We asked Set Decorator Ann Shea SDSA, multiple award-winner, known for her endless style and definitive work on the hits TWO AND A HALF MEN, THE BIG BANG THEORY, MOM, BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA and more, to give us some inside info for Leanne Morgan’s eponymous hit series, LEANNE. She graciously takes us through the process for the key sets and several of the swing sets as well. Thank you, Ann!

From Set Decorator Ann Shea SDSA:
“For the LEANNE sets, we wanted to create something that perfectly reflected her character. The show is set in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her family had a successful RV business, so we were able to create a higher-end home that reflects the welcoming Southern hospitality that she exudes. We wanted to give her character a home that was warm, pretty and put together, but comfortable and not at all pretentious. Additionally, we wanted to keep it light and airy looking.”

“Production Designer Francoise Cherry-Cohen, Art Director Gail Russell and I collaborated on all aspects of the sets to create a look that was unique to this show.” 

“I proposed a palette of denim blue, mustard yellow and accents of apple green as our color theme for the kitchen, living room and den. We also incorporated a lot of natural textures. We chose oak for our wood throughout the house because we wanted a very current look.”

Leanne’s Kitchen...

Leanne’s Kitchen. Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“We wanted to create a very custom kitchen look but we had little time. So, I had to think outside the box. I rented a Sub Zero refrigerator from Front Row Media/Exclusive Sales & Rentals and they allowed me to turn it into a custom panel refrigerator with the help of our amazing construction team led by Cliff Whalen. They also made a panel for my custom panel dishwasher.”

“I couldn’t find any rental stools that fit our white oak wood look, so I purchased them and recovered them with a fabric that paired well with the other patterns in the tile and mudroom window treatments.”

Leanne’s Kitchen. Behind-the-scenes with Leanne Morgan and Kristen Johnston...and the much coveted Cuisinart mixer! Photo by Patrick McElhenney ©2024 Netflix

“And then there is the mixer. The moment I saw the Cuisinart Caskata Precision Master Stand Mixer, I knew it was the perfect one for Leanne. Gina Crane from Entertainment Services obtained it for me. It is the item I receive the most emails and DM’s about. And of course Cuisinart has now discontinued it.”

Leanne’s Living Room...
“For Leanne’s living room, we all wanted to try a high-end sectional for something a bit different. We thought it would help accommodate all the family members and friends who would visit Leanne in the show.

Leanne’s Living Room with its modular sectional sofa and other welcoming furnishings. Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“Again, I did not have time to order the piece and those available as rentals were not quite the right thing. So, I purchased the sectional at Living Spaces, and Warner Bros. Upholstery Department recovered it and added additional stuffing to help achieve the higher-end look.”

“As a sectional sofa was not something people are used to using on a sitcom, I chose a modular sofa, so that we could reconfigure it, or someday make it into a single sofa if the sectional became difficult to work with. I continued with mixing patterns and colors within our theme as I did in the kitchen.”

Leanne’s Bedroom...

Leanne’s Bedroom. “Feminine but not frilly.” Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“I wanted Leanne’s bedroom to be feminine and pretty without being too frilly. So, I chose a dusty rose pink with accents of greens and yellows. The headboard is from Living Spaces, but I had it recovered to fit the concept for the room, and the bedding was custom made at Warner Bros. Drapery Dept. We carried through the lighter wood look established in the rest of the house. I was asked to use wall-to-wall carpeting for this room.”

Leanne’s Bedroom, Evening look. Taking a moment, Leanne Morgan as Leanne. Photo by Patrick McElhenney ©2024 Netflix.

“Leanne’s bedroom was so beautiful, relaxing and comforting lit for night.  In this scene, Leanne [Leanne Morgan] is trying to relax herself after finding out that her new boyfriend’s partner at the FBI is a gorgeous young woman.”

Italian Restaurant...

Romantic Italian restaurant. “Leanne has her first date with new boyfriend, Andrew, here.” Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“I endeavored to create something warm, charming, beautiful and romantic for this scene. With our very quick turnaround of sometimes getting a script on a Wednesday or Thursday and needing to do pick-ups for the sets on Friday, we occasionally have to let what is available dictate the palette. I had olive green and rust/terra cotta in mind for this set and was lucky to have found these pretty chairs at Omega, and that enabled me to execute the concept I was hoping for.”

