While recently watching a super old episode of Parks & Recreation, we had to laugh when we saw what looked exactly like our card-catalog-turned-spice-&-spoon-rack in the background behind Amy Poehler. Especially because the episode was all about her unabashed hatred for libraries:
Isn’t it a dead ringer for the $5 thrift store version I got two Valentine’s Days ago from Sherry (read more about that here)?
So it got us wondering if you’ve ever seen something you have in your house on TV. Was your fancy stapler on The Office? Did your Ikea curtains make an appearance on Project Runway? Have you spotted the same touristy magnet from Texas on someone’s fake sitcom fridge? Spill the as-seen-on-TV beans.
Dan says
Sometimes, I see my kitchen stuff on Mad Men. Nothing in this world makes me feel more glamorous.
Petite Josette says
I think I saw my red breakfast bowls from London Drugs in a TV show once, I think it was Chuck, but I’m not so sure…
Sadie says
this is a little different, but along the same lines. Our wedding venue, Pierre’s Restaurant, in Islamorada, Florida (one of the Keys) is featured in all the spring/summer Pottery Barn catalogues. It’s a big, white plantation style building with blue shutters. It’s insanely gorgeous, inside and out and the food is ridiculous. When I got the first catalogue, my husband didn’t believe it was Pierre’s. I emailed our wedding planner there and she confirmed that PB had been there earlier this year shooting. I was so giddy when I found out! The same year we got married (2008) HGTV built their dream home in Islamorada. I registered for it every day and was convinced that I would win it! As it turns out, the couple who won live in Solon, Iowa, about 15 min from where my husband and I live (Iowa City- go Hawkeyes!). What are the chances?? Oh well, we’re featured on Pierre’s website (www.pierres-restaurant.com — I’m the “angel in archway” and my husband and I are in the “moment in lounge pic) and had an amazing wedding, so that’s good enough for me :)
Lisa O says
Speaking of Parks & Rec, Leslie’s friend, the nurse, has the same Pier 1 pillow on her couch that I have on our spare bed. I was trying to explain to the Hubs why I paid $42 for a pillow and BOOM! There is was on TV. That was my proof that it was totally adorable & worth the $. Whatever excuse I can get, I’ll take it!
sophie says
BHg writes: ‘“Think of neutrals as peacemakers. They can help colors get along.”
Unfortunately, I find so-called ‘neutrals’ to be anything but neutral – anything that gets me that pissed off cannot at all be neutral.
Life is too short for neutral. I love colour, saturated colour: our house has red, yellow, blue, green – bright swathes of colour to match our personalities. And while ‘the experts’ would call this ‘overdone’ and would say that ‘homes need points of rest and repose,’ we’ve received nothing but compliments about the happiness of our house.
When it comes to colour, I say ‘stuff the experts’ and do what you like best. and if you like ‘neutral’, then go for it, just don’t call it some kind of ‘peacemaker’. and if you like bold, then go for it. or mix it up. but don’t let a magazine tell you what you should be doing. true style comes from within, and can’t be applied like makeup.
K says
I often saw the mugs from my dinnerware (Margot by Crate & Barrel http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=14176&f=15516) on Arrested Development. It was strangely satisfying to see Michael Bluth enjoying his coffee out of the same cup.
Lillian says
My bedding is the same as Rachel’s on Glee!!!!!
Katherine M. says
Our sofa accent pillows from Anthropologie (rust orange with big white swirls) are on Hannah Montana (which I let my daughter watch occasionally–as a treat). Those pillows were also in an interior in Better Homes and Gardens sometime last year or the year before.
Also, we have the same Herend china that was in the movie Gosford Park (regrettably, any other similarities to the aristocratic British lifestyle end with the china). But it was fun to see!
Torrie says
I hate to admit this, but our the hideous laminate that is on our kitchen floor also made an appearance in My Girl (the movie). Can’t wait to replace it.
Carolyn says
My mom had an old crock that she passed down to me and one day I realized it is the same one that appears in Monica Geller’s kitchen on Friends! Look for the “1 Cent Pickle” crock near her stove!
Kirsten D says
We have the same chandelier as Dexter has in his house.
