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Behind the Screens: Illustrated Floor Plans and Scenes from the Best TV Shows of All Time
Hand-drawn floor plans and richly imagined architectural illustrations tell the story of television’s most memorable on-screen sets and scenes.
Come explore where Lucy and Ethel baked a monstrous loaf of bread, where Phoebe performed “Smelly Cat,” where Jim and Pam fell in love, and countless other homes, offices, and towns as familiar to you as your own living room. Illustrator Iñaki Aliste Lizarralde has expertly rendered thirty-five of the most memorable television floor plans in modern history—puzzling together the layouts with an architect’s eye for detail and a director’s sense of storytelling.
TV fans will delight in the interiors and exteriors from shows like Friends , Seinfeld , and The Simpsons , where characters and plotlines converge to create worlds so mesmerizing you want to binge-watch season after season. With immersive illustrations from shows across decades and countries, this truly unique art collection offers hilarious TV moments, Easter eggs, and behind-the-scenes trivia to test even the biggest superfans.
GIFT OF AN IMMERSIVE Here is a thorough deep dive and binge-worthy art collection for television superfans, cinephiles, fans of the Warner Brothers' studio tour, and anyone who likes to watch hours of TV at a time.
A NEW WAY TO BINGE YOUR FAVORITE Rediscover your love of the classics like I Love Lucy and Little House on the Prairie ; revisit childhood favorites like The Brady Bunch and Sesame Street ; or explore recent classics like The Office , Sex and the City , and Friends .
HAND DRAWN, HIGHLY Imagine living and working in your favorite fictional worlds—these floor plans are drawn as if they could exist in your neighborhood or town rather than on a soundstage. Created from memory and research by a trained architectural illustrator, each image gives you a sense of place in the context of the show’s world.
INTERNATIONAL Throughout the book you’ll find fan favorite shows from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Shows like Kim’s Convenience , Schitt’s Creek , Killing Eve , and Sherlock appear alongside U.S. favorites like Seinfeld , Gilmore Girls , New Girl , and The Big Bang Theory .
Perfect
Come explore where Lucy and Ethel baked a monstrous loaf of bread, where Phoebe performed “Smelly Cat,” where Jim and Pam fell in love, and countless other homes, offices, and towns as familiar to you as your own living room. Illustrator Iñaki Aliste Lizarralde has expertly rendered thirty-five of the most memorable television floor plans in modern history—puzzling together the layouts with an architect’s eye for detail and a director’s sense of storytelling.
TV fans will delight in the interiors and exteriors from shows like Friends , Seinfeld , and The Simpsons , where characters and plotlines converge to create worlds so mesmerizing you want to binge-watch season after season. With immersive illustrations from shows across decades and countries, this truly unique art collection offers hilarious TV moments, Easter eggs, and behind-the-scenes trivia to test even the biggest superfans.
GIFT OF AN IMMERSIVE Here is a thorough deep dive and binge-worthy art collection for television superfans, cinephiles, fans of the Warner Brothers' studio tour, and anyone who likes to watch hours of TV at a time.
A NEW WAY TO BINGE YOUR FAVORITE Rediscover your love of the classics like I Love Lucy and Little House on the Prairie ; revisit childhood favorites like The Brady Bunch and Sesame Street ; or explore recent classics like The Office , Sex and the City , and Friends .
HAND DRAWN, HIGHLY Imagine living and working in your favorite fictional worlds—these floor plans are drawn as if they could exist in your neighborhood or town rather than on a soundstage. Created from memory and research by a trained architectural illustrator, each image gives you a sense of place in the context of the show’s world.
INTERNATIONAL Throughout the book you’ll find fan favorite shows from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Shows like Kim’s Convenience , Schitt’s Creek , Killing Eve , and Sherlock appear alongside U.S. favorites like Seinfeld , Gilmore Girls , New Girl , and The Big Bang Theory .
Perfect
136 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2023
9 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 13, 2023
Get ready to hop onto a nostalgic ride with 'Behind the Screens' by Inaki Aliste Lizarralde. If you're a TV lover who cherishes those familiar on-screen homes, this book is a genuine treasure. It features hand-drawn illustrations of iconic TV households that'll transport you right back to the good ol' days.
