1) 50 Shades of Grey became a global phenomenon and mass mania, with businesses incorporating the title into their names and products like a hotel replacing Bibles with copies of the book. 2) While commercially successful, the book received criticism from literary critics who said it lacked literary merit despite breaking taboos about eroticism. 3) The set design of Christian Grey's apartment in the film adaptation, which was meant to reflect his controlling personality, was praised by design magazines for its attention to detail.

2. 50 Shades of Grey is an unparalleled literary case in its kind. The erotic trilogy by E.L.
James has surpassed Harry Potter for number of sales, to the point that its author was
included in the list of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.

3. The global success of 50 Shades of Grey
has made it a mass phenomenon and a
collective mania: at Damson Dene Hotel in
the Lake District the owner has replaced the
volumes of the Bible in every room with a
copy of 50 Shades of Grey, a restaurant in
Barnstaple has started serving burgers
called "50 shades of bacon", Inn & Gunn
has launched a limited edition ale beer
called "50 shades of green” containing
damiana, an aphrodisiac herb.
The great success of sales of the book is
inversely proportional to the appreciation of
the critics: while recognizing the merit of
James' novel which has broken many
taboos about eroticism and freed open
conversations about sex, from a literary
point of view the work is not considered of
any value.

4. However, 50 Shades of Grey is a
worldwide best seller and received the final
consecration to mass phenomenon with the
film version.
As often happens with filmic versions of
highly successful novels, the expectations of
many passionate readers have been
disappointed: apparently, the film fails to
convey the same amotional charge of the
book, the scenes are stingy and aseptic.

5. If the value of the cinematographic work is highly questionable, design enthusiasts
appreciated the set design. A great number of articles published in design and decor
magazines praised the environments of the film and in particular of Mr. Grey apartment,
made by set designer C. Scott Baker, who was also involved in all other locations.
In an interview with Elle Decor, Baker explained that a set becomes a character in itself in
a movie, and it’s capable of revealing to the viewer many details on the story and
characters. Before conceiving the design and style of Christian Grey’s apartment, Baker has
carefully studied the character and his background so that his apartment would reflect his
personality at best.
The result is a radically modern enviroment, not cold but rather impersonal, which reflects
Mr. Grey mania of control. Each room is full of clues to the personality of Christian and tells
its own story in the background to the one told by the characters.
The most difficult environment to create, says Baker, was the Red Room of Pain, which in
contrast to the other rooms of the apartment, neutral, elegant and impersonal, is
characterized by a strong red color, the leather tile floor and a dense sensual and masculine
atmosphere.

9. Mr. Grey’s penthouse does not exist in Seattle, it is a series of sets created in three
different soundstages – one for the living room and the kitchen, one for the master
bedroom, one for the hallway and Anastasia’s bedroom.
The attention to details is clear in the entrance hall of Grey's apartment. The private
elevator doors are in hammered metal and the floors are marble. The lamp Turner Table of
Delighfull Unique Lamps adds warmth and sense of luxury to the environment.
In the large living room, the protagonist is the grand piano that Christian plays during his
sleepless nights. The sculpture sofas, with ultra-modern design, are matched to Sequoia
table by Brabbu. A real touch of luxury is the golden console with the Coltrane Table lamp
by Delighfull Unique Lamps. These products can be bought online through
Tomassini Arredamenti website.
The kitchen island is made of wood and stainless steel, with a mini-wine cellar.

11. To recreate the style of the Christian Grey’s apartment, contact Tomassini Arredamenti.