Designing Lily Bloom’s Gothic Flower Shop: The Artistic Process Behind ‘It Ends With Us’

Blake Lively’s role as a florist in It Ends With Us seems almost preordained given her character’s name, Lily Blossom Bloom. The adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 novel brings to life the protagonist’s flower shop, “Lily Bloom’s,” which deviates from the typical floral imagery with its dark, gothic ambiance.

Russell Barnes, the film’s production designer, immersed himself in the novel to faithfully recreate the shop. “My wife and I carried a well-worn copy of ‘It Ends With Us’ through Costa Rica and Nicaragua, taking turns reading it.

It eventually became our art department’s bible, filled with colored Post-it notes marking key details about characters, settings, and design elements,” Barnes explains. The book’s descriptions influenced their vision for the shop, leading to discussions about incorporating leather, dark colors, and steampunk elements.

Adapting a vividly described setting added a layer of complexity to the design, but Barnes and his team embraced the challenge. “We were committed to staying true to the book, but also had to adapt for the film medium, making changes where necessary. Every design choice was scrutinized to ensure it fit the character’s purpose.”

In their quest for the perfect wall color, Barnes mixed a unique shade himself, which they named BBB (Baldoni, Blake, Barnes) when commercial options fell short.

The flowers themselves played a remarkable role in shaping the store’s look. Barnes worked with florist Tess Casey from Aisling Flowers to include key elements like lilies, bird of paradise, wisteria, and lavender, embracing darker tones and distinctive blooms.

Barnes hopes that the floral arrangements reflect the novel’s subtext and metaphors, aiming for a thoughtful and respectful adaptation. “I hope fans appreciate the effort and care we put into bringing Colleen Hoover’s world to life,” he adds.