Lizarralde's artistic finesse shines through in every intricately crafted sketch. From the comfy abode of ‘The Golden Girls” to the quirky workspace in 'Ugly Betty' and the charming spaces of 'Sesame Street,' their attention to detail is truly remarkable. It's as though they've opened a portal into these fictional realms, inviting you to relive cherished moments.
What sets 'Behind the Screens' apart is the added layer of information that accompanies the illustrations. These short insights give you a backstage pass to the creative process behind these iconic sets. Learning about the design choices, hidden stories, and the thoughtfulness that went into these spaces adds an enriching dimension to the experience.
Personally, the sections dedicated to 'Friends,' 'The Office,' and 'Schitt's Creek' were the highlight for me. Lizarralde's knack for capturing the essence of these spaces is remarkable, and the tidbits about their creation make the book even more captivating.
Inaki Aliste Lizarralde's 'Behind the Screens' isn't just a book; it's a heartfelt homage to the impact of television on our lives. If you're seeking a captivating journey into TV nostalgia that's both informative and visually delightful, don't miss out on this gem.
Lizarralde's artistic finesse shines through in every intricately crafted sketch. From the comfy abode of ‘The Golden Girls” to the quirky workspace in 'Ugly Betty' and the charming spaces of 'Sesame Street,' their attention to detail is truly remarkable. It's as though they've opened a portal into these fictional realms, inviting you to relive cherished moments.
What sets 'Behind the Screens' apart is the added layer of information that accompanies the illustrations. These short insights give you a backstage pass to the creative process behind these iconic sets. Learning about the design choices, hidden stories, and the thoughtfulness that went into these spaces adds an enriching dimension to the experience.
Personally, the sections dedicated to 'Friends,' 'The Office,' and 'Schitt's Creek' were the highlight for me. Lizarralde's knack for capturing the essence of these spaces is remarkable, and the tidbits about their creation make the book even more captivating.
Inaki Aliste Lizarralde's 'Behind the Screens' isn't just a book; it's a heartfelt homage to the impact of television on our lives. If you're seeking a captivating journey into TV nostalgia that's both informative and visually delightful, don't miss out on this gem.
August 16, 2023
Behind the screen, you can explore the small things you never say on the tv screen of your favorite cartoon families or sitcom I also like the trivia we get a part of the book from homes from friends to the golden girl you can spend hours pointing stuff out.
July 27, 2023
Super fun to read and wonderful illustrations to enjoy. It’s like a photo album. What nostalgia! I spent many hours watching many of these shows and at different times in my life. They become part of your family. I can’t imagine the time spent researching to get the illustrations right. There are additional wonderful details, like when each series ran and the studios they were recorded at, also some interesting trivia. I can't wait to get the print copy of this book when it comes out. Hopefully it will be printed in a large format to do the illustrations justice.
July 25, 2023
This was a super fun book that gives a look behind the scenes of your favorite TV shows. If you've ever wondered what layout your favorite show's homes or apartments have, this book imagines them and brings them to life. I have to laugh because no apartment building in the world would have these odd, triangular room set-ups because they are impossible in a typical building, but I loved it anyway.
September 30, 2023
What a fun and informative read! Iñaki Aliste Lizarralde has sketched out the floor plans of houses and workplaces from 35 different TV shows from I Love Lucy and The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Seinfeld and Friends.
All the artwork is gorgeous; Lizarralde is a talented interior design illustrator who says he started sketching out TV and movie floor plans as yoga for the brain. I'm so glad his friends encouraged him to put a book together to share these pieces with the world.
And as if the art wasn't reason enough to get Behind the Screens, Neal Fischer's* extra trivia about each show is the perfect complement. There were several shows included I'd never seen (and at least one I'd never even heard of—I'm looking at you Miranda), but the way Fischer described them, I want to add nearly all of them to my To Watch list. Then there were other shows I have seen but after reading about them & seeing an overhead view of the sets made me want to rewatch them (e.g., Gilmore Girls & Pushing Daisies), as if I had the time!
Anyone who enjoys design, architecture, or television/pop culture would appreciate this. It's a perfect coffee table book where most shows get a 2-page spread (some get 4 or 6) with beautiful artwork and just enough text to keep you busy for a few minutes.
