What We Learned About Living Like The Ridiculously Wealthy From Watching ‘Mine’
This K-Drama takes luxury to a whole other level
Netflix viewers have been talking about The K-drama Mine (Netflix, 2021) directed by Lee Na-jung and starring Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-hyung, Lee Hyun-wook and Ok Ja Yeon. Only on its eighth episode, it tells the story of two women who try to find their self against difficulties and prejudices related to their position in high society.
If there’s anything this drama’s ratings prove, it’s that the formula of presenting “rich people problems” never gets old. Aside from the riveting plot told through convincing acting, a compelling script and on-cue humor, Mine is a treat to watch because of its production design.
The Han family's wealth is evident through their homes and interiors. While their eccentricity is underscored by a preference for the grandiose (the presence of a pet peacock in the garden, the water they drink from antarctic glaciers and the complex oxygenation system of their homes), the furnishings used reflect the latest trends in luxury.
Take a look at the Han family’s spaces through this gallery:
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Jeong Seo-hyeon’s space
Jeong Seo-hyeon (Kim Seo-hyung), the wife of Hyowon group's eldest son, is a confident and determined woman, and this is reflected in the décor of her studio, it is very austere but in it you can find space for conversation.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Jeong Seo-hyeon’s space
She shares the wardrobe with her husband Han Jin-ho (Park Hyuk-kwon). This space is an example of luxury given by a large room only for one's clothes: highlighting the fact that the family can afford this much room.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Jeong Seo-hyeon’s space
In fact this area looks like a large luxury store!
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Jeong Seo-hyeon’s space
In this large wardrobe there is also an area dedicated to beauty and jewelry with classic furniture and blinding whiteness.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Jeong Seo-hyeon’s space
Her vanity is cocooned in a sheer white fabric that lets a hint of daylight in.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Seo Hulsu’s space
The house of Seo Hulsu (Lee Bo-Young), on the other hand, is more sunny, it is a single villa within the same property where she lives with her husband Han Ji-yong (Lee Hyun-wook) and her son.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Seo Hulsu’s space
The roof of the house seems to resemble the roofs of the hanoks, but otherwise it is a modern building.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Seo Hulsu’s space
Guests arrive from the home's foyer, greeted by a sculptural staircase.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Seo Hulsu’s space
The living room with the open kitchen features particular furnishings such as two Ripple Chairs by Ron Arad (Moroso, 2005), the table with an unusual shape. In a corner of the kitchen, fire wood is used as a material to render an accent wall, making a clever solution for the storage of this essential material at home. The kitchen features a solution of worktops on several levels and in different materials. Overhead, Pendant 172 By Le Klint provides illumination.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Seo Hulsu’s space
In the bedroom is a dose of biophilia with plants providing respite to what we can only imagine as very stressed out characters.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Seo Hulsu’s space
The master suite has a nice idea from which you can draw inspiration: his and hers vanities that efficiently flank the entryway to the bedroom.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Seo Hulsu’s space
In the living room, the sofa’s organic shape is onto the trend of biomimicry, where designers look to nature in order to present a solution for human living, including forms used for product and furniture design.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Seo Hulsu’s space
The second floor living room has a very fashionable and refreshing color palette of lilacs and blues, punctuated by a yellow painting that draws the eye as a focal point.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Common Areas of the Han Residence
The common areas feature an almost obsessive attention to detail, underlined by the use of precious materials and the perfect symmetry in the arrangement of the furnishings. The entrance to the main villa is very large with two stairs leading to the upper floors and is perfectly symmetrical.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Common Areas of the Han Residence
The use of refined materials such as stone and marble creates a particular effect of austerity and spatial depth.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Common Areas of the Han Residence
Looming over the dining room with the large refectory table is a backlit wall where the museum-worthy collection of tea service and implements are placed.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Common Areas of the Han Residence
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Common Areas of the Han Residence
There is also a brightly-colored floral decoration suspended above the table, which makes this setting particularly memorable.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Common Areas of the Han Residence
In the main villa there is a large common room dedicated to relaxation, meditation and gymnastics. This room is a concrete dome devoid of any kind of ornament and illuminated by the soft light that diffuses through the cracks.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Exterior and Grounds of The Han Family Residence
The residential complex also has a large garden surrounding the two villas.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Exterior and Grounds of The Han Family Residence
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Exterior and Grounds of The Han Family Residence
In the garden, the hosts also organize luxurious and eccentric outdoor dinners in which nothing is missing from the Comback chairs by Patricia Urquiola produced by Kartell at suspended crystal chandeliers, richly decorated crockery arranged according to Western uses. In the villa there are also large windows overlooking the garden.
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Exterior and Grounds of The Han Family Residence
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
Han Soo-hyeok’s space
In the oldest grandson Han Soo-hyeok’s space, the indoors welcome the outdoors by a grand gesture of enveloping his quarters in curtain wall glass, reminiscent of classics such as The Farnsworth House by Mies Van Der Rohe or the Johnson House in Connecticut. This young heir’s suite is furnished with woven wood chairs inspired by the 'Acapulco' model while inside we find the African-inspired Shadowy armchair by designer Tord Boontje (Moroso, 2009).
Photo Credit: Still from Mine, Netflix, 2021
With only 8 episodes into this show, perhaps most telling about living in luxury is the peculiar fact that the eldest grandson, Han Soo-hyeok is unable to sleep in his own room. He is uncomfortable in such luxury, and would rather sleep in the maid’s quarters, hinting that living with all the trappings of opulence is for naught without the independence and freedom to truly assert the claim for what is rightfully yours in the world.
