On The Set Design: “Elizabethtown” Claire’s Apartment

Ok, so the movie Elizabethtown (2005) was pretty bad. The plot was terrible, the character development was bad, there was no romantic chemistry between the leads (although Orlando Bloom was in it…) and Kirsten Dunst’s character was overbearing and way, way too cliché. The best part was her apartment, and the journal / scrapbook / road trip guide she made for Drew (Orlando Bloom), which by the way that she unrealistically made in like 3 hours that really would have taken weeks. And I can’t find pictures anywhere! I think my apartment now is shaping up to look something like her place, dress-form and all. I will take more pictures when I’ve tidied up a little.

To get pictures of Claire’s place I had to watch the movie and pause the screen. But, I got some good ones.

Foyer

This screenshot of the foyer shows a cute narrow dresser, a couple of mirrors and floral arangements. Very shabby chic.

Kitchen

Claire has a vintage little kitchen with a yellow stove, and checker floor. I love the gray-blue walls.

Here’s a close up of the floor.

Bedroom

Here’s a shot of what I believe is the bedroom. I don’t recall seeing this furniture in any other scene. I love the keyholes though, I have a dresser with skeleton key holes, and I happen to collect skeleton keys. I haven’t checked to see if they fit though. I should.

The blue wall is bright, and “Charming.”

I’m a fan of the vintage lamp in the bedroom, and the red sheets are a great contrast.

Living room

My favorite room! The reason I wanted to paint my office/ living room (the room adjoining the Living Room) blue. That and it’s the only gallon of paint I have laying around…

I’m a huge fan of the blue! Maybe because it’s my favorite color… How can she afford this apartment on a flight attendant’s salary? Oh yeah, she lives in Kentucky…

Here’s the famous road trip journal in the making! They want you to believe she made a 2 day long soundtrack and map with stops in like 3 hours. Because she’s super human. Also, having blue pillows in the living room ties in the blue in the dining room.

Where is this taking place? I don’t know. But I like the vintage print and the lamp.

This bathroom is adorable. Subway tile. Peacock blue. Crystal knobs. Sold.

Closeup of the subway tile.

I think I may have found the closest thing in real life to this apartment… Pictures to follow of how my place is decorated and you have to tell me how it compares. What’s your favorite movie apartment? Happy viewing!

On The Set Design: “Doctor Who: The Girl in the Fireplace”

My boyfriend introduced me to this little cult classic of a tv show called “Doctor Who” about a year ago. You may have heard of it. A time lord in a spaceship that looks like an old police box travels through space and time with a female companion to save the universe over and over again. It is a very well written show, and as the seasons go on, I think it keeps getting better and better. The following episide I am writing about today is a personal favorite. The plot is genius, and heartfelt, and the set is accuratly late 17th century.

The “Girl” staring into the broken clock on the fireplace.

This episode is in the second series (well, the latest second series) where David Tennant plays “The Doctor”, and he is accompanied by “Rose” played by Billie Piper, and her boyfriend Micky.

This particular episode sticks with me mainly because of the sweet, heart-wrenching plot, ( the episode was nominated for a Nebula Award^[3] and won the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form) , and the story line’s accuracy to the real events surrounding the incredible Madame De Pompadour’s life.

The real Madame De Pompadour

Here’s a synapsis of the storyline: The T.A.R.D.I.S., (the Doctor’s Spaceship) arrives in a seemingly abandoned space station floating in outerspace. The travelers curiously find an 18th century French fireplace on board. Looking through the fireplace, the Doctor sees a young girl. He asks who she is, and she replies that her name is Reinette, and that she lives in Paris in the year 1727 (a young Madame de Pompadour). The fireplace turns out to be a “time window”, allowing direct access Reinette’s bedroom. The Doctor discovers that each time he passes through the fireplace, months have passed here, rather than mere seconds in the Doctor’s time on the spaceship.

Reignette’s gorgeous 18th century bedroom. Note the multi colored paneled walls, candle lit sconces, rich fabrics and large bed. Fit for a King’s mistress.

Doctor discovers a ticking humanoid wearing eighteenth century clothing and a jester’s mask hiding under Reinette’s bed. The Doctor tricks the robot back to the spacecraft, where he and his companions learn that it is actually an android made of intricate clockwork. Returning to Reinette’s bedroom, the Doctor finds that much time has passed, and she is now a young woman, and the King’s Mistress, and well known socialite.

