Catalog Living at Its Most Absurd

Started in 2010, Catalog Living takes a humorous look at the people who live inside home furnishing catalogs. The site has received over 4.3 million hits and has been featured in stories by The Chicago Tribune, NPR’s Marketplace, and The Associated Press. Catalog Living was named one of Time Magazine’s Top 25 Blogs of 2011.

Millions have already been to Gary and Elaine’s. Isn’t it time you dropped by?

Have you ever flipped through the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog and thought, “Who actually lives that way?” Rest assured, you are not alone. Pushed too far by a photo depicting a plate of figs placed under a table, actor and Second City-alum Molly Erdman created Gary and Elaine, a well-heeled and deeply superficial couple living happily amongst abundantly pillowed chairs, giant abacuses, and decorative fruit. Inspired by Erdman’s popular blog Catalog Living, Decorating Takes (Wicker) Balls takes home décor catalog photos and sends them up with wickedly funny captions mockumenting Gary and Elaine, their lives, and their absurdly over-decorated rooms.

Praise for www.catalogliving.net:

“‘Catalog Living’” taps into thoughts many have had … about how things are sold to us.”—Chicago Tribune

"Hilarious."—TheFrisky.com

"Laugh-out-loud."—Country Living

"All-new adventures in domestic ridiculousness."—The New York Times

"Second City alum Molly Erdman's uber-popular blog, Catalog Living, has drawn followers for its wickedly funny take on the lifestyles proposed by shelter magazines and retail catalogs depicting rooms Erdman finds ridiculous... Erdman's dig at the overwrought images shelter magazine and catalogs create, shoot and stick in our mailboxes may be the most honest take on the business yet—and hysterical."—The Oregonian (Portland, Oregon)

"A mix of Catalog Living posts—photo-with-caption format—and humorously written, yet sound, decorating advice."—Curbed.comMOLLY ERDMAN is a writer, actor, and comedian who honed her skills as a member of Chicago's famed Second City comedy troupe. She lives in Los Angeles.