With a name like Lily Blossom Bloom, it’s only natural for Blake Lively’s character in It Ends With Us to become a florist. Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel offers a detailed description of the protagonist’s flower shop – aptly named “Lily Bloom’s,” which has a dark, gothic atmosphere, as opposed to the typical rosy hues associated with flowers.
The film’s production designer, Russell Barnes, studied the book thoroughly to make sure he got the store just right. “I had a well-worn, tattered copy of ‘It Ends with Us’ that followed my wife and I around Costa Rica and Nicaragua as we took turns reading it. Eventually it found a home in our art department, where it was stuffed with different colored Post-it notes that detailed characters, locations, design elements and Easter eggs for the viewer to see. Importantly, it included store and flower specific notes that mentioned the use of leather, dark gothic colors and steampunk design. Colleen’s detailed descriptions sparked initial conversations with Justin about the look of the store.”
Of course, building a setting that readers have imagined in a million different ways added extra pressure to the design process, but Barnes and his team were up to the task. “We were very attentive to the fans and took great pains to stay as close to the book as possible. When a book is adapted into a film, adjustments have to be made specifically for the visual medium, which sometimes leads to necessary deviations. We were conscious of this and at every stage presented our ideas to the entire creative team, constantly asking ourselves, ‘Does this fit our character?'”
Screenshot – Sony Pictures
Barnes fondly recalls working with Lively and director/star Justin Baldoni in the early stages of the design process, adding, “Justin had a clear vision of the overall aesthetic he wanted, and we took inspiration from local shops and images we found online and on social media. Our goal was a vintage look with an upscale Parisian shabby chic style.”
When the trio couldn’t find the exact rich oxblood shade they wanted for the walls, Barnes took matters into his own hands. “Eventually we came to the conclusion that we needed a slightly different shade that wasn’t available commercially, so I quickly hand-mixed an entirely new color that eventually became the iconic shade you see in the store. We called the color BBB (Baldoni, Blake, Barnes).”
Of course, the flowers themselves played a major role in Lily Bloom’s aesthetic, and Barnes worked with florist Tess Casey and her team at Aisling Flowers. “Of course, lilies were a key element,” says Barnes. “My favourite flower was the mesmerising bird of paradise. This vibrant flower always puts a smile on my face. We used a lot of wisteria and lavender throughout the store. In general, we stuck to darker tones and unique-looking flowers. We used ikebana throughout, the Japanese art of flower arranging, which involves sparser and more disjointed compositions.”
Barnes hopes viewers understand the subtext and metaphors his team was trying to convey through the art of flower arranging. “I believe we created the most thoughtful and respectful adaptation possible, honoring Colleen Hoover’s creation,” he says. “I sincerely hope fans feel the same way.”