Mexican Restaurant...

“Andrew [Tim Daly] has taken Leanne to this Mexican restaurant where he surprises her with a weekend beach trip, which throws her in a tailspin.” Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“I loved the terra cotta walls and blue accent woods that Francoise chose for this restaurant set and I carried that through with the decor. My inspiration was a lively Mexican restaurant we have in the Los Angeles area called Don Cuco. I was thrilled to find booths with Mexican style upholstery at Air Designs and beautiful hand painted chairs at Omega Cinema Props. Tables and other dressing came from Lennie Marvin’s Prop Heaven. We made custom floor tile accents designed by our graphics designer, Sharisse Petrossian, to add some more character.”

Beach Hotel Room...
“Leanne’s boyfriend, Andrew, played by Tim Daly, has invited Leanne on their first beach trip together. They stayed in this chic beach hotel room and shared many awkward and funny moments here.”

Romantic beach getaway. Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“We had 24 hours from the time I knew what this set was supposed to be until it shot. Two days before, we were asked to find an Alaskan king mattress for a scripted gag, which we did. The amazing WB Upholstery Dept made me a custom-sized headboard for this giant mattress, and construction had to make us a platform base for it.  Thankfully, the vendor where we got the bed had sheets for it. Once we had everything complete, the producers realized it didn’t work. So, I had to rethink the look of the whole room very quickly as none of the larger scale furniture looked right with what was now a regular king size bed! Most of the furniture was from Warner Bros Designer Collection.”

Leanne’s Church...
“Doing a church is always a HUGE challenge, as many of the existing pews are dark and vintage looking. And, of course, the sizes may not function for the size of the set and the action that is taking place there. Additionally, church naves tend to be rather minimalist and void of color.  Blank walls are not interesting to look at on TV.”

Leanne’s church. “Francoise designed a handsome set with beautiful oak Tudor-arched windows. My oak pews fit with her design so well, they were worth all that was involved in establishing them!” Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“The biggest challenge were the pews, which I ended up buying from a real church. We had to completely rehab them with a thorough cleaning, then by creating blue upholstered seats and end panels to add some color to the set. Our fab construction team also built a few additional pews to exactly match the ones we bought. I used the sanctuary area...where the pastor delivers the sermon...as another opportunity to add some color by using blue carpet we had previously established elsewhere in other church sets.”

“I needed a fairly modern church organ in a light wood that would blend in but also anchor the corner. With the help of a friend who was a church organist, I was able to rent from a vendor he knew of, as there were none available for rent at prop houses that fit the look I wanted to finish out this set.”  

Pastor’s Office...

Pastor’s office reflecting the transition of a new pastor coming in for the old. Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“Here again Francoise designed a pretty room with oak wainscoting and two beautiful arched windows. The office is decorated as having been the office of a much older pastor, and the new one is moving in...thus, the furniture is a bit dated.”

Lawyer’s Office...
“Upon learning that her husband of 30 years was leaving her for a younger woman, Leanne consulted with a very savvy attorney.”

Lawyer’s office, Leanne’s divorce attorney, contemporary and accomplished. Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“I was thrilled that the lawyer was cast as a younger female so that I could make the office a bit more modern and flashy.” 

“I wanted to use mahogany and a really rich blue, with gold accents. It all fit the character perfectly. The furniture was mostly from Advanced Liquidators and Warner Bros. Designer Collection. Graphics Designer Sharisse Petrossian created a magazine cover and several great degrees and certificates to help me convey that the lawyer was very accomplished and successful. Leanne was going to do very well in her divorce.”

OB-GYN Waiting Room...

Ob-Gyn Waiting Room. “In this episode, Leanne runs into her ex-husband’s new girlfriend, who is now pregnant with his child.” Photo courtesy of Netflix. All Rights Reserved.

“For this set, Fran chose very pretty wall colors, and designed a unique layout. So, I followed suit with unique, upscale dressing to create a doctor’s office befitting a woman of means. Dressing was a combo of Warner Bros. Property, Bridge Props, Alpha Medical and Heritage Props.”

Editor’s note:
Bonus! More sets!
Click on the SHOW MORE PHOTOS button below!
This Season 1 can currently be viewed on Netflix. Season 2 will arrive this summer.
Thanks again, Ann, for sharing all these fun and insightful notes!