Paige says
The only one I can remember specifically happened a few weeks ago. I was watching HGTV’s Next Design Star and one of the girls had the same shirt as I do. It’s from Forever 21, which I’m always a little embarrassed to admit now that I’m out of college…
Queenie says
I like to make all my decor so it is one of a kind but I watch alot of HOUSE and cant help but notice that almost everything is from ikea
Callista says
In a similiar situation to Jamie, we had an old ’70’s style’ bedding set that was featured on the bed in the original Ace Ventura movie…It was kinda cool to see, but I still insisted that when the holiday home was sold, that the bedding made no further appearances in any of our future home decor.
Jackie Reitz says
The bed that Raymond and his wife have on Everybody Loves Raymond is the exact same bed my husband and I have had for our entire marriage (I actually got it when I was in like 10th or 11th grade).
Nicole says
A shirt of mine from Urban Outfitters was worn by Misha Barton on The OC and my end tables from Target were on a show on HGTV. And of course whenever I watch Color Splash (Love David Bromstad!!!) I instantly know when he walks into West Elm :)
Anna says
In college I had the same IKEA bedside clock as Charlotte had in her Park Avenue apartment with Trey. (SATC) Proof that IKEA makes the cut especially in the right setting!
Jarrod says
Along the lines of “as seen on tv,” are you all Giada fans? I see her book in the shot you’ve provided.
As a hobby chef and an avid reader of your blog, I’d love to know that we share a love for Ms. de Laurentiis. She’s such an aesthete. With 90 perfect teeth.
Megan Elizabeth says
I used to have to same bedding as Lynette and Tom from Desperate Housewives.
Danielle@Newlyweds Paradise says
My Parson’s Desk from West Elm has been seen on this site :-P
Caitlin says
Lorelai had my moonbeam alarm clock in Gilmore Girls, and in Juno the “discarded living room set” includes one of the rugs my grandma made, same colors and everything (I guess it was a popular pattern?)
Mitzi says
It’s funny how you notice these details in a room. I’m a writer, so I notice what book the actor is reading.
Amy E. says
although it’s not exactly visible in our house, we used the Schluter-Kerdi system when we reno’d the shower in our master bathroom. and every time we watch Mike Holmes in his show, Holmes on Homes, we see him use the same system (more or less depending on his needs)! that makes us feel good that a contractor who we respect and who’s always about “Making it Right” uses the same materials and put them up the same way we did!
Amy says
It’s not in my kitchen, but a friend of mine has the large wooden fork and spoon set from Marie and Frank’s kitchen on Everybody Loves Raymond. What makes it so funny is that it too was a wedding present they really didn’t want, but ended up becoming very attached to it anyway.
May says
We have an old Eames lounge chair and ottoman(a hand-me-down from my hockey player uncle) that pops up in a bunch of shows. We refer to it as The Steele Chair because it’s an important piece of furniture in Remington Steele (80s Crimedy series with Pierce Brosnan).
Meredith says
It’s not house related, but I once saw the character Angela on Bones wearing a dress I had recently bought on clearance. Double excitement!
Leeann says
Not a TV show or movie, but when I was browsing for-sale houses online, one house had 3 full bathrooms, each having a shower curtain that I had owned at one point in time. The pictures were in the order that I had owned them, too. Imagine my surprise as I was scrolling down the page: “Hey, I had that shower curtain in my first apartment! Hey, I had that one in my first house! HEY!!!!” It was a nice trip down memory lane. :)
Sarah @ the Ooey Gooey Daily News says
We have the same (ugly) couch that is on the TV show “Scrubs” – but the GOOD NEWS is that we bought a new sectional that will be here next month! YAY!
Rebecca says
I have seen my awesome turquoise lamp from Pier 1 on one of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies and a white version of it on another tv show (which I’ve now forgotten) Love love it! It’s the one thing I splurged on when I first got my own aparment!
orly says
I bought this amazing owl at home goods for $16 to use in our guest bedroom. I’ve since seen it for sale for $150, and it was used on an episode of HGTV’s Design Star. Too funny!
http://mhgdblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/owlumbrella.jpg
Sarah B. says
I once saw my Old Navy cardigan on a Sonic commercial that was specifically about MAKING FUN OF THE CARDIGAN. It was embroidered and “old lady”… It made me laugh too hard to be offended (and I’ve never pretended not to like old timey fashion).
sara says
hi guys. i stumbled your blog by accident 3 days ago and i love love love it! i just moved into my husband’s house and it so needs a makeover but i have no idea where to start. when i found your blog, i love your style so much that i started saving the pics in my google docs as my inspiration board to show my husband. i put it up in a tumblr blog (http://thuis-ideas.tumblr.com/) though since that google doc crashed with credits to you guys of course. please continue what you’re doing. it is so exciting to see how you transform a space without spending much. you guys are inspirational!
ashlie says
That’s too funny – I was totally watching this episode and thought the same thing! “Hmm, that looks just like the one on YHL! I have to try to find one for my office!”
