Our Editors Have Lots of Opinions on the Heated Rivalry Decor

"Like pretty much everyone else on the internet, the AD team spent our winter break marathoning (and deeply loving!) Heated Rivalry. While we have virtually no notes on the pitch-perfect romance between rival hockey players Illya Rozanov and Shane Hollander (some of us are already on our third full-series binge), as design obsessives we were drawn to more than just the steamy sex scenes and glutes discourse. Across the eight years that the series follows the two players, portrayed by Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams, viewers get a glimpse of the luxe homes that a star athlete's salary affords, albeit one depicted on a relatively low production budget."

"The straightest thing about Heated Rivalry? The bedding du jour being either navy or gray in each of the players' apartments. Alas, boys will be boys. But to all the guys reading this, please know that other sheet color options do exist. We promise a subtle pinstripe or off-white French flax linen will not threaten your masculinity. Even a nice olive hue could be the gateway to a more intentional bedscape that your clandestine lover could grow to love. -Audrey Lee, commerce editor"

"The meetup at Rozanov's "Boston home" (a story for another day) is where we see a real turning point in the players' relationship. It's where things go from hookups to full-on feelings, except instead of the pillow talk, all I could see were lamps. Specifically, five of them, along a single wall, within 12 feet of each other-and all within a mostly glass room (thankfully, I'm not alone in this specific gripe). We've got two floor lamps, a pair of sconces flanking the bed, and a reading lamp on"

A popular sports-romance series portrays luxury athlete homes with modern-rustic aesthetics and low-budget set detailing. The series follows eight years of two hockey players and shows their residences, including a lakeside cottage and a purported Boston home. Bedding choices consistently favor navy and gray across apartments, prompting suggestions for alternatives like subtle pinstripes, off-white French flax, or olive. Lighting schemes often include clustered fixtures, including five lamps along a single wall inside mostly glass rooms, creating visual clutter. These design choices both signal character and occasionally distract from emotional beats while reflecting budget and stylistic decisions.

Read at Architectural Digest