay so, this is an interesting question/premise because for the duration of the show, both Blair and Dan live in their childhood homes, set up by their parents, so like, we get an idea of their tastes, but it’s still adapted from their parents’. But when you compare their rooms, I think there are similarities in what they find comfortable/comforting and they would build their home around that. And though there are some artistic differences, what happens is pretty complementary. The color palette of soft blues and greys (and greens too) with warm lighting and warm & pastel colors in the accents. And when I referred back to their bedrooms, I noticed that Blair actually had a lot of earth tones in her bedroom. Inch-resting.

More under the cut because I had way too much fun writing this

So, I have made some ~moodboards~ BUT I have been collecting ideas since like, 18 months ago when I started writing Mouthful of Forevers. And on one of my fave blogs, I found this Gramercy Park apartment that I just kind of love for them, not all of the staging & interior design exactly, but the architecture of a renovated abbey, with those WINDOWS?! And the molding and the lighting fixtures and the home offices and the outdoor space. Idk it just feels very Dair to me. (idk anything about the neighborhood don’t @ me. I mean I kinda think it’s too far south for Blair’s taste but it’s not about the location for me on this but The VIBES)

Oh and ummmm in the Miloverse™ I hint at the Humphreys moving into a bigger house in Brooklyn and I think I like this one for them in that universe. The beauty of writing fic of the rich kid show is that everything’s made up and the price doesn’t matter. thehousehuntingblog is no longer actively posting but her archive is so fun to scroll through, and when I fancy giving myself a visual for a fic, even if I don’t end up writing much about it, that blog is one of the first I go to.

So a few things I imagine about Their Place

Dan just wants enough room for his books, a place to write, and a sit-in kitchen counter so he can cook and serve breakfast for his family. When Joy Harjo said the world begins at the kitchen table…

And because I’m getting very self-indulgent and much like the gg writers not letting the constraints of NY real estate stop me, my thoughts on the kitchen: I think they both like the feel of the loft kitchen, and that sort of french, mediterranean european kitchen with an airy space, no top cabinets, just open shelving and hanging things. It feels homey like the loft, but also harkens to the time they’ve had in France and Italy.

Dan is an absolute whore for soft lighting. He hates overhead lighting with the fire of a thousand suns (unless he’s cooking obvi). So, lots of lamps, and Blair loves an elegant lighting feature.

And Dan loves his Stuff. His books, his tchotchkes, his coffee mugs, the blown glass, the wall o’ photos in the loft kitchen.

Blair’s taste is neater than Dan’s, naturally, and leans towards more Victorian & Parisian things rather than the modern, and being who she is she likes touches of luxury and individuality. Things that are hers and no one else's. Which is why Dan’s preferences complement hers, because Brooklyn Boy has an eye for the unique.

She likes Dan’s Things(™) but wants to elevate them

she takes their plethora of photos and frames them to make a gallery wall

Absolutely have the colorful, cozy accents: rugs, cushions, blankets, but made out of the very best materials and fabrics.

Her expensive-ass candles

Every book, record, dvd case has a shelf. spillover piles like his old room make her nervous.

She meticulously organizes their collections, by genre then author & title, or artist, or director (but Audrey is in a collection of her own).

There's a turntable that’s aesthetic-suitable but is top of the line. she gets it as a gift one birthday and/or christmas and he insists that it’s too much but it’s a fight he cannot win

She also gets him an espresso machine and milk frother but her defense for that one is that she wants him to make her lattes so it’s really a gift for her. Evil lil genius.

Speaking of shelving, they have an extensive home library that only grows and grows and grows. Like Nads said, their whole home is a library, so there’s bookcases everywhere, and I love the idea of colorful bookcases. And the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of them having an upright piano in one corner. Musician!Dan supremacy. (Obviously in The Miloverse™ Blair insist on getting one when they move out of the loft).

They both want a home office space, Dan works from home all of the time, but when they do have kids, Blair also wants the option, but her work from home needs are less—she can get by with a nook in their bedroom or like one in the apt posting I linked above.

Dan’s office is a definite room with a door that closes, because sometimes he needs to block out the rest of the world, or sometimes Blair needs to lock him in there when he’s on deadline, but again, with The Kids he gets in the habit of leaving it open so they can find him when they need him. The first book he publishes after their first baby is written one naptime at a time with his daughter sleeping on the sofa in his office.

On a related note, I discussed this with S and we agreed that Blair and Dan are both green velvet sofa girls. Like one of these pieces so exists in either Dan’s office or their bedroom.

And, since this is Blair Waldorf, the master bath is of great importance. Her bathtub is her sanctuary. And I like the idea of taking those soothing deep blues and greens of their color palette and carrying them through into her bathroom. Or, even keeping that sunny warmth from her Pink Bathroom in the penthouse.

And, of course, these nerds have art everywhere. Forever laughing at the 🪑 home and that godawful painting on the stairwell like what happened to my dictator of taste???

Old film posters

Posters of art museum exhibitions (Mostly from the Met where Blair works)

Vintage Vogue covers

Original pieces when they go gallery cruising. During which they are absolute menaces; they’ll debate and pick apart a piece for hours until ultimately buying it. If there’s a cafe with a tip jar Dan will just preemptively slip cash in there as an apology.

I like to think when their daughter is born (Lizzie Humphrey rights!) Alison does a mural. Maybe about Sarah Kay's “B”? this is my headcanon post so I can do what I want

And Dan is artistically capable enough that I think he would paint flowers or leaves or stars on the wall. (Glow in the dark stars a ala jonah simms send post)

Oh and some more couch & bedroom inspo, just ‘cause. It’s about luxury meets the cushy and cozy with the warm accents. And they have to have a big comfy couch for movie watchings and game nights and couch sex when they have the place to themselves

Okay so there’s a kidfic that I’ve played in my head but haven’t written of Humphrey fam movie night and ofc Dan and Blair are invested in making their kids pretentious but it ends with their 4-year-old conked out with her head in Blair’s lap and the baby asleep on Dan’s chest and idk if I will write it but the picture makes me very Soft

All of these images were sourced from S’s dream home tag, thehousehuntingblog, thenordroom on tumblr, and pinterest.