5 K-Drama Penthouses That Are #Condogoals
Here is a list of the best penthouses in K-Dramaland, from the functional to the extremely luxurious
Never, as in this pandemic period, have we been forced to think of our living environments. Indeed, there's something about being locked down in our homes for most of our days that compels us to look at each detail. Our homes nowadays host a multitude of tasks that we used to do away from it: work, exercising, and even learning and play for the young ones. Staying at home has also made us discover numerous television shows, series and K-Dramas which stimulate our aspirations. They have fueled our imagination, giving us a trove of design inspiration.
The stuff of dreams, the apartments featured in K-Dramas reflect the taste and style of the characters in masterful strokes, telling each story through essays painted with huge rooms, luxurious furnishings, comfortable spaces, dramatic lighting and refined fabrics, making them delightful references for the design of our own spaces.
Join us on a walk-through of the most aspirational penthouse spaces in K-Dramaland:
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Functional: Coffe Prince (MBC, 2007)
In the drama Coffee Prince (MBC,2007) the young chaebol Choi Han gyul (Gong Yoo) lives in a modern and minimalist penthouse, focused on the essentials.
Photo Credit: Still from Coffee Prince, MBC, 2007
Functional: Coffe Prince (MBC, 2007)
This apartment is a great example of functional and well organized furnishings.
Photo Credit: Still from Coffee Prince, MBC, 2007
Functional: Coffe Prince (MBC, 2007)
The style is simple and playful, furnishings give us some information about the personality of the protagonist, such as the playroom, the corner for the turntable and the collection of vinyl records, vintage objects, the bookcase with comics in the bathroom.
Photo Credit: Still from Coffee Prince, MBC, 2007
Functional: Coffe Prince (MBC, 2007)
Color is kept at a minimum, and in choice corners of this home. What we like about this is the use of unexpected hues such as the olive green employed in the kitchen cabinets. Against the blue walls, it is reminiscent of the outdoors, and stands out in a minimalist space.
Photo Credit: Still from Coffee Prince, MBC, 2007
Functional: Coffe Prince (MBC, 2007)
The bed is retractable, that can be pulled out when necessary. Otherwise, it can "disappear" within the wall.
Photo Credit: Still from Coffee Prince, MBC, 2007
Functional: Coffe Prince (MBC, 2007)
The materials used to make this apartment are: natural wood, raw concrete, and the brushed and polished concrete floor of a gray shade. The furniture and accessories follow this restrained material and color palette.
Functional: Coffe Prince (MBC, 2007)
The outdoor space consists of a large terrace with a swining bench. The landscaping is rather zen, with a wooden deck and a pebble garden.
Photo Credit: Still from Coffee Prince, MBC, 2007
Functional: Coffe Prince (MBC, 2007)
Trivia: This apartment do not exists, but was created on the top of the Seoul Cartoon Museum, a part of the Seoul Animation Center Complex.
Photo Credit: Still from Coffee Prince, MBC, 2007
Modern Classic: W Two Worlds(MBC, 2016)
The drama W Two Worlds (MBC,2016) tells the story of Kang Cheol (Lee Jong-suk) protagonist of the W webtoon written by Oh Yeon-joo's father (Han Hyo-joo). One day she is catapulted into the webtoon and falls in love with the young Kang Cheol.
Photo Credit: Still from W Two Worlds, 2016, MBC
Modern Classic: W Two Worlds(MBC, 2016)
The apartment of young CEO Kang Cheol is very large and luxurious. The bedroom is very large with the solution of placing the walk-in closet behind the headboard of the bed, without being separated by a wall. An unusual solution, compared to other apartments where there was a separate space (walk-in closet) for clothes, bags, shoes and watches/jewelry.
Photo Credit: Still from W Two Worlds, 2016, MBC
Modern Classic: W Two Worlds(MBC, 2016)
In general it is an apartment with a modern style, elegant and refined with gold, beige, black tones that reflects the complex personality of the protagonist very well.
Photo Credit: Still from W Two Worlds, 2016, MBC
Modern Classic: W Two Worlds(MBC, 2016)
The only note of color is given by the presence of paintings, some furniture and upholstery with bright colors and patterns.
Photo Credit: Still from W Two Worlds, 2016, MBC
Modern Classic: W Two Worlds(MBC, 2016)
Photo Credit: Still from W Two Worlds, 2016, MBC
Modern Classic: W Two Worlds(MBC, 2016)
Photo Credit: Still from W Two Worlds, 2016, MBC
Modern Classic: W Two Worlds(MBC, 2016)
The elevator is personal and leads him directly to his apartment, which consists of a large living room with a sculpture suspended in the center and the scenographic staircase leading upstairs. In the living area is located the iconic Egg Chair (1958) by Arne Jacobsen, originally designed for the lobby and reception areas of the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen.
Photo Credit: Still from W Two Worlds, 2016, MBC
Versatile: Start-Up (Netflix, 2020)
This apartment is located inside the Hotel Conrad opened on November 12, 2012, the first luxury brand Hilton Worldwide open in Seoul-South Korea. This five-star luxury hotel has been used in many dramas including: Ms. Hammurabi (JTBC, 2018), Shark (KBS2, 2013), Itaewon Class (Netflix, 2020), It's ok not to be okay (tvN, 2020), Penthouse2 (2021) and many more.