Here's hoping the book does well enough for a sequel covering some iconic movie sets!
*DISCLAIMER: I do know Neal who was nice enough to send me a signed bookplate! Such a great guy!
All the artwork is gorgeous; Lizarralde is a talented interior design illustrator who says he started sketching out TV and movie floor plans as yoga for the brain. I'm so glad his friends encouraged him to put a book together to share these pieces with the world.
And as if the art wasn't reason enough to get Behind the Screens, Neal Fischer's* extra trivia about each show is the perfect complement. There were several shows included I'd never seen (and at least one I'd never even heard of—I'm looking at you Miranda), but the way Fischer described them, I want to add nearly all of them to my To Watch list. Then there were other shows I have seen but after reading about them & seeing an overhead view of the sets made me want to rewatch them (e.g., Gilmore Girls & Pushing Daisies), as if I had the time!
Anyone who enjoys design, architecture, or television/pop culture would appreciate this. It's a perfect coffee table book where most shows get a 2-page spread (some get 4 or 6) with beautiful artwork and just enough text to keep you busy for a few minutes.
Here's hoping the book does well enough for a sequel covering some iconic movie sets!
*DISCLAIMER: I do know Neal who was nice enough to send me a signed bookplate! Such a great guy!
October 10, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and to Chronicle Books for the eARC copy of this book. My opinions are my own. This books drops on October 10, 2023.
“Behind the Screens” began its journey as an Instagram account where Lizarralde would pretend that tv sets from our favorite shows were real and had four walls, including the wall we don’t usually see in a 3-camera sitcom, and draw up their coordinating floor plans.
If you’re a massive TV watcher like me, then this book is for you. It’s such a fun journey through your favorite programs and might even introduce you to something new. I kind of now want to watch Magnum PI (which maybe took me five minutes to find the front door).
With the holiday season approaching, this also would make a great gift for the TV lover in your life.
The book includes classic tv shows like “I Love Lucy” and “The Brady Bunch” and modern classics like “New Girl” and “Schitt’s Creek.” And even some maybe a little more obscure programs (to at least American audiences) like “Miranda” and one of my faves “Kim’s Convenience.” And even an entire map of Star’s Hallow from “Gilmore Girls.”
Lizarralde did this fun thing where he would show the exterior of a house and how it couldn’t possibly match the interiors that were on the program.
Or how “The Golden Girls” house has a very strange floor plan. Apparently the show, would just move rooms around willy-nilly.
I only wish he drew the floor plan for the Petries’ house in “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” because that house doesn’t make sense.
Be sure to grab this one if you’re a tv fan.
“Behind the Screens” began its journey as an Instagram account where Lizarralde would pretend that tv sets from our favorite shows were real and had four walls, including the wall we don’t usually see in a 3-camera sitcom, and draw up their coordinating floor plans.
If you’re a massive TV watcher like me, then this book is for you. It’s such a fun journey through your favorite programs and might even introduce you to something new. I kind of now want to watch Magnum PI (which maybe took me five minutes to find the front door).
With the holiday season approaching, this also would make a great gift for the TV lover in your life.
The book includes classic tv shows like “I Love Lucy” and “The Brady Bunch” and modern classics like “New Girl” and “Schitt’s Creek.” And even some maybe a little more obscure programs (to at least American audiences) like “Miranda” and one of my faves “Kim’s Convenience.” And even an entire map of Star’s Hallow from “Gilmore Girls.”
Lizarralde did this fun thing where he would show the exterior of a house and how it couldn’t possibly match the interiors that were on the program.
Or how “The Golden Girls” house has a very strange floor plan. Apparently the show, would just move rooms around willy-nilly.
I only wish he drew the floor plan for the Petries’ house in “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” because that house doesn’t make sense.
Be sure to grab this one if you’re a tv fan.
August 29, 2023
If you love sitcoms and architecture or just sitcoms or just architecture, I guarantee you'll enjoy this book. The perfect coffee table read.
As a sitcom-watching Sims 4 builder, this book is genius and so interesting. Besides the absolutely fantastic sketches of various iconic television sets like the Friends apartments and the Dunder Mifflin Office, this book is also full of fun facts and brief synopses of each show. The artist provides floor plans, town maps, and exteriors of the sets as the artist imagines them after viewing hours of sitcoms.
