It's Complicated: A Movie House Tour

Tour the Home in the Movie, It's Complicated

It's been almost two years now, but I still remember how excited I was when I heard another movie written and directed by the talented Nancy Meyers was about to be released.  It's Complicated was released in December 2009 and since I'm a self-confessed movie house junkie, I wondered if another amazing house would be "starring" in this movie, too.  Nancy Meyers has the amazing ability to turn the sets/houses in her movies into full-fledged characters, just as she did with the darling English cottage in The Holiday, the beach house in Something's Gotta Give and the stately Colonial in Father of the Bride.

In an interview with Indiewire, Ms. Meyers described the house in It's Complicated as "an extension of character."  It's so true; often the houses in the movies written and directed by Nancy Meyers deserve top billing along with the stars.  They bring so much to the movie, establishing the mood and atmosphere that permeates the entire movie from start to finish.

Synopsis:
It's Complicated is a movie about a couple who were married 20+ years and have been divorced for 10.  Jane, played by Meryl Streep, owns her own bakery and Jake, played by Alec Baldwin, is a successful attorney.  In the movie, Jake has married a much younger woman, Agness, with whom he had an affair.  Agness is interested in having more children, in addition to the child she already has who was the result of a brief romance she participated in when she and Jake were temporarily split up.  Did ya follow all that? lol  It's a soap opera life.

During the movie, Jane and Jake find themselves back together again at their son, Luke's graduation and before you know it, they are having an affair.  Jane now finds herself in the role of the mistress to her ex-husband.  She is now cheating with her ex-husband on the woman who broke up their marriage.  Yep, it is definitely complicated.

The story is told with  humor and when asked what "genre" the movie falls in, Nancy Meyers called it a "Relationship Comedy."  The three children of Jane and Jake are played by Hunter Parrish as Luke, Zoe Kazan as Gabby and Caitlin Fitzgerald as Lauren.  Lauren's fiancé Harley, is played by John Krasinski who I read had a small role in another Nancy Meyers film, The Holiday.  There's a great article about the movie and how the cast was chosen HERE.

Exterior:
Now, let's get to the good part...the tour!   Seventy percent of the movie takes place in a beautiful Spanish style (Mediterranean) home in Thousand Oaks, California, although, in the movie, the house is supposed to be in Santa Barbara.

As is so often the case with movie houses, only the exterior shown in the movie was that of a real house.  The home is located at 714 West Potrero Road, Thousand Oaks, CA.  All the interior scenes were filmed on set in New York.

Don't be disappointed, though.  You can take heart in knowing that Ms. Meyers did use the interior of this home as inspiration for the layout of the set in It's Complicated.  She wanted the interior scenes to make sense in relation to how the real house appears on the exterior in the movie.  This pic below shows how the exterior of the home looks in the movie.  In this scene, Jane and Jake's youngest daughter, Gabby, is leaving the nest, heading off to college.  A pretty important scene takes place on the tree swing toward the end of the movie.

Another view of the exterior of the home in the movie.  Behind the gated area on the left is an interesting courtyard where another scene takes place.  You'll see that area in just a sec.
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Father of the Bride Movie House Tour

Tour the Home in the Movie, Father of the Bride

Recently, we took a tour of some beautiful neighborhoods and homes in the south. This house, located not far from my home, was included in that tour. Each time I drive by it, I'm always reminded of a famous movie home we all know and love. Do you know the one I'm thinking about?

Yep, it's this one! Recognize it? It's the house from the movie, Father of the Bride. I'm happy to say this much-loved movie house is a real house and not a just a movie set. :) So nice when that happens! I hadn't realized it, but Father of the Bride is actually a remake of a 1950 Spencer Tracey classic by the same name. Did you know that?

What is it about this house that captures our hearts? It just says home, doesn't it? I love the white picket fence, the vines/flowers growing up the front and the cute dormers lined up along the top.

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Many years ago, I read an article in a magazine where they interviewed a young couple who bought this house in real life when it became available a few years after the making of the movie. They had some pretty wild stories to tell about folks walking right up to their door, ringing the bell and asking for a tour. One of the things they said that really stuck with me was that some of what we saw in the movie was constructed just for the movie, like the white picket fence.

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The Beach House in Something's Gotta Give

Recently, I took a little vacation to Savannah, Georgia. It was a wonderful trip and when I returned home that weekend, I couldn't wait to pull out one of my favorite "beach house" movies, Something's Gotta Give.


