Every year I sit up to watch the Oscars and this year was no exception, even though I was cross eyed, its a tradition since forever. I love, love, love, films every kind, I am a big fan of old movies, its a passion of mine. I could name off actors, films, directors anything to do with films, oh yes I am the film freak.
A lot of my ideas come from films, the interiors of some of the buildings are breathtaking, such imagination. Even when I was doing my diploma in interior design, we were given an assignment to draw and design a three bedroom apartment and we could do anything we wanted. It was music to my ears, I chose a dramatic old movie style and for introduction into each room, I got a film picture like casablanca and put a caption.
“Of all the joints you had to walk into, you walked into my bedroom”
The style of the whole apartment was draped with rich velvets and unusual antiques very ott. I loved doing every minute of that assignment.
There are so many great movies out there with fabulous interiors here are my favourites, some old, some new, in no particular order.
Dinner At Eight
1933 would you believe, this is Jean Harlow one of the greatest actresses, she is in her bedroom it is so over the top but the detail and glamour of it is magnificent. I know it ain’t practical but a girl can dream.
Step mum (the saddest film ever)
1998 The film was dedicated “In loving memory of Irene Columbus”, director Chris Columbus’s mother, who in the year before the movie was released had died of cancer.
I adore this house, it feels like home.
This is Jackie (Susan Surrandon) in her sitting room, I love the fact that this house is very big and grand but the style of the interior makes it feel very comfortable and very homely, there are beautiful structural features throughout this house.
What a fabulous staircase, the detail alone.
High Society 1956
High Society marked the final acting role for Grace Kelly before she became Princess of Monaco (the film was actually released three months after her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco).
The legendary Grace Kelly swoons through this film with such elegance. Its a fun film to watch, beautiful colours in the house, clean cut American style.
Atonement 2007
Keira Knighly, so beautiful, who could forget that beautiful green dress she was wearing.
Never mind the film, its all about the house and what a house. For production designer Sarah Greenwood, who has worked with director Joe Wright on five projects so far, including this film atonement, she brings us back in time with her beautiful interiors.
Each room is filled with eye candy, full of treasures, the wallpaper is like a wild flower growing up the walls and the golden antique frames brings the walls to life. The lights throughout this house are truly unique and so rich.
The detail in every room is genius and the structure breathtaking.
A must see, just for the house.
Somethings Gotta Give 2003
Production Designer of Something’s Gotta Givewas Jon Hutman and the Set Director was Beth Rubino. Interior designer James Radin name has never been mentioned in any articles that I’ve read on the set design but his names pops up when talking about the design of this particular house. Check out his website and see the resembles. Jon Hutman is also listed at the Production Designer for “The Holiday”, another movie of Meyers’ where the set steals the show.
Besides this film having two great actors, Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton it also has a great house. I have never met anyone yet who dislikes this house, it is the perfect Hamptons beach house.
The light-washed living room, brings the cool sea blue from outside into this room, the large blue striped rug adds comfort and cosiness. The furniture layout is perfect for this room and compliments it, I love the splash of colour on the picture above the fireplace and also the lamps situated in the centre of the room.
This is also part of the sitting room from above, a mini library, I like the change of style of furniture here compared to the rest of the room, the two wicker chairs, it creates a cosy separate area.
For the perfect house, of course the perfect kitchen, when I grow up I want a kitchen like this one. Its so large yet compact, it has a touch of country style to it with the cupboards and handles, I love the mixture of the stainless steel, white tiles and cream cupboards. Again in the far corner the brightly coloured pictures brings life to the room.
And for the icing on the cake, to finish off we have the terrace and pool area. Seriously what is there not to love about this fine house.
I bet you are away out to rent the movie.
Down With Love 2003
This is an old-style romantic comedy complete with actors who play to the cameras while spouting smart dialogue loaded with sexual innuendo, its fun all the way and so is Renee Zellweger’s apartment, its the 1960’s and colour is everywhere.
I love the poppy pink against the virginal white color, such a contrast, the modern style of this apartment is minimal yet leaves a big impact in the room.
Indiscreet 1958
This is another favorite. Ingrid Bergman’s stage actress character lives in a fabulous London apartment, where most of the action takes place. We love the soft blue walls, hung floor to ceiling with art and the stately brocade sofas and chairs. If it weren’t for the glorious costumes (and—okay—Cary Grant), we’d be focused on the apartment from beginning to end. Definitely a must see, just take a look at this video.
The Sound of Music 1965
This will put a smile on your face, growing up I religiously watched this film again and again and again, I was in total awe of the house they lived in. It was breathtaking, I used to sing around my house pretending to be one of the Van Trapp family and as for Maria ( julia Andrews) making the children clothes from her bedroom curtains, I thought it was genius. What a film, what a house.
The beautiful Leopoldskron palace, Salzburg, Austria
The Van Trapp, children.
I get all tingly just looking at these pictures, they bring back so many memories of my childhood, God I wished I was one of the Van Trapp children living in that house.
The Holiday 2006
I think this is a favourite of every-bodies, you get the choice of the ramble stone cottage and the modern chic house, the film is set around these two wonderful houses, spoilt for choice.