Megan says
I’ve spied a couple pieces I’ve owned over the years on the Gilmore Girls. Mostly clothes that Lorelai wore. I love that show!
@ Sadie, I remember that dream home! I registered a handful of times myself, but I had no idea what I would do with it if I won it, haha. How unenthusiastic was the lady that did win, though? Maybe she was camera shy?
Allison says
I bought a lightweight throw blanket from Kohl’s then saw it tossed across Meredith’s couch a few weeks later on Grey’s Anatomy!
Mary says
The couch I received as a hand-me-down from my parents (and by far the most comfortable couch ever), was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as one of the top 3 ugliest couches in America. They even brought the couch into the studio. Unfortunately, it got 2nd. It’s blue with gold and orange birds on it. I still have it and use it everyday!
Rachel says
I saw my IKEA quilt cover on an episode of America’s Next Top Model once. Made me laugh!
Kristen says
That 70’s Show = My parents basement. We had that same washer and dryer FOR-EV-ER.
MaryKath says
I was really excited to see the Graham & Brown wallpaper I used in my daughter’s bedroom in the bedroom scene in “The Bounty Hunter.” I’ve also seen it in the now defunct “O At Home” magazine in lime green. It tickles me!
Vonda says
A long time ago, I saw Brenda on 90210 wearing the same Liz Claiborne sweater that I owned, but I can top that.
I was recently watching an old movie (drawing a blank on what movie it was), but they had the exact bedding I used in my first post-college apartment (and actually into my 2nd apt. and the 1st few years in my house!); very dated w/the Navy, Hunter Green, Burgundy that was popular in the early 90s and in paisleys. Even more interesting (for me anyway) is that the fabric was weaved by Dan River Mills located in my hometown of Danville, VA. Imagine the surprise!
Melissa says
I haven’t seen any home accessories of mine on TV. But I did have the same Scottie dog sweater that Stephanie Tanner wore in the opening theme song of Full House! I also noticed that Pam from the office was wearing the same wedding dress my sister wore.
Michael says
DJ Tanner on Full House and I had the same comforter set when I was 10. It was a gray grid pattern with red piping that reversed to white with geometric shapes. So 80s!
Shannon says
We had the same comforter as Meredith on Grey’s Anatomy (umm, maybe Season 3 or 4?) until she switched it out for a red one. It was a brown faux suede paisley. It was kind of weird to see it so randomly!!
Shevon says
Ha, the bedroom set I always hated, but my husband wanted was the bedroom set in Everybody Loves Raymond. Fontana by Broyhill. It’s still in my basement storage and I still hate it!
carrie says
It was quite the shining moment when I saw my cow-shaped creamer on gilmore girls. AND I saw two of my polka-dotted $1 mugs from big lots in their kitchen. :)
Allie says
Well I spotted my Crate and Barrel pink vase and Target filing system right here! Further proving that you guys have great taste! :) I know there have been so many times that this has happened to me but the only one I recall at the moment is that I have the same bathing suit that is on the cover of Weeds Season 4. I haven’t seen the show but I was at Target and was like “Hey, that’s my bathing suit!” Weird!
Alison says
We saw our baby bassinet on Scrubs a few years back. Its white with blue story print on it. That was pretty crazy.
Allison says
In the movie Shawshank Redemption, Red finds a buried tin, with a note from Andy, and a sum of money and makes his way to Mexico. I always thought the tin looked familiar and realized my great aunt had the same one where she would stash her extra cash. I told her about it and she gave me the tin a few years back. :)
Aryn says
Rachel from “Glee” has the same IKEA dresser as us! Hers seems much cleaner though…! And Nathan and Haley from “One Tree Hill” had a chair in season 5 or 6 that we grabbed from Target.
Janelle says
This was AGES ago(probably 23 years – eek!) but I remember having on the same sweatshirt as Rudy Huxtable. It was decorated with a giant dinsaur getting its teeth brushed via a bunch of workers on a ladder. I felt so cool.