Some of my favorite featured shows include The Good Place, Little House on the Prairie, New Girl, Gilmore girls, Schitt's Creek, and Mister Roger's Neighborhood.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this work in exchange for this honest review.
As a sitcom-watching Sims 4 builder, this book is genius and so interesting. Besides the absolutely fantastic sketches of various iconic television sets like the Friends apartments and the Dunder Mifflin Office, this book is also full of fun facts and brief synopses of each show. The artist provides floor plans, town maps, and exteriors of the sets as the artist imagines them after viewing hours of sitcoms.
Some of my favorite featured shows include The Good Place, Little House on the Prairie, New Girl, Gilmore girls, Schitt's Creek, and Mister Roger's Neighborhood.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this work in exchange for this honest review.
October 24, 2023
Beautiful illustrations with lots of information and background on the worlds, characters and stories of the classic television shows they're drawn from! Some of my favorites are Frasier's apartment (what an oddly-shaped building that would be), the maps of the couple of fictional towns that are included even though I haven't seen those shows, and of course, Villanelle's Parisian apartment. I just could have wished that rooms would be labeled - seeing these spaces from a new perspective, it can sometimes be hard to situate yourself and figure out exactly what you're seeing - but I get that that might have cluttered the page and obscured the main event, which are the precise, colorful drawings.
Hoping for more of this in the future!
Hoping for more of this in the future!
January 13, 2024
I loved this very quick read so much!
This book was about those places we loved on Television, whether growing up with them or watching them in Rerunlandia. Places that could definitely be a home away from home. From Friends to Magnum PI to Golden Girls. Places we'd visit every day (if binging) or every week.
Each floorpan was drawn out in detail from rooms to exterior features. The colors were bold and aided in highlighting the details. Every space labeled and furniture pieces added. I could see every room as I remembered it or had seen it. I think I disagreed with one of the floorplans, and that was because the room(s) shown in black and white were never mentioned in the show as existing. And since I don't know the source of knowledge the author used to compose this information, I don't know if it was a filler spot or something planned to use in the run of the show.
In addition to the floor plans and stories of the shows, there are also random tidbits of behind-the-scenes trivia about each show. Some of the things I had no clue about, others I knew but there was something more. Little known facts that add charm and fun to those shows that live in your soul.
For a fan such as myself, this book was so fun and just great. I have already pulled it out of the spot on the shelf to look through it a few times. I highly recommend this book for any TV fan. My only dislike is that there wasn't more shows like Family Ties, Spin City, Two Guys and a Girl, Modern Family, etc. Maybe a book two will be coming.
5⭐️s across the board! Loved this one!
This book was about those places we loved on Television, whether growing up with them or watching them in Rerunlandia. Places that could definitely be a home away from home. From Friends to Magnum PI to Golden Girls. Places we'd visit every day (if binging) or every week.
Each floorpan was drawn out in detail from rooms to exterior features. The colors were bold and aided in highlighting the details. Every space labeled and furniture pieces added. I could see every room as I remembered it or had seen it. I think I disagreed with one of the floorplans, and that was because the room(s) shown in black and white were never mentioned in the show as existing. And since I don't know the source of knowledge the author used to compose this information, I don't know if it was a filler spot or something planned to use in the run of the show.
In addition to the floor plans and stories of the shows, there are also random tidbits of behind-the-scenes trivia about each show. Some of the things I had no clue about, others I knew but there was something more. Little known facts that add charm and fun to those shows that live in your soul.
For a fan such as myself, this book was so fun and just great. I have already pulled it out of the spot on the shelf to look through it a few times. I highly recommend this book for any TV fan. My only dislike is that there wasn't more shows like Family Ties, Spin City, Two Guys and a Girl, Modern Family, etc. Maybe a book two will be coming.
5⭐️s across the board! Loved this one!
August 1, 2023
This is just plain fun! The one-of-a-kind book illustrates some of the most memorable homes from beloved TV shows. Great for fans of television, illustration, architecture, and even interior design, this is a perfect coffee table book and would make an amazing gift.
