Unveiling the Architectural Heart of "Verity": Where Mystery Meets Midcentury Modern
The High Stakes of Adapting a Bestseller
Colleen Hoover has garnered a dedicated readership with her compelling narratives, setting a high bar for cinematic adaptations of her popular novels. "Verity," the 2018 psychological thriller, is the latest of Hoover's works to be brought to the screen. Given that much of the story unfolds within a single isolated setting, the production team faced considerable pressure to authentically bring Hoover's intricate world to life, particularly the key location.
The Central Role of the Crawford Estate
Dakota Johnson stars as Lowen Ashleigh, an emerging writer hired to ghostwrite for the enigmatic author Verity Crawford (played by Anne Hathaway). To fulfill her duties, Lowen is invited to Verity's secluded Vermont estate, where Verity resides with her husband Jeremy (Josh Hartnett) and their son. This house is far more than just a backdrop; it is a repository of dangerous secrets and a character in its own right. Therefore, securing the perfect dwelling was paramount to achieving the mysterious yet alluring ambiance essential to the film's plot.
The Elusive Search for the Perfect Location
Production designer Amy Williams and location manager Elizabeth Krekel embarked on an extensive search for a property that met all the demanding criteria. Williams expressed their openness to any location that could effectively encapsulate the characters, their world, and the overall environment, with a specific preference for a site previously unseen on film. When presented with an image of Beckoning Path, a home in Armonk, New York, Williams immediately recognized its unparalleled suitability. This residence, originally designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk founders Martha and Ted Nierenberg, captivated Williams with its distinctive architecture. She remarked that while it wasn't what many might have initially envisioned, its exterior was a dream come true for a lover of midcentury modern design.
A House with Innate Symbolism and Dual Nature
The striking 1960s structure, characterized by its expansive windows and distinctive gabled V-shapes, inherently possessed a symbolic quality—the "V" aligning perfectly with the name Verity. This feature, which Williams had either hoped to discover or incorporate, made the property even more appealing. The home's sharp angles and prominent peaks allowed it to transition from an architectural marvel bathed in daylight to a more menacing presence under the cover of night. Despite its ideal characteristics, Williams had to advocate strongly for its selection. She noted that some team members were hesitant, deeming it an unconventional choice, but Williams insisted, stating, "This is not a safe movie. So we wanted to go with the iconic, dangerous choice."
Transforming Interiors to Reflect a Chilling Narrative
Currently serving as a tai chi retreat, Beckoning Path required more outfitting than stripping away its existing decor. Williams and her team meticulously sourced tasteful pieces from venues like 1stDibs, aiming for items that would suit the affluent Crawford family while simultaneously evoking the subtly unsettling atmosphere that defines the film. Williams explained their goal: "We wanted the space to feel inhospitable to kids, and that it's not a warm, fuzzy family home. You want people to feel uncomfortable [while watching]." Consequently, much of the chosen decor features sharp edges and angular forms, making the furniture almost as disquieting as the characters themselves.
Bridging Reality and Constructed Sets
While the house and its surrounding grounds served as the primary filming locations, certain areas proved unsuitable for cinematic production due to space constraints or insufficient lighting. For these scenes, including hallways, expansive bedrooms, and Verity's opulent home office, Williams and her team constructed detailed sets at Broadway Stage in Queens, New York. This presented an exciting opportunity for Williams to act as an architect, crafting spaces that seamlessly blended with the existing home. Achieving this required immense imagination and a profound understanding of Quistgaard's design philosophy. She explained that Quistgaard's forms are highly specific, and the set designs pushed his aesthetic further, creating a more dramatic and cinematic effect with increased verticals, steeper ceiling pitches, and sharper angles.
Collaborative Creativity and Character Embodiment
Verity, as a character, remains an enigma, her motivations constantly challenging Lowen's perceptions throughout the narrative. Anne Hathaway, with whom Williams has previously collaborated on multiple film projects, proved to be an invaluable asset in bringing the titular character's life to fruition. Williams praised Hathaway as an "open collaborator" with excellent taste, making the process of selecting artwork and furniture a genuinely enjoyable experience. She likened Hathaway to a "sounding board" for difficult decisions, whether it was choosing between a bold chrome desk or a classic wooden one, highlighting the luxury of such a partnership in the film industry.
