The Unofficial Houzz Academy Awards for Movie Homes
Grab a front-row seat as we hand out honors to superb homes featured in 10 flicks. The envelope, please ...
Becky Harris
February 23, 2013
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
The 2013 Oscars are making us want to give out some movie-related awards of our own — Lifetime Achievement Awards for movie homes that have stolen our hearts over the years.
These are places that have stubbornly wedged themselves into our subconscious; they inspire us when we're decorating our own homes and slip into our minds when we're daydreaming about the ideal house. (Side note: I'd like to thank the Houzz community for nominating a lot of these here.)
The thoughtful home set designs in the movies below represent a range of styles, each one captivating in its own way. Here are 10 movies with homes we'd love to walk the red carpet for — right up the front walk and through the front door.
These are places that have stubbornly wedged themselves into our subconscious; they inspire us when we're decorating our own homes and slip into our minds when we're daydreaming about the ideal house. (Side note: I'd like to thank the Houzz community for nominating a lot of these here.)
The thoughtful home set designs in the movies below represent a range of styles, each one captivating in its own way. Here are 10 movies with homes we'd love to walk the red carpet for — right up the front walk and through the front door.
Most Beautiful Plantation House: Forrest Gump. The race was tight between this house and Tara, but Sally Field's Southern home in this one is Gone With the Wind fabulous. We love the allee of trees that drip Spanish moss, the double porch, the way the breeze makes the curtains billow and the wonderful old tree where Forrest teaches Jenny how to dangle.
Best Shingle-Style Beach House: Something's Gotta Give. This is overwhelmingly the Houzz community's favorite movie house. The airy Hamptons beach house of Diane Keaton's character has become the dream house yardstick. We want the kitchen, the cool coastal palette, windows with transoms that look out to the beach and even the bowl full of collected stones (with the black one on top). We're not sure if we want the cigar-smoking emotionally stunted houseguest, though ... actually, we'll take Jack Nicholson no matter how obnoxious he's acting.
By the way, we're letting this one represent all of the enviable homes in director Nancy Meyers' movies, including The Holiday, It's Complicated and the LiLo version of The Parent Trap, which are all Houzzer favorites when it comes to movie houses.
By the way, we're letting this one represent all of the enviable homes in director Nancy Meyers' movies, including The Holiday, It's Complicated and the LiLo version of The Parent Trap, which are all Houzzer favorites when it comes to movie houses.
Best Italian Villa: Under the Tuscan Sun. Diane Lane transforms her dilapidated life while fixing up a dilapidated Tuscan villa. We want the window boxes, the aged walls, the European antiques, the quirky neighbors, the olive grove and the garden. We'll leave out the big snake that comes through the window, though — that scene still gives me the willies.
Best Victorian House: Practical Magic. The turreted Salem, Massachusetts, home of witches played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman is a great spot for casting spells, stirring potions and gathering a coven of nonwitches. Just be careful what you bury in the yard and don't try flying off the roof with an umbrella on Halloween.
Best Farmhouse: Marley & Me. The idyllic stone Pennsylvania farmhouse featured toward the end of the movie is quite a contrast to the Miami ranch house at the beginning. Autumn leaves, stone walls and Oriental rugs make us want to curl up like a dog in front of one of the roaring fireplaces and stay awhile.
Best Classic Colonial: Father of the Bride. This lovely Los Angeles home is a common American dream — it has white siding and black shutters, is full of cozy family-friendly spaces and has a basketball hoop for serious father-daughter bonding time.
Best Arts and Crafts House: Monster-in-Law. While Jane Fonda's mother-in-law character turns the home into something out of a horror flick, the lovely woodwork and Craftsman details ease the terror. Also, the stylish interiors may very well be responsible for the surge in demand for vintage black and white subway signs, which are used throughout the main floor.
Best Midcentury Modern Home: A Single Man. You can see the evidence of director Tom Ford's keenly discerning eye in every frame of this film. Colin Firth's heartbroken character's flawless modern home is a scene stealer, and the Hollywood Regency decor of the neighbor across the street (played by Julianne Moore) deserves an honorable mention.
Best Houseboat: Sleepless in Seattle. We've never been so charmed by living on the water as in this romantic comedy. We'll take the views, the clean lines and the floating. It's a compelling setting for a single father raising his son.
Best Swinging-'60s Manhattan Pad: Down With Love. We have a tie between Renee Zellweger's character's feminine version and Ewan McGregor's character's masculine take on the style.
And your winners are ... ? Houzzers, please tell us which timeless movie homes you would nominate for a Lifetime Achievement Award.
More: 10 Leading-Role Movie Houses
And your winners are ... ? Houzzers, please tell us which timeless movie homes you would nominate for a Lifetime Achievement Award.
More: 10 Leading-Role Movie Houses
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Something's Gotta Give is my favorite. Love that house!
Sally Field's New York city home is architecturally stunning in the movie Kiss Me Goodbye. (with James Caan & Jeff Bridges) Unbelievable woodwork and attention to detail in a very traditional style. Classic!