So Your Style Is ... ‘Wet Hot American Summer’

Did you miss the fine film Wet Hot American Summer the first time around? It’s likely you didn’t catch it in a theater back in 2001, as it grossed less than $300,000 at the box office. But during the 14 years since its premiere, the camp romp set in 1981 has become a comedy classic, and many of its cast members have gone on to become TV and movie stars.

The original movie took place on the last day of camp; now, on July 31, Netflix is releasing a prequel series that takes place the day the campers arrive at Camp Firewood. The stars look even more ridiculously old to be playing young camp counselors, which means the story is likely to be even funnier this time around. Whether you’re looking for fun activities to do with your kids or to bring some camp style to a lake house, there are some design gems from yesteryear to be found throughout the series.

There’s something about 1980s style and the feeling of summer camp captured in the series by art department coordinator Stacee Hammond, set director Cassandra Fuote and costume designer Leslie Schilling that is worth capturing at home, especially because it’s the perfect time of year for it.

1. Create a space for camp-cabin camaraderie. At the show’s Camp Firewood, seen here, the accommodations are tight and get messy fast. Staying in such close quarters with people can be annoying, but it also fosters a lot of bonding — though these Camp Firewood campers seem to be running out of the cabin as fast as they possibly can.


On a California farm, architect Heidi Richardson designed this camp-inspired cabin for a grandfather to build for his grandkids.


2. Add curb appeal with camp-cabin charm. Another thing we can pick up from camp cabins is making the most of a modest front porch and a screen door. At this charming rental cottage in Virginia, benches and a bright green door and screen door welcome vacationers.


3. Pick up tips from the mess-hall kitchen. It’s fun to see Christopher Meloni, best known for playing a sadistic prisoner on Oz and a serious detective on Law and Order: SVU as camp cook Gene, who is more than a few sandwiches short of a picnic.


A camp kitchen is purely utilitarian, but items like metal baker’s shelves, large ranges and spots to keep plenty of pots, pans and utensils handy are features to bring home on a smaller scale. This Michigan kitchen by Rebekah Zaveloff captures the camp spirit. The steel peninsula, Toledo stools and even the white painted tree post recall casual and utilitarian camp style.


No matter what part of the camp everyone is in, Beth (Janeane Garofalo), the camp director in Wet Hot American Summer, struggles to keep order. At least the cooking supplies are organized and there is ample pancake-making potential.


Once usually only seen in restaurants and other commercial spaces, now large commercial-grade ranges and griddles are seen in many serious cooks’ kitchens.


4. Honor the bandanna. Bandannas abound at Camp Firewood. Here Paul Rudd rocks a bandanna like “The Boss” — Bruce Springsteen.


5. Add a healthy dose of denim. Rudd’s motorcycle-ready bad-boy head-to-toe denim is probably the most of that material we see on one person, but Lindsay’s (Elizabeth Banks’) high-rise bell-bottoms, shown here, are worth a special mention.


Denim works well at camp, because it’s durable and can take on stains. In this guesthouse by Smith & Vansant Architects, it’s great as a sofa slipcover for the same reasons.


6. Embrace tie-dye. It’s a cheap and easy way to add color to a room. Plus, it can be a supermessy and fun camp activity. In the series, tie-dye makes a colorful keg backdrop for Victor (Ken Marino) and Rhonda (Michaela Watkins).


For the makeover of this 10-year-old’s real-world bedroom, his decorator mom, Cathy Zaeske, chose bold tie-dye for the window treatments.


7. Add some beads, unicorns and rainbow colors. This time around we’ll learn more about the backstory of why, in spite of her colorful pastel wardrobe, Gail (Molly Shannon) is so sad. Here she chats with Nancy (Nina Hellman) and Ron (Judah Friedlander).


You can skip the unicorn if you want to, but my childhood room in the 1980s was full of both of them before Duran Duran posters took over. This eclectic room jumped out at me like Molly Shannon’s colorful beaded necklace.


8. Don’t discount ye olde braided rug. Counselors in the series gather round the oval rug for some off-time shenanigans. Often made from rags, these rugs have been an essential element in camp cabins, beach cottages and lake houses for many years. Also, they go great with beanbags.


This rug in a children’s playhouse by interior designer Dona Rosene is a more modern take on the braided rug because of its square shape, and the plush beanbags are updates of the old Naugahyde version from the 1970s and 1980s.

See more of this shed-turned-playhouse

Rug: Capel; chairs and beanbags: Pottery Barn


9. Rediscover the vintage phone. I can’t wait to hear what is putting such goofy looks on the faces of counselors Neil (Joe Lo Truglio) and Victor.


I love an old-school landline and I love a vintage phone, particularly a dial phone hanging on the wall, with the superlong cord Mom could drag all over the kitchen while she worked. And apparently so do Matt and Megan Patton, who use this one in their their historic home in Water Valley, Mississippi. In these days of 10-digit dialing instead of party lines, though, push buttons are a much better option.

See more vintage phones around Houzz


10. Decorate with maps. It doesn’t seem as if these young campers are too interested in studying much at camp. OK, so the borders and country names have changed a lot, but the colors and graphics in these older versions are very appealing and nostalgic.

In this photo from the series, Kevin (David Bloom) is rocking a denim jacket and bandanna simultaneously.


An elementary school set of scroll maps suits this home office in a summer sanctuary on Rhode Island’s Block Island, by Eck MacNeely Architects Inc.


11. Glorify red and white. This is my favorite shot of the obnoxious musical theater duo Ben (Bradley Cooper) and Susie (Amy Poehler). Reason No. 1 is because I live for Amy Poehler and am still in Parks and Rec withdrawal. Reason No. 2: It is so great that after multiple Oscar nominations, Bradley Cooper has returned to these hilarious roots of his career. And Reason No. 3: In third grade I performed in a group tap dance at a recital in an almost identical Andy costume.


Yes, we can match up the glory of Raggedy Ann and Andy costumes with a charming room, and this happy porch by Periwinkle Designs is it. All that’s missing is one of the dolls.


Have you brought any camp activities or decor home this summer? I’m sure you’re doing a better job than McKinley (Michael Ian Black) and J.J. (Zak Orth). Please share your memories — and camp decor — in the Comments!

More: Lessons from Camp: Cottage Inspiration for Home

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