Today I thought I would do a post about another favourite movie of mine, the 2009 romantic comedy “It’s Complicated” starring Meryl Streep as the strong female lead Jane, Alec Baldwin as her ex husband Jake and Steve Martin who plays Adam, the architect she hires to re-model her home.
The film is written and directed by Nancy Meyers (the woman who brought us “Somethings Gotta Give”, “The Holiday” and produced “Father of the Bride”- all movies with incredible sets) and like all those other movies, the house plays a major role in the movie.
Jane’s home is a beautiful 1920′s Spanish style ranch in Santa Barbara, California and she has lived there since her divorce ten years ago. (some trivia from : the exterior shots of this house are actually from a house in LA as apparently filming in Santa Barbara would be too expensive and the interior sets were filmed on soundstages in Brooklyn, New York) But forget about that! In my head, this beautiful house really exists in Santa Barbara and it is all real! 
I looove Jane’s garden in this movie, check out that tree swing and the little pathway up to her beautiful rustic front door.
Below is an image of Jane’s warm and inviting living room which is to the right as you walk in the front door. How cosy is this room? The production and set designers, Jon Hutman and Beth Rubino who worked on Nancy Meyer’s other movies created this beautiful set with strong direction from Nancy. According to an article in “Traditional Home”, the colour scheme was inspired by the colour of the terracotta roof tiles you find in Santa Barbara married with a mixture of creams, beiges, warm woods and pops of strong oranges and blues. This house had to represent Jane’s strong independant character, the owner of a large successful bakery in Santa Barbara. It reflects her sophisticated yet relaxed personality.
This shot gives us a better look at the little window seat on the far side of the room and that gorgeous antique sideboard against the wall!
I loved this scene where Jane has her girlfriends over for some wine, some mouth-watering desserts and a big old gossip! Wouldn’t it be fabulous to have a friend who ran a bakery?! One of my favourite pieces in her living room is this amazing Swedish armoire behind Jane in this picture which houses her TV. I would have loved to do something like this in my living room as I hate a TV being on show unless it’s in use but it just wouldn’t work in my room with the location of the windows and fire place. I love how she can just close over the doors and her living room becomes that, a living room, for talking with no distractions from a TV.
Below is a picture with the doors open and the family watching a movie together.
I love how Jane’s furniture is arranged in ther living room, plenty of seating with a mixture of chair styles, textures and colours. Her linen slip covered sofa and that wonderful orange arm chair are a unique pairing. The textures in this room make it incredibly cosy and homey. The rich warm wood beamed ceiling, the linen upholstery, the matchstick blinds and linen drape combo (also used in the “Somethings Gotta Give” beach house), the rustic jute rug over the darkwood floors, the aged patina of Swedish antiques, wicker trunks, shelves of books and beautiful table lamps. It looks lived in, not staged and not ‘perfect’ but truly personal and unique.
Next up, the very famous kitchen..
As Jane is a cook and baker she would naturally have to own a very functional and practical kitchen with a top of the range oven and refridgerator and all the mod cons. But she not only has that, she has a beautifully decorated one too! (It is a little strange that she is planning to build a larger one in the movie because this one looks absolutely perfect to me, but hey, it’s the movies!)
This is a fabulously bright and sunny kitchen thanks to those marvellous windows. Love the fretwork cabinets but I especially love the linen curtains under the counter. Everything is within easy reach on the open shelving and Jane has all her hand appliances on her counter ready for