Rosehill Cottage
Yes these cottages do exist, I am actually living in one, a Thatch cottage in the countryside in Ireland, I know sounds so cliche but its true. I promise I will put pictures on this post some day, lot of work going on at moment with the house but it has all the characters of Rosehill Cottage.
The wooden beams on the ceiling brings the room closer together for that country cosy feeling. The furniture is all mix and match with stripes, floral and velvet materials. The large tufted, blue velvet ottoman serves as a coffee table. Plenty of cushions to add cosiness and for extra charm a drum used as a side table, such an idea.
The side wall of the cottage with the stone fireplace and bookshelf piled high.
The grand library (How Cute is this) lovely antique Edwardian chair sits on its own with a warm woolly throw just begging you to sit down.
What a cosy bedroom, wouldn’t you love a fireplace in the bedroom, god I’d never get out of bed. The Large white painted iron bed is piled high with warm blankets and cushy pillows. Its not a big room but with the ceiling rafters exposed it gives the feeling of space, would you have thought you could fit four lamps into this room and it would look cluttered? Well there’s a surprise.
The Modern House
This is an old style house on the outside, the roof tiling gives it a Spanish feel but when you enter the style is so different to the age of the house.
The main living room is very subtle and modern, with chocolate shades of browns and whites and black colours. I like the black framed french windows against the white walls and brown curtains . A variety of small tables are placed around the room in dark wood with white lamps again to add contrast to the room. A large checkerboard rug covers the floor adding a bit of warmth to the room. This living room is not particularly cosy, it has clean lines and very contemporary.
The movie room, well for me I would live here day in day out watching all my favourite movies and if you look closely to the left of the picture, there is a popcorn machine what more could you want.
The deep chocolate covered walls and the brown carpet on the floor provides a high contrast to the white ceiling and the white build in unit. I actually got units similar to this for a client in ikea . Instead of a sofa, there is a line of four slip covered, white chaises with brown pillows to relax and put your feet up.
Again bright and dark colour is used to add contrast to this large bedroom soft white tones and different shades of grey are used to keep it from being boring. Love the large shaggy room to sink your feet into. The two large lamps on other side of the bed on table adds balance to the room and anyone who seen this movie will know about the magical blinds that covers the room in darkness with the flick of a switch, oh yeah.
This is a very large bathroom, two large units with glass surround this room with the bath in the centre, I really like this room except the floor is a bit dark and cold for me, it just doen’t have that warmth or cosy feeling but it is still beautiful ( minus the floor).
I could go on forever and ever about film interiors, there’s so many more I love, what about you, do you have any?
Wow just love your irish cottage and your lovely photographs.
Super. Thanks for sharing them.
Denny
wow!! what a whonderfull website! seen all of the movies, and I thought the same by seeing all the interiors. grtz henriette
are you for real
Thanks for the information provided! I was finding for this info for quite some time, but I wasn’t able to see a dependable source.
I got crazy with this photographs.
I loved the rosehill cottage, it´s so beautiful.
I´d like have a house like this one.
Thanks for this beautiful pics.
Kisses from Brazil.
Deise.
P.S.: Is the rosehill house for rent? 🙂
You have great taste. The Hamptons beach house is y idea of perfection and I am about to start designing the interior of a new home and it has given me some real inspiration thanks
Thank you very much for those owsome pics. When I’ve watched “The Holiday” I payed attention to those two beautiful interiors: one of them is very cosy, comfotable, with a special homy spirit. And another one is modern, very big and has too much space and everything organized so well. Very beautiful two sides of life, of a soul, if you like: two essences black and white. If it could be possible I would love to combine two ideas in one house. Great!
Hello
Thanks so much for the comment, Love both houses in The Holiday too, did you see film ‘It’s Complicated, with Meryl Streep, her kitchen is fab, house is fab, same designer for the houses in The Holiday
Gillian
I really love Cameron Diaz’s house in The Holiday.. very chic.. i can imagine myself dress in white standing on the balcony 😛
However, i also like Winslet’s little house in England. A lovely and tiny house…
Thanks for sharing these gorgeous houses from the movies.
I bookmarked your blog for sure.
[…] designer to film maker Nancy Meyers, the God of seaside interiors, remember the films “Somethings Gotta Give” and “The Holiday” check out my post on Movies […]
My taste in decor changes often but I always feel happy about the room in Down with love, so typically sixties and lovely colours.
thanks for the comment Bridget, I love the bright colours too.
I watched the film W.E. (written and directed by Madonna) last night and was fascinated by interior of what we were told was Fort Belvedere, the residence of Edward VIII. This was supposedly where Wallis first meets the Prince of Wales.
There was one wall that was tiled in a fabulous blue colour, like lapis. And the ceiling was covered in gorgeous mosaic pictures of Greeks draped in white.
I could not find any information on the interior of Fort Belvedere to see if that is actually where this scene was shot.
Do you have any information on this?
[…] For now, I’ll have to covet these amazing bookshelves/libraries from all over. *swoon* #1 / #2 / #3 / #4 Pinterest Post – images taken from my […]