Set Decorator Ron Olsen SDSA has been the go-to guy for many definitive multi-camera comedies, and lasting ones, from the 11 seasons of the original FRASIER to this 6^th season of THE NEIGHBORHOOD. 
His distinctive set decoration choices have often become classics. An artist, himself, he obviously has an eye for color...and for style, whether the characters have high incomes or are on a limited budget. We caught up with him mid-season and he generously gave us some notes on the sets and some of his great choices in furnishings and art. 
Take a look, and enjoy!
--Karen Burg, Editor

“The Butler Living Room couch was built and upholstered by Warner Bros., along with the custom drapery. I brought in a number of options for art over the fireplace. This piece, from Art Pic, was chosen by our star and Executive Producer, Cedric the Entertainer.” Pictured: Marcel Spears as Marty Butler, Cedric The Entertainer as Calvin Butler, Beth Behrs as Gemma Johnson, Tichina Arnold as Tina Butler, Sheaun McKinney as Malcolm Butler and Max Greenfield as Dave Johnson. Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

From Set Decorator Ron Olsen SDSA...
“I have been so lucky to work on this Multi-Camera show (one of only a handful left) for 6 seasons. The crew and producers and actors are all so friendly and welcoming, and they make me laugh almost every day. The premise is: A Midwestern small family moves to Los Angeles and their neighbor, Calvin, [Cedric the Entertainer] is not pleased to have them next door. Thinks they’ll ruin the neighborhood. Of course, over time they become friends...but there’s always something going on...we’ve been to Casinos, Auto Body Shops, Wine Tasting Rooms, a fancy Napa Valley Hotel, a Lab at JPL, a creepy Escape Room and Magic Mike’s Show in Vegas, to name only a few. We have our classic neighborhood barbershop and then off-the-wall stuff...this week we had to do shag carpet on the dashboard of a lowrider!"
 
"When we were told at the beginning of Season 4 that there would be an earthquake and the Butler house would be totally remodeled and redecorated, I braced myself for a long season! We’re very happy with the results, though, and now this season there's a new family business, which translated into a totally contemporary setting. I’ve loved doing all of these sets.” 
 
“Hopefully, we’ll get to do lots more multi-camera shows in the years to come.”

“We originally had the couch upholstered in a different, very expensive blue velvet but CBS Executives thought it was too blue, so we took it down a notch. Calvin’s recliner was from the original set, reupholstered this iteration by Warner Bros. Upholstery Department in oxblood red leather to pick up red accents.” Tichina Arnold, Cedric the Entertainer & Marcel Spears. Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved.

“I’d really like to give a shoutout to more of our gorgeous art by African American artists. The first is by local artist, Wendell Wiggins. I love the colors and joyous celebratory aspect of this piece. The portrait is by Tim James. Tim was a leadman for years and a great artist as well. I used this painting of his father in both the old and new looks of the Butler Living Room. I imagined it as a portrait of Grandpa Butler. Sadly, Tim recently passed away. I’m glad we have this painting to remember him.” Photos courtesy Ron Olsen & CBS.

“This dynamic piece is by Chicago Artist Judy Bowman who is the aunt of one of our Stand-ins. I had been wanting to work her art into a set for several years and finally got a chance when we remodeled the Butler House. It serves as the center point between the Living Room and Dining Room/Kitchen.” Photo courtesy Ron Olsen & CBS.

“For the remodeled version of the Butler’s Kitchen and Dining Room, Production Designer Wendell Johnson and Art Director Amy Winslow removed walls and created a much more spacious, open plan. I continued the pop of red with the jazzy drapes in the Dining Room.” Photo courtesy CBS. All Rights Reserved.

”The exteriors of each family’s Pasadena Craftsman homes were built side-by-side on the north end of the soundstage! Often scenes are played out in front of these homes between the two neighbor families.” Photo courtesy CBS. All Rights Reserved.

“The producer originally thought the exteriors would have to be out on the backlot, but the creator of the show insisted that the houses were an integral part of the show and needed to be onstage in sight of the studio audience. Post-production embellishes by adding sky and trees above and around. The new neighbors, the Johnsons, live in the house on the right, and being that they’re a white couple from Michigan moving into this predominantly black neighborhood, we went pretty waspy with their porch decor.” Photo courtesy CBS. All Rights Reserved.

The Johnson’s Living Room. “We went hipper and a little Bohemian eclectic for young Michigan couple Dave and Gemma Johnson and their son, Grover. The beautiful Craftsman woodwork was a challenge, and this bright teal Mid-Century couch seemed the best to complement all the brown.” Photo courtesy CBS. All Rights Reserved.

“The two families enjoying a BARBIE viewing party in the Johnson’s Living Room. The painting over the fireplace is from an actual Michigan based artist, Michael Pfleghaar, who was referred to me by an old friend who had recently moved back to the Midwest. I wanted something that Dave and Gemma had brought with them from Michigan, and this pastoral, colorful farm scene worked perfectly.” (L-R): Max Greenfield, Hank Greenspan, Cedric the Entertainer, Tichina Arnold & Beth Behrs. Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS ©2023 CBS Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved.

“The Johnson’s homey kitchen. The vintage Michigan beach poster is another nod to their earlier life. It’s convenient having a separate kitchen instead of an open plan in this house, as often another set is built in the living room area when we get busy on our relatively small soundstage.” Photo courtesy CBS. All Rights Reserved.

The Fuse Box. Calvin and Marty’s new business, an Electric Car Servicing Center. “This set is new this season, designed by Production Designer Amy Skjonsby-Winslow and Art Director Rich Rohrer who took over after the untimely passing of Wendell Johnson, our original Production Designer. The story arc last season involved the purchase of a dilapidated warehouse in Boyle Heights and remodeling into this state-of-the-art Electric Car business. Father and son go head-to-head when Marty wants it to be hipper, like Facebook offices with foosball table, game and full kitchen, while his old-school dad believes a workplace is for work. Period. I was lucky to find that green art piece made from circuit boards hanging on the wall at LCW Props.” Photo courtesy CBS. All Rights Reserved.

The Conference area of The Fuse Box. “I was so pleased to find these teal office chairs with backs that mimic the company logo. The glassed-in area upstage was originally intended to be mostly deep background, but directors have loved shooting more private scenes in there.” Pictured (L-R): Sheaun McKinney as Malcolm, Marcel Spears as Marty, Cedric The Entertainer as Calvin, Tichina Arnold as Tina, and Skye Townsend as Courtney. Screen image from CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting. All Rights Reserved

Editor’s note:
There's more! Click on SHOW MORE PHOTOS below! 

Ron would also like to give a shout out to the SDSA Business members he has worked with throughout the series, and especially the following for this season:
Advanced Liquidators Office Furniture and Studio Rentals | Air Designs | Alley Cats | Alpha Companies Motion Picture Rentals | AMCO American Screen and Window Coverings | Art Pic | Bridge Furniture & Props | EC Prop Rentals | Faux Library Studio Props | Hollywood Studio Gallery | Jackson Shrub | LCW Props | Lennie Marvin’s Propheaven | Linoleum City | Nest Studio Rentals | PSW/Prop Services West | RC Vintage | Show Biz Balloons | Town & Country Event Rentals | Warner Bros. Property, Drapery and Upholstery | ZEdonk Art

Don't forget to click on SHOW MORE PHOTOS below!