When you watch TV or movies, you’re paying attention to more than the plot and the actors. For a show like Mad Men, the set and the wardrobe are crucial in representing a specific era. But the set is also meant to emphasize the lifestyle and personality of the main characters. 

A show like Empire is all about high drama, luxury and opulence. Now regular Chicagoans can have a slice of some of that luxury. Some of the furniture featured is the work of designers Christopher Guy and is now on sale at Chicago Luxury Furniture Center, which is owned by Chicago native Jim Denos. Denos explains why the pieces are so unique, and why set designers seek them out.