The androids trying to take Reignette’s brain. Notice the beautiful costumes, jewelery and hair styles.

Returning to the ship, the Doctor and his companions find several additional time windows at various locations throughout the ship, each leading to a different moment from the life of Reignette. The Doctor comes to find out that the clockwork creature was on the spaceship while it was damaged in a storm. They are maintenance androids, and did not have the parts necessary to repair the ship, and killed the crew to use their organs for parts to fix the ship. They believe one more very important part is required for the ship to be fully functional: Reinette’s brain.

The Doctor finding humor in even a life threatning situation.

The Doctor has discovered that the creatures are trying to open a time window into Reinette’s life when her brain will be compatible with the ship’s system. On an evening when the androids believe that Reignette’s brain is ready, the Doctor sees her through a mirror at a costume ball. The Doctor and his companions can see through it, but cannot pass through without smashing it, thus breaking the connection to the spaceship. The Doctor jumps through anyway, risking no return to the ship to save Reignette.

Smashing the mirror to save Reignette. Computerized, for sure, but look at that fine detailing on the walls.

He stops the robots by telling them they can never return to the spaceship, thus killing their motivation for their mission. The Doctor finds a way back to the ship through Reignette’s old fireplace, and promises her an adventure. Hopping back to the ship quickly to get it ready, he doesn’t realize when he goes back for her, 6 years have passed and Reignette has passed away. The TARDIS vanishes from the spaceship with the companions perplexed as to why the ship wanted the brain of Madame de Pompadour over anyone else’s to complete its repairs. The final camera shot pans out, revieling that the ship’s name is the SS Madame de Pompadour.

Dyffryn Gardens

This episode was filmed at Dyffryn Gardens is a collection of botanical gardens near the village of St Nicholas, set in the grounds of the nineteenth century Dyffryn House on an estate which dates back to 640AD.

The Doctor Who team arrived in a rather muddy Dyffryn Gardens in October 2005. David Tennant and guest star Sophia Myles (Reignette) acted out scenes for The Girl In The Fireplace in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles in 18th century France, before traveling on to Alcester in Warwickshire.

The Doctor watching Reignette in the garden.

However, the Doctor Who team were back the following Monday for more work at Dyffryn Gardens, completing the scenes in the Castle Room where the Doctor commanded one of the clockwork droids to abort its attack on Reinette.

The scenes of Versailles were all filmed elsewhere, with Ragley Hall in Warwickshire standing in for the ballroom and Dyffryn Gardens standing in for the gardens at the palace.

The Doctor after saving Reignettes life. Gorgeous dress, necklace, and hair, yet again.

Thia was one of my favorite episodes of Doctor Who. Maybe because of the romance? The classic 17th century France set? Either way, its a show worth giving a shot if you like sci-fi. Or quirky British men with a snappy wit and a sleek wardrobe. The last 5 seasons are available on Netflix! Happy watching!

‘On The Set’ Design: “Amelie”

If you haven’t seen this charming little French movie staring the fabulous Audrey Tautou, you are truly missing out. Set in Montmarte in 1997, (but released in 2001) this movie follows heroine Amelie Poulain throughout her quest to change lives for the better, and find true love. The soundtrack is mesmerizing, the colors of the set are bright and optimistic, and the story is heart warming. I’ve collected some of the best pictures from this movie to share with you the charm of “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain.”

This was one of the fantastic movie posters for Amelie. The red wallpaper is so French boudoir. The design scheme is very eclectic, and doesn’t really follow one style. Although it does look a little French Country with the animal prints and the piggy lamp.

The scene that starts the fabulous destiny… She hears of the death of Princess Di, and drops a bottle cap in the bathroom, busting loose a tile and revealing a box of a past tenant’s childhood treasures that she felt needed to be returned… The yellows, creams, and antiques are commonly used in french cottage designs.

Another view of the bathroom, with side lights, and wall cabinets.

Peeking into the hall from the front door… I love the traditionsl-meets-gothic styled patterned wallpaper, and red wood stain colors. It’s a little busy  and dark for my personal taste, but looks amazing here in the movie. It makes the apartment cozy and warm.

Clearly, this is the kitchen. It’s absolutely charming with the checker tile work, beaded curtain and open shelving. Amelie is a simple and lovely girl that doesn’t need a lavish and high tech kitchen to be happy, just minimal design, and necessities. Clearly red and yellow were the strongest used colors in the movie, with splashes of green and blue thrown in there.

