It’s not always the glamorous Hollywood actors or the gritty or witty story that steals the scene in a good TV drama or blockbuster hit. It’s often the sets and locations in which all the action takes place that becomes the real star of the show. And with Netflix’s latest book to film adaptation, The Thursday Murder Club, it was the Jigsaw Room that caught our eye. What incredibly creative mind can design such a beautiful room? We look at the concept boards with James Merifield the production Designer who along with his team made, a room to die for!
What is The Thursday Murder Club?
The book, The Thursday Murder Club, written by TV presenter, Richard Osman, is a Sunday Times bestseller. And with Hollywood a listers, Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Ben Kingsley, starring alongside the celebrated Celia Imire, the film is set to be a success for streaming giant Netflix also.
The Devil is in the Detail
The setting for Cooper’s Chase, the fictional retirement home where our armchair sleuths reside, is private residence, Englefield House in Berkshire. The Jigsaw Room orangery was masterfully curated on site for filming, and features intricate details that pay homage to the Elizabethan country estate.
In other articles, the film’s production designer, James Merifield, has referred to the Jigsaw Room as the “fifth member of the Murder Club” and felt it was important to get the settings right, as with each of the character’s personal rooms reflecting their respective personalities.
The above image shows the initial concept board the first imaginings of how the room could look. The task is then to get this signed off and the contents sourced to bring the design to life for filming. As the orangery was built specifically for filming, nothing existed previously. When sourcing products, keeping in mind the concept at all times is vital. Warm bronze and mellow glass evoke old style charm.
Speaking to the lightingcompany.co.uk, Merifield said lighting a set does more than present the setting practically.
When asked how to you go about Lighting a faded elegant orangery, he said: “I’d say that it’s the right choice of lighting that not only lights the set practically, but gives it a sense of time and place.”
And we whole heartedly agree, creating an echo or an era past or starting a fresh. Lighting does add to the mood and feel of a room.
Important distinction: Whilst LightingCompany.co.uk is firmly a chosen supplier by set designers and has provided lights for many films, television series, and styling shoots, The Thursday Murder Club was not one of ours. Set designers source from many places, but the heritage orangery look it showcased—warm bronze, buttery yellow glass, and brass accents—is very much at the heart of our collections.
Catching our eye were the impressive Georgian and Regency style chandeliers hung among the action in the grandiose orangery, the backdrop to the crime fighting quartet’s secret meetings. Whilst Lighting Company did not supply these lights, we often collaborate and supply lighting.
These Regency inspired pendant fittings not only add drama, but a touch of elegance alongside a warming glow, that fills the room and reflects the character’s charm.
Also dotted around the light and airy room were numerous, beautifully patterned ceramic table lamps paired with neutral shades, adding a homely, comforting touch.
Recreate the Look: The Thursday Murder Club
The Jigsaw Room
To recreate the lighting in the orangery featured in The Thursday Murder Club, consider colour and material choices, as well as the mood for your setting.
Here are some tips when choosing your lighting:
- Warm bronze and heritage brass finishes signal time-honoured craftsmanship and are softly reflective without being ostentatious.
- Amber or smoked glass filters light into golden pools that soften shadows for a warm ambience to create a comfortable and relaxed setting
- Rustic but elegant detailing, such as chain pendants, heritage wall lights, and candelabra-inspired forms, add a touch of aristocratic charm, perfect for high ceilings in period properties.
- Layer lighting with a central feature pendant alongside perimeter wall sconces and table lamps to balance function with atmosphere.
Considering these factors will help create a relaxed, lived-in luxury space, with a room that feels grand yet human, perfect for entertaining, quiet retreat or solving crime.
Joyce’s Room – The ‘Lemon Drizzle’ Room
Joyce (Celia Imrie) is a retired trauma nurse and keen baker, reflected in the nickname for this room. Designer Merifield describes her apartment as ‘Laura Ashley-esque’ with her personal space a mix of pretty, pastel florals.
To create this look consider yellow and buttery tones complemented with pastel pinks. Chose a floral wallpaper pattern that’s not too bold and pair with block colour. If you don’t have panelling, this look can easily be achieved with wallpaper.
Opt for brass finishes and tones to complement the warmth and add neutral shades or opt for patterned shades for contrast. Don’t forget cosy floral table lamps or pretty lamp shades for a sugar coated visual treat.
Explore the full range of Laura Ashley Lighting and Laura Ashley Homeware available via the Lighting Company for further inspiration for your look. Whilst we didn’t glimpse the bedroom, I’m sure it too has pretty Laura Ashley wallpaper with a feminine feel.
Elizabeth’s Room – The Library
Former spy and leader of the Thursday Murder Club, Elizabeth Best (Helen Mirren), shares her apartment with her husband Steven. The largest of the apartments, it features high ceilings and large windows, exuding grandeur worthy of the country estate setting. As such, designer Merifield opted for understated opulence with rich period features.
Darker tones feature with a rich heritage blue the focal point of this room. Large panelled walls and bookshelves mirror the floor to ceiling windows that flood the room with natural light, making this the perfect reading and relaxing space.
Choose earthy reds to add richness, complemented with antique bronze accents. Authentic light fittings and lamps, which are in-keeping with the heritage feel of the space, are important for completing this look.
Ibrahim’s Room – The Study
Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) resides in a room more akin to that of a elite gentleman’s club or study, with dark chesterfield sofas, wood panelling, rich red and burgundy accents.
It’s a much darker space with less natural light. But antique bronze fittings with warm bulbs bring depth and richness, paired beautifully with green accents in light shades and furniture.
Opt for darker, aged bronze tones, coloured glass shades or more ornate fittings to achieve this opulent lounge or study space. Deep browns paired with green works well alongside red accents.
Ron’s Room – The Den
Rebel Ron (Pierce Brosnan) choses to age on his own terms. A grown up take on student living, Ron’s pub like den, includes less period features and is more aligned to simple home comforts with leather chesterfields and more modern pendant lighting in a polished brass finish completing the look. With small, low lying windows, this space features less natural light and relies on the warmth from interior lighting, mainly through lamps that give pools of light. Shop task lamps.
Golden tones, deep browns, wood textures, leather and brass, give this room a relaxed, masculine look. Chose brass or black fittings for a masculine feel and pair with leather accents.
Turn Heads with Our All Star Cast
Here we highlight some of the Lighting Company’s leading stars inspired by The Thursday Murder Club, guaranteed to add drama to any interior.
In Summary
When curating your look, its the finishing touches that can make all the difference. Giving your room a re-name can help you in deciding what finishing touches your room requires. Like the Gentleman’s Club or the Garden Room – the labels dictates a theme to relate back to.
Whether it’s the leafy greenery, clean crisp neutral shades and regency inspired chandeliers in the grand orangery, or ‘Jigsaw Room’, or the deep rich red tones, ornate glass light shades and the solid brass lamp bases of the ‘Study’, giving your room a personality will inspire your design and lighting choices when curating your own interior looks for your home.
Research and mood boards, as well as reflecting on your own personality, as production designer James Merifield did in designing the homes of the Thursday Murder Club characters, will help you create a look that’s authentic to you, and your home. Surely a crime to not steal inspiration from the police station concept above too! Shop Pendant lights.
Further Reading
For further tips, read our guide on how to light an orangery or discover more about lighting through the ages. We also have tips on how to care for your chandelier.