The White Lotus’s second season finale left us with a lot to reflect on. Did Ethan and Daphne sleep together on that island? (Probably.) Will Portia and Albie bond over their shared misfortune back stateside? (Likely.) Could Tanya have handled things better? (Ehhh.) But, as we design obsessives have come to expect from Mike White’s brilliantly assembled series, we’ve also been stuck thinking about some of the more subtle decorative elements that felt particularly exciting—from a story perspective, a design perspective, and otherwise.
The perfectly placed Arco-like light fixture
While Mia gets her much desired moment in the spotlight, so does the Arco light fixture. Designed by Italian brothers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in the ’60s and still manufactured by Flos, the fixture’s placement proves the timeless ingenuity of the design.
That beaded curtain
In a TV show that displays absurd levels of luxury, the Di Grassos’ day trip out to find their long lost family members’ homes is a welcome respite. Venturing away from the glitzy tourist areas and indeed locating some relatives, the Di Grassos are quickly rebuked by this extended family. However, Bert has enough time to part their bead curtains—a pleasantly not luxurious flourish that grounds the scene and what separates the two families.
Those blue-and-white umbrellas
Lately we’ve been siding with flat sun shades as the umbrella du jour, but the ever-present blue-and-white umbrellas in The White Lotus season 2 drove the point home for the vintage-leaning and two-tone umbrella style.
That very extra serve-ware
If nothing else, you have to admit Quentin (Tom Hollander) knows how to show a guest a good time. Maybe it’s just the holiday hosting prepping mood we’re in, but if there’s one thing for sure, it’s that we’d snatch that shell-shaped sugar bowl off the dining table if we were ever invited to one of Quentin’s fêtes.
That foreboding clawfoot tub
Okay, maybe this is a minor detail, but would you trust anyone with a concrete tub with literal clawed feet? I didn’t think so! Clearly Tanya isn’t known for making sense, so we have no choice but to shake our heads at her sticking around people with decor this absurdly vile.
Gallery walls and wallpaper
We’ve already covered how extra Quentin’s serve-ware is, but another appreciated detail is his villa’s commitment to gallery walls atop dense wallpaper. Sure, it’s not that irregular within the realm of old world Italian villas, but we appreciate resting our eyes on ’em just the same. Per our tour of the villa that predates The White Lotus, this particular wallpaper is a Gainsborough silk damask.
Daphne’s cozy curved couch
Daphne (Megann Fahy) proves herself to be the queen of comfort at all costs throughout the season—even if it’s through some degree of delusion or bargaining, depending on who you ask—so it’s only natural she’d find the cosiest couch to rest on.