This here is a better view of her apartment. You can see the beaded curtain, red and green accents, and many small accessories.

This photo just goes to show how much red was used in this movie. The blue lamp was added by using computer graphics to give the scene a little more color.

In this scene, the lamp bids her good night, and then shuts itself off. If only our lamps in real life knew when we fell asleep and shut them self off… How nice would that be? I love the collection of antiques here. Very charming. Here you also get a better look at her red and gold wallpaper, and red chair rail.

I love the cute little windowsill of plants and herbs. It’s in a little corridor where she can see her neighbors, and they can see her. And of course, she has a cat.

This is the cute little fruit and vegetable stand where Amelie’s crooked neighbor works. A lot of color splashes were added by computer after the fact to brighten up the movie and scenery.

As you can see, the real market isn’t quite as magical without the touch of film and computer adjustments, but the film has made the owner’s business more successful.

This picture is of Amelie working in the Two Windmills Cafe. I love this scene, and it’s computer graphics. She tries to tell Nino that she’s the girl he’s looking for, and when she chickens out, she turns to a puddle of water and splashes onto the floor. And even though the Two Windmills was fictional, Café des deux Moulins was real. After the filming of the movie, the owner changed his mind about selling the Cafe.

The real Café des deux Moulins.

I hope you enjoyed the photos, from this amazing set, and can draw some inspiration from the French apartment, Cafe, and other scenes that make up this quirky Romantic Comedy. Thank you to anyone I nabbed photos from, they are too fantastic to keep in one place. Happy decorating!

‘On The Set’ Design: “Practical Magic”

Ask yourself this: what movie do I always put on when I don’t want to think about what to watch? What movie do I draw inspiration from? If I could live on the set of any movie… what would it be? For me, it’s always been Practical Magic. Since it’s release in the fall of 1998 I always find myself popping that movie on when I want to feel at home. The movie is based on the book of the same name by Alice Hoffman. I do love the book far, far more than the movie, and the story is very different, but the movie has it’s charm as well. The east coast backdrop, the Victorian house, and small town feel make this my favorite movie to just watch in awe. The set was built on the grounds of a State park in Washington state, but takes place in New England. The house had to be built to be tailored exactly for the movie, and some indoor scenes were filmed on a set in Los Angeles. The resulting structure stunned the author. “When I visited the set,” remembers Hoffman, “it wasn’t really like wandering into my own imagination; it was like wandering into another person’s interpretation of my imaginary world. I was thrilled that it was so beautifully rendered; it gave me a sense of drifting through this magical world, but it was all so real.”

Here are some stills from the set that made me fall in love with this movie. (Courtesy of Amas Veritas, the most amazing Practical Magic site.)

The side view of the amazing house. With the overgrowth of plants, it’s hard to believe that this whole set was built just prior to the filming of the movie, and hasn’t been there for years.

The front view of the set house. I love the all white painted exterior and detail work that went into making this house look authentically victorian.

The set at night, during a Halloween scene. Note the pumpkins on the stairs.

The garden located on the side of the house.

The side garden that also shows the house.

Here’s an angle of the inside of the greenhouse. I love the hurricane lanterns and candles.

…and another one.

The front parlor of the house. It has many Victorian staples. Velvet drapes, thick window trim, old wood and leather furniture, plant printed wallpaper, fine detailed oriental rug, and candles. (Photo courtesy of the October 1998 issue of Victoria Magazine)

Another view of the parlor, taken from the October 1998 issue of Victoria magazine.

I LOVE this leather chair.

This is an actual set shot of the parlor. You can tell by the fluorescent lighting and open ceiling.

This is the kitchen of my dreams. In school I found myself designing a lot of my kitchen projects after this one.

This kitchen just exudes vintage charm. From the fixtures, to the tile backsplash, to the dark stained/painted wood floors, to the old wood island.

Another view of the kitchen.

The seating area in the kitchen. Theres a very funny scene where the ladies of the cast get drunk off tequila at this table.

This shot of the kitchen reminds me of a little craftsman style house, even though it’s in a victorian house. I think it’s because of the windows, with all of their panes of glass.

A shot of the big oven in the “witch’s kitchen”. Perfect for brewing potions.

This is a shot of “Sally’s” bedroom (played by Sandra Bullock.) I love the long flowing drapes, giant rug, fireplace, and leather side chair.