Somethings Gotta Give is one of those movies you just have to watch at least once every summer. Joni, whose beautiful blog is Cote de Texas, believes the beach home in this movie to be the most beloved "movie" home ever. I might have to debate that one with her because I kind of think the house in Home Alone takes that honor. ;) Okay, maybe they both qualify since the movies are from different time periods and the homes are so very different in style.

A while back, Linda, Megan and Joni of The Skirted Roundtable, interviewed Beth Rubino, the Set Decorator for Something's Gotta Give. In The Skirted Roundtable interview, Beth Rubino says, "The house was the 4th main character in that film." She is so right. The phones of designers were ringing off the hook for months and months after the release of Something's Gotta Give. It seemed everyone on planet Earth wanted their home decorated to look exactly like this wonderful beach house.


We get our first look at the home when Harry Sanborn, played by Jack Nicholson, and Marin Barry, played by Amanda Peet, first pull up to the house with plans of a romantic weekend. Marin thinks her mom and successful playwright, Erica Barry, played by Diane Keaton, is away for a few days. Surprise! Erica walks in shortly after the pair arrive and the fun begins.

This beautiful home is actually located in Southampton, NY. But, I might as well break the news to you early on...in case you don't know.
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"The Holiday" Movie House Tour: Rosehill Cottage

It's Friday! How about another fun movie house tour? This weekend I'm taking you on a tour of my second favorite Christmas movie house, Rosehill Cottage from the movie, The Holiday. The home in Home Alone will always be my first "movie house" love. ;) The Holiday, hit the theaters in 2006. Did you see it? I am a total sucker for romantic comedies but it was the cottage in the movie that totally stole my heart.


A Little Background:
The Holiday is a "romantic comedy" written, produced and directed by Nancy Meyers. Mrs. Meyers is amazingly talented..she also gave us the hit movies, Somethings Gotta Give and It's Complicated.

If you saw The Holiday, you can skip the part in italics below. If you didn't, here's a quick synopsis from Wikipedia:

The two main characters are Amanda (Cameron Diaz), a highly successful movie trailer editor in Los Angeles, and Iris (Kate Winslet), a lovesick society column editor for The Daily Telegraph in London. The story is set in motion when each of them suffers a heartache: Amanda discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her, while the object of Iris' unrequited love announces his engagement at the office Christmas party. Seeking an escape, Iris proposes the home swap on the internet, posting an ad about her quaint cottage in Surrey in the British countryside. Her offer is eagerly accepted by Amanda, who lives in a luxurious home in L.A. but is stressed over her break-up. There are also hints that Amanda is a workaholic; there is a running gag that she imagines her life as being narrated by movie trailer narrator Hal Douglas.

At first, the swap seems uneven; Iris revels in the luxury of Amanda's L.A. home, while Amanda suffers a series of disappointments in Surrey. Things turn around for Amanda when she meets Iris' brother Graham (Jude Law). Both Amanda and Graham intend to have a one-night stand, but a romance develops. Things get complicated as only one day remains until Amanda's flight is scheduled to leave to L.A. While in the cab, leaving for the airport, Amanda realizes she loves Graham, so she runs back to the house, where she recently left Graham, and hugs him.

Meanwhile, Iris befriends movie composer Miles (Jack Black) and elderly Arthur Abbott; Arthur, it turns out, worked as a screenwriter during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The friendship between Iris and Miles turns romantic after Miles learns of his girlfriend Maggie (Shannyn Sossamon)'s infidelity.

So, basically Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and Iris (Kate Winslet) swap houses for a holiday. Iris heads off to California to stay in Amanda's huge, modern home, while Amanda takes a flight to Surrey in England to stay in Iris's centuries-old, cottage. One of the first glimpses we get of Iris's cottage is when Amanda stumbles across it while looking for vacation spots online. Yep, it's adorable!




Rosehill Cottage by day...




And at night~~~Big SIGH~~~




There's a cute cottage called Slatters Cottage in the Cotswolds and some folks think it was the inspiration for Iris's cottage. What do you think? Sadly, we'll never be able to rent Rosehill Cottage (you'll find out why soon) but it is possible to stay at Slatters Cottage. :)




Just before Iris takes off for California, we get a view of her quaint kitchen. What is it about painted cabinetry that just totally cozies a place up?! Can you imagine cooking on that tiny stove? As little as I cook, that would work pretty well. LOL Oh, to have a fireplace like that in my kitchen! Oh, to have ANY fireplace in my kitchen! Note the little spice rack on the wall and the other cooking sauces on the narrow shelf between the stove and the fireplace. Simple and sweet.