Photo Credit: Still from Mr Hummarabi, 2018, JTBC
Versatile: Start-Up (Netflix, 2020)
Photo Credit: Still from Shark, KBS2, 2018
Versatile: Start-Up (Netflix, 2020)
Photo Credit: Still from Shark, KBS2, 2018
Versatile: Start-Up (Netflix, 2020)
Photo Credit: Still from Shark, KBS2, 2018
Versatile: Start-Up (Netflix, 2020)
In Start Up (Netflix, 2020) it was cast as the apartment of leader Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho) who collaborates with Sand Box and offers useful advice to young aspiring entrepreneurs Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy) and Nam Do-san(Nam Joo-hyuk). The furnishings of this apartment were changed according to the style of the drama. In fact, we see that some furnishings are still current, such as the embossed wall and the large chandelier, others such as chairs, tables, armchairs and cushions have been replaced.
Photo Credit: Still from Start Up, Netflix, 2020
Versatile: Start-Up (Netflix, 2020)
The materials used are mainly wood and marble that serve as ideal dividers of the various areas of the living room (bar, table, sofa, entrance). In Star Up, to renew the living environment, the leather chairs were replaced with the Masters chairs by Philippe Stark and Eugeni Quitllet produced by Kartell. This futurist-looking chair is a true tribute to the icons of the past. In an interweaving of sinuous and dynamic lines, the backrest evokes the shapes of three classics of contemporary design: the Tulip Armchair by Eero Saarinen, the Eiffel Chair by Charles Eames and the Series 7 by Arne Jacobsen. This apartment is a useful example of how with few edits, you can renovate the rooms of your home.
Photo Credit: Still from Start Up, Netflix, 2020
Functional Luxury: Record of Youth (Netflix, 2020)
The drama Record of young (Netflix,2020) starring Park Bo-gum (Sa Hye-jun), tells the story of a young aspiring actor and Park So-dam (Ahn Jeong-ha) an apprentice makeup artist. Byeon Woo-seok (Won Hae-hyo) is an actor and model and childhood friend of Sa Hye-jun, he lives with his parents and his sister in a very particular apartment.
Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth, 2020, Netflix
Functional Luxury: Record of Youth (Netflix, 2020)
The spaces of this apartment are well distributed, with an area dedicated to greenery (the veranda) and the large windows in sandblasted or colored glass that spread the natural light while keeping the owner’s privacy.
Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth, 2020, Netflix
Functional Luxury: Record of Youth (Netflix, 2020)
In the living room, gray, teal, gold and beige colors are used, while art work provides more hues that bring life to the space, working in tandem with the upholstery and plants. In addition, wooden slats that make up a divider are used to separate areas.
Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth, 2020, Netflix
Functional Luxury: Record of Youth (Netflix, 2020)
The modern kitchen is set apart from the living room and is well organized. The materials and colors chosen reflect the latest furnishing trends (marble or marble-effect porcelain stoneware kiosks, two-tone furniture, dark countertop).
Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth, 2020, Netflix
Functional Luxury: Record of Youth (Netflix, 2020)
Photo Credit: Still from Record of Youth, 2020, Netflix
Extreme Luxury: The Penthouse 2 (2021)
The Penthouse: War in Life 2 (SBS TV, 2021) is a South Korean television series with Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, Eugene,Um Ki-joon, Yoon Jong-hoone Park Eun-seok. The series is based on the stories of families living in Hera, a luxurious and prestigious apartment building.
Photo Credit: Still from Penthouse 2, 2021, SBS
Extreme Luxury: The Penthouse 2 (2021)
Their apartments are very luxurious, each one designed to one up their neighbors', just like like characters who inhabit them. In fact, the furnishings show the goal of its owners: to win at any cost in their personal lives as well as in their careers. The musician's studio enjoys a excellent natural light, the large chandeliers give a certain feel of royalty to the environment. The predominant color is the gold used in some furnishings such as lamps, tables, objects and the two gilded glass bookcases that serve as a partition wall.
Photo Credit: Still from Penthouse 2, 2021, SBS
Extreme Luxury: The Penthouse 2 (2021)
Another luxurious apartment of these rival families consists of a spacious living room with a very dramatic spiral staircase.
Photo Credit: Still from Penthouse 2, 2021, SBS
Extreme Luxury: The Penthouse 2 (2021)
Putting no stops to the luxe elements in this penthouse unit, the finishes are in white marble with black veins. Stained glass windows allows one to enjoy a spectacular view of the city. Luxury is further emphasized by the choice of a chandelier capable of creating particular three-dimensional and light effects.
Extreme Luxury: The Penthouse 2 (2021)
Emphasizing the power of black to dress up a space into chic sophistication, the structural elements such as the stairs and balustrades are dressed in this hue. The upholstery are also in shades of black and white but with geometric patterns.
Photo Credit: Still from Penthouse 2, 2021, SBS