Entry No.45

I have been known to watch a movie ad nauseum. I would tell my irritated husband that the characters in the movie are like friends stopping by to say hi. The current movie on rotation is It's Complicated with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. The setting takes place in Santa Barbara and Meryl's character lives in this beautiful mediterranean style house on a sprawling piece of property and is proprietor to a bakery/cafe. I really can't tell you that the story is all that great but the set design is amazing!!! The first thing I would do if I could have been in the house is take a flying leap on the plush living room sofa, aaah. The house reminds me of a Wallace Neff house for sale in Mandeville Canyon with it's heavily painted brick exterior and terra cotta tiled roof. The set designer is Beth Rubino who is also responsible for the design of another movie I am addicted to watching, Something's Gotta Give. That movie takes place in the Hamptons in a gorgeous pale gray shingled house. I am not watching these movies as much as I am taking mental notes on how to live with style and graciousness and I am not alone, there are blog forums about Beth Rubino's take on interior design. I especially love the way the characters seem completely at ease surrounded by so much beauty. Every room seems to beckon you to lounge with a cup of coffee and some pastry restoring you to place of calm and peace. That is the effect I hope to achieve when we are through with the construction of our house, whenever that will be.

A closer look of the kitchen sink and counter. The color palette of ecru, tan and white makes the counter feel calm even though it is a bit haphazard. The color palette also allows the eyes to focus on the strong window that features the view of the back yard.

This is the view of the backyard. Love, love, love the painted brick exterior. The gravel complements the relaxed mediterranean feel and the terra cotta pots enhance the roof.

This is the living room scene of Something's Gotta Give. The pale blues mimmic the ocean sky and the striped rug gives the room a nautical feel.

The flower fabric almost feels like a toile. So feminine, you know a girl lives in this house.