Unveiling the Architectural Heart of \"Verity\": Where Mystery Meets Midcentury Modern
The High Stakes of Adapting a Bestseller
Colleen Hoover has garnered a dedicated readership with her compelling narratives, setting a high bar for cinematic adaptations of her popular novels. \"Verity,\" the 2018 psychological thriller, is the latest of Hoover's works to be brought to the screen. Given that much of the story unfolds within a single isolated setting, the production team faced considerable pressure to authentically bring Hoover's intricate world to life, particularly the key location.
The Central Role of the Crawford Estate
Dakota Johnson stars as Lowen Ashleigh, an emerging writer hired to ghostwrite for the enigmatic author Verity Crawford (played by Anne Hathaway). To fulfill her duties, Lowen is invited to Verity's secluded Vermont estate, where Verity resides with her husband Jeremy (Josh Hartnett) and their son. This house is far more than just a backdrop; it is a repository of dangerous secrets and a character in its own right. Therefore, securing the perfect dwelling was paramount to achieving the mysterious yet alluring ambiance essential to the film's plot.
The Elusive Search for the Perfect Location
Production designer Amy Williams and location manager Elizabeth Krekel embarked on an extensive search for a property that met all the demanding criteria. Williams expressed their openness to any location that could effectively encapsulate the characters, their world, and the overall environment, with a specific preference for a site previously unseen on film. When presented with an image of Beckoning Path, a home in Armonk, New York, Williams immediately recognized its unparalleled suitability. This residence, originally designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk founders Martha and Ted Nierenberg, captivated Williams with its distinctive architecture. She remarked that while it wasn't what many might have initially envisioned, its exterior was a dream come true for a lover of midcentury modern design.
A House with Innate Symbolism and Dual Nature
The striking 1960s structure, characterized by its expansive windows and distinctive gabled V-shapes, inherently possessed a symbolic quality—the \"V\" aligning perfectly with the name Verity. This feature, which Williams had either hoped to discover or incorporate, made the property even more appealing. The home's sharp angles and prominent peaks allowed it to transition from an architectural marvel bathed in daylight to a more menacing presence under the cover of night. Despite its ideal characteristics, Williams had to advocate strongly for its selection. She noted that some team members were hesitant, deeming it an unconventional choice, but Williams insisted, stating, \"This is not a safe movie. So we wanted to go with the iconic, dangerous choice.\"
Transforming Interiors to Reflect a Chilling Narrative
Currently serving as a tai chi retreat, Beckoning Path required more outfitting than stripping away its existing decor. Williams and her team meticulously sourced tasteful pieces from venues like 1stDibs, aiming for items that would suit the affluent Crawford family while simultaneously evoking the subtly unsettling atmosphere that defines the film. Williams explained their goal: \"We wanted the space to feel inhospitable to kids, and that it's not a warm, fuzzy family home. You want people to feel uncomfortable [while watching].\" Consequently, much of the chosen decor features sharp edges and angular forms, making the furniture almost as disquieting as the characters themselves.
Bridging Reality and Constructed Sets
While the house and its surrounding grounds served as the primary filming locations, certain areas proved unsuitable for cinematic production due to space constraints or insufficient lighting. For these scenes, including hallways, expansive bedrooms, and Verity's opulent home office, Williams and her team constructed detailed sets at Broadway Stage in Queens, New York. This presented an exciting opportunity for Williams to act as an architect, crafting spaces that seamlessly blended with the existing home. Achieving this required immense imagination and a profound understanding of Quistgaard's design philosophy. She explained that Quistgaard's forms are highly specific, and the set designs pushed his aesthetic further, creating a more dramatic and cinematic effect with increased verticals, steeper ceiling pitches, and sharper angles.
Collaborative Creativity and Character Embodiment
Verity, as a character, remains an enigma, her motivations constantly challenging Lowen's perceptions throughout the narrative. Anne Hathaway, with whom Williams has previously collaborated on multiple film projects, proved to be an invaluable asset in bringing the titular character's life to fruition. Williams praised Hathaway as an \"open collaborator\" with excellent taste, making the process of selecting artwork and furniture a genuinely enjoyable experience. She likened Hathaway to a \"sounding board\" for difficult decisions, whether it was choosing between a bold chrome desk or a classic wooden one, highlighting the luxury of such a partnership in the film industry.