A little closeup of the area above the fireplace. The garland appears to be made from acorns.




Once Amanda arrives, she gets busy settling in. Here are a few shots of the bedroom...the only one in this tiny house. I think the pillow in the chairs says, "Be the person your dog thinks you are."




Love the bed, love the bedding...LOVE!




It looks so much larger in this professional shot than it did in the movie! Notice how the mismatched furniture makes the room feel real and adds so much personality. I love the little built in cabinet to the left of the fireplace and that amazing ceiling!




Remember Slatters Cottage...here's one of the rooms you can rent there. Those beds look quite similar, don't they?




Amanda has quite the time adjusting to a home that's heated via fireplaces only. She makes the best of it by snuggling down into the bed. Don't you just love the alcove over by the window with the bookcase?! It's those little things that make this home feel extra inviting.




When Amanda first arrives at Iris's, she takes a little tour of her new digs for the week. Her comment once she sees the bathtub is so funny, "THAT, will be interesting!" Look at that tiny sink!




And here she is later in the movie...making the best of it. Doesn't look so comfy does it?




Here's a picture from online...I never realized the floor was painted until I saw this pic. I think you would need a step ladder to get in and out of that tub.




While staying in Surrey, Amanda meets Graham, Iris's brother who is played by Jude Law. He stops by for a visit not realizing Iris has rented out her cottage and left the country. Here are a few more views of the kitchen with Iris and Graham...




Amanda and Graham go out for dinner to this restaurant in the movie...




Wow! What an amazing place for a restaurant!




Back at Iris's house... Doesn't this just make you want to put a little table in your kitchen? I've actually read, having a kitchen table is very popular with folks remodeling their homes. Isn't it funny how we move away from things like hardwood floors, porches, tables in the kitchen...only to miss them and start adding them back in again?




This hallway from the kitchen leads to a room we see very little of in the movie.




It's a wonderful, cozy library. Love the old rug and those old, old floors. The door is the back door to the cottage.




Here's a little view of the foyer with a great bamboo hall tree. Amanda is freezing and is beginning to wonder about her vacation choice. She tries to warm up with an adult beverage.




Here's an even better view... the front door to this cottage is sooo dang cute!




Here's the other side of the front door...




We get a brief glimpse of the living room here and a view of Iris's china hutch in the kitchen...




A better view as Amanda comes down the stairs...




Isn't it a wonderful space? I love that velvet ottoman/coffee table. Completely impractical and oh, so fabulous! It would last about a week at my house before something was spilled on it.




This house appears to be built of stone/rock, doesn't it? Hold that thought.




Here's another view of the living room looking toward the stairway. Amanda has had a bit too much to drink (can you tell?) and is singing and dancing...sort of.




Even though the cottage is small, the downstairs feels pretty open, doesn't it? I love the fabrics. It's an English cottage in every sense of the word. Notice the oranges with cloves...love those little touches. I WANT that ottoman...and have absolutely nowhere I could use it. ;)




From this angle, you can see the cute, little alcove across the room. How do you like the drum table between the chairs? What do you suppose is in the basket on the stair landing? Looks kind of like firewood...perhaps for the upstairs bedroom fireplace? On second thought, I think it's rolled up magazines. Notice the branch stairway handle. Ummm, are you getting a bit suspicious yet about this cottage? Is it seeming a bit too fairytale-charming to be real? If your answer is, yes...sadly you are correct.




It turns out this darling cottage that looks for the world like it's been here a gazillion years, was built in the space of a few weeks just for the movie! The village shots were filmed in Godalming and here you can see snow being "created" for the movie.




Rosehill Cottage was built over the course of about a week.




Though it appears to be made of centuries-old stone, it was actually constructed of wood and fiberglass. You can just see the beginnings of that "ancient" stone wall that encircled the home in the movie.




The landscaping took 4 weeks to complete...that's 3 weeks longer than it took to actually build the cottage.




See the tree on the right...yep, it's fake, too.




Even though the home was created just for the movie and was torn down once the movie was finished, I still adore it. It could be the blue-print for a real cottage, couldn't it?



(Pictures in this post were taken from the movie and from Outnow-CH, a fun movie site recommended by Joni at Cote de Texas. Thanks, Joni!)

Check out this follow-up post to see a darling replica of Rosehill Cottage built for some lucky birds.

You'll find additional Movie House Tours, HERE OR click on any picture link below.