August 1, 2023
What a fun book! Drawn out floor plans of the homes of the people of your favorite TV shows! Some classic TV shows, some newer ones too. A great read for anyone who watches TV and ever wondered what the whole house/apt looked like!
Thank you Netgalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC!
Thank you Netgalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC!
November 5, 2023
Fun book on the layouts of tv shows along with some other information. The book is a light read and is fun. Enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.
October 28, 2023
This was so fun!! Glad I spotted it in the new releases section at the library.
July 25, 2023
This fun book features beautifully drawn renditions of the interior sets of some truly iconic tv shows. It's a nice trip down memory lane.
April 29, 2024
I loved this book so much as I’m someone interested in design. I’ve never read a book quite like this before that has a nice balance of hand drawn floor plan illustrations combined with a summary of the show. I definitely added some shows to my watch list. The floor plans were so detailed and I loved following my way through each house/apartment room by room taking in all the interior design elements of the specific set. I loved Friends the best as it was the lengthiest at eight pages long outlining the interior design floor plans of Monica and Rachel’s apartment, Central Perk, Ross’ apartment, and Phoebe’s apartment. I only wish the author would’ve included the iconic Full House set. Other than that I highly recommend this book for all design and sitcom fans.
October 24, 2023
This is a lovely compilation of the blueprints for U.S. television's most popular and iconic shows. From Mister Rogers' Neighborhood to Sesame Street and I Love Lucy to Friends, this includes all kinds of fun facts and set blueprints for these formative shows. It was an intriguing and interesting read.
September 20, 2023
This is a really neat book! It shows what the floor plans for various classic shows would look like. The drawings are wonderful and creative. They are colorful and detailed. There are also trivia facts about each show featured in this book which was really interesting. My favorites are the Little House On The Prairie, The Simpsons, The Brady Bunch, Sesame Street, and Mr Rogers' Neighborhood. I would recommend this! Special Thank You Inaki Aliste Lizarralde, Chronicle Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2024
This book was so fantastic. Not only did it include intricate drawings of the different spaces from many of my favorite shows, but also included so much fantastic info about the memorabilia, where certain set items came from, or where parts of the sets/exterior shots can be seen. Why not 5 stars then? The font in this book is ridiculously tiny! Considering it includes shows as far back as I Love Lucy, you think they would’ve picked an easier to read font in a larger size.
August 25, 2023
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley. All opinions are my own
This was a lovely little nostalgic trip back to some of my favorite tv shows. I’ve always been a big tv watcher and loved and this book was a great addition to the coffee table kind of books out there. It has floor plans and interior design sets for some of the most popular tv shows over the years including Friends, Golden Girls, Sherlock and Gilmore girls which is one of my favorites. It even showed a torn map for that one. I loved the little extras about props from the shows and overall this was a fun time.
This was a lovely little nostalgic trip back to some of my favorite tv shows. I’ve always been a big tv watcher and loved and this book was a great addition to the coffee table kind of books out there. It has floor plans and interior design sets for some of the most popular tv shows over the years including Friends, Golden Girls, Sherlock and Gilmore girls which is one of my favorites. It even showed a torn map for that one. I loved the little extras about props from the shows and overall this was a fun time.
November 19, 2023
The floor plans were interesting to look at but the more memorable part was the anecdotes about items from the various shows.
April 13, 2024
Fun look at the abodes of famous TV shows. No heavy lifting here.
August 29, 2024
I had no idea the Goldem Girls lived in such a wonky house
December 2, 2024
(Please note that while Neal E. Fischer contributed to this book, the amazing floor plans and illustrations are by Iñaki Aliste Lizarralde, an artist who lives in Spain.)
For TV lovers and those of us attentive to architecture and space, this is a delightful book. From "I Love Lucy" to "Scandal," from children's shows to contemporary comedies, dramas, and mysteries, the main settings (including offices, Kim's Convenience store, and the bar called Cheers) are illustrated with color and comments.
For TV lovers and those of us attentive to architecture and space, this is a delightful book. From "I Love Lucy" to "Scandal," from children's shows to contemporary comedies, dramas, and mysteries, the main settings (including offices, Kim's Convenience store, and the bar called Cheers) are illustrated with color and comments.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews