It is probably no secret that I am highly visual person. Or that I am drawn towards the domestic over the profane, the absurd, the dark. I am drawn to the lovely like my dog is drawn to feather pillows. Passionately. In the category of Lovely Things I like are movies where the homes are characters in and of themselves, another part of the story; supporting, influencing, watching, giving.
The first time I remember consciously noticing that the homes in movies are as dressed, primped and styled just as much as the actors, was while watching the movie Home Alone. I was 16 years old, and I remember thinking “This is a Christmas movie and the houses interior is all reds and greens. That is really cool… I like this look. I want a red and green house some day…”
The second movie I remember taking stock of in this way was Moonstruck. Specifically the kitchen. Really specifically the subway tile, which for years I thought was just regular brick painted in high-gloss white.
After that came Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa house, followed by Annie’s Sleepless in Seattle brownstone. From there I was off to the races and I have actually been known to miss whole scenes trying to figure out exactly what kind of wallpaper that is, or if I have the same vintage dishes.
Over the years, it seems that my obsession with movie home interiors is not just mine. Lots of us are influenced by these Hollywood’s versions of what Home looks like. And it seems that perhaps we are most intrigued by the kitchens. And why shouldn’t we be? The kitchen is the heart of the home, the nucleus, after all. It only stands to reason that we would find these fantasy versions that much more enticing.. So to that end, I have gathered my favorite movie kitchens to share. And of course I am dying to know – did I miss one? Or two? What are you favorite movie kitchens? I know you have them…
The Help
The Holiday
Practical Magic
It’s Complicated
Sleepless in Seattle
Spanglish
You’ve Got Mail
Julie and Julia
Under the Tuscan Sun
Please Don’t Eat the Daisies
The Help
Bewitched the Movie
Ok, so those are my favorites. Or at least the ones I can remember. But I am dying to know – did I miss one? Or two? What are you favorite movie kitchens?
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Practical Magic is my all time favorite movie house. The whole thing. The whole movie actually. I was so disappointed when I found out that it was a set and not a real house . . . and that they took it apart after the movie. What a shame. Apparently there is a house that has been built patterned after the set.
I also like Hang Up, though not for the kitchen. What I remember is the Halloween decorations. Every year I hope to through a party (but never do), and think about the party that Meg Ryan threw in that movie. Maybe this year is the year . . .
I had such fun looking at your top picks! I adore many of those, especially You've Got Mail. Two of my most recent favorites would be from The Vow & The Lucky One. You know you've got the decorating bug bad when you leave a movie & say “Did you SEE that hutch in the kitchen!” 🙂
Have a great day!
– Karen H.
Wow that was very fun! I sure do like the Help Kitchens… very fun Vintage goodies throughout the space! Hugs, Diane
I always love to look at the movie and tv kitchens too – love this post!!
Have you visited the Hooked On Houses blog? I came across it while Googling the glass snack jars on Good Luck Charlie. She posts about tv and movie homes and decor.
http://hookedonhouses.net/
I was just going to mention Good Luck Charlie. Love that house!
i like them all, but my favorite movie kitchens are those in
“you've got mail” and “sleepless in seattle”. and the floor in “the help”. also love the open kitchen from “dan in real life”. it's not in a movie, but from tv, but i also really like the kitchen from “the king of queens”.
kathy
I love your choices. Another of my favorites is the kitchen in The Family Stone. It has that “pleasantly cluttered lived in” look.
Oh my goodness! I am the same exact way! Some kitchens I loved (in addition to the ones you posted from You've Got Mail, Julie&Julia, and Bewitched) are some of the ones from the classic movies like Gene Tierney's kitchen in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and the one featured in Barbara Stanwyck's Christmas in Connecticut.
Such a fun post! As I was scrolling down I thought, I hope she included the house from Practical Magic. Nice collection, I agree with all of them. Except Annie's kitchen from Sleepless in Seattle could use a little more aqua and less mauve in my opinion! 🙂
Love it!
Plus the beach house kitchen in Something's Gotta Give with Diane Keaton
That dreamy quirky kitchen in Nights in Rodanthe with Diane Lane and Richard Gere!
Dawn
The Gahan Girls