A shot of “Sally’s” botanical shop called Verbena.

There you have it! That’s my favorite movie set of all time. I’m sure another one will come along in the future, but until then, I’ll just bask in the beauty of this (now torn down) set in Washington. Maybe someday I’ll visit the cute little town of Friday Harbor in Washington where the movie was filmed, and I can pretend the house still exists on the coast somewhere.

‘On The Set’ Design: “The Holiday”

So as I was thinking of the movie The Holiday again, I thought about why it’s one of my favorite movies. I mean, it’s a chick flick, and as much as I love a good “boy meets girl, awkwardness ensues, boy and girl live happily ever after” movie, I usually go for the mystery thrillers, and action movies. So why did I love The Holiday so much? Well, not because of Jude Law, the “I wish that was me” plot or the charming little english children. It’s the amazing set designs and scenery. I’ll share with you why I love this movie more every time I see it.

Set 1: Amanda’s Los Angeles House

I love this set for the reason that this amazing and clean contemporary style of design, usually isn’t what I go for. I’m one that goes for more natural colors, with bright accents, a fresh country look with a modern touch. But the stainless steel and grays of the kitchen, whites of the livingroom and clean lines all over add an organized and fresh look that I can’t get enough of.

The Kitchen in “Amanda”, Cameron Diaz’s Los Angeles home. It’s bigger than most houses. The cold steel and black cabinets, and stone floors seem industrial, while the cream colors of the chairs, the buttery walls, and red apples warm the place up and add a homey feel.

The fantastic living room. With the off white wing back chairs and matching couch, dark woods with clean contemporary lines, and numerous amounts of lamps, it’s straight out of a magazine.

Amanda’s Bedroom. Remember the blackout blinds that were remote controlled? King size fluffy bed? I do.

Another view of the living room, looking into the front hallway.

Set 2: Iris’s Country Cottage

This set is definitely my favorite in this movie. The charm, the flea market vibe, and the cottage shabby chic of it all is just so very cozy. I love the dual fireplaces, the stone walls, and the wood floors, and most of all, the plush fabrics. A place I could very well see myself settling into.

The outside of the “Rose Hill” cottage. English countryside, stone fence, rolling pastures. What else could you hope for?

The entry way of the little cottage. It’s kitschy, full of mismatched collected items, and the walls are full of assorted framed photos and prints, yet it all flows together wonderfully.

This room is kind of overflowing with furnishings, accessories, pillows and books, which may make the room seem crowded, but i’d still love to just curl up on the ottoman with a book in front of the fireplace any day. This set kind of reminds me of the set of the Gilmore Girls. I’ll save that for another day…

Here’s another view of the living room.

The beautiful and tiny charming bathroom in the cottage. With the painted floors, stone walls, and furniture style wash area, this room just screams charm.

The tiny kitchen is just adorable with it’s painted cabinets, stone fireplace, and multiple accessories. This flea market-meets-shabby chic look is easily achieved and at a low cost. It does take time, and dedicated collecting though.

The bedroom in this delightful cottage is bright, and airy. The white ceilings open up the room, and match perfectly with the white trims and metal bed frame, while the natural wood beams keep room in tact with the rest of the cottage’s natural elements.

The little back porch/ book room has just as much charm as the rest of the house. Not a detail was spared with the floor to ceiling books, antique rug and cozy throw blanket.

Set 3: Graham’s Mill House

Jude Law’s character “Graham” has a decent size mill house that’s equal to the stylings of Iris’s cottage. It’s got a beautiful driveway in the front, all stone. He claims to have a cow in the backyard making me think that there’s a barn or a pasture in the back of the home.

The front of the amazing english Mill House.

The front entry of Graham’s house. There are even brick stairs to add to the old english style of the home.

A view down the front hall into the sitting room.

A view down the other hall into the kitchen. Original stone floors, french doors, and wood furniture style kitchen cabinets make this set feel like it’s been around since the turn of the century.

A view into the kitchen of this awesome English house. I love the stone cooking area.

The office/ reading room in Graham’s house. The choice of decor is very cool for a single dad.

I think that the designer of the set did an amazing job with every last detail of the room, and I can only hope to aspire myself to be such a versatile designer. I hope you enjoy my little set tour, and there will be more to come! Any suggestions of your favorite movies are welcome, and I will happily “tour” that set as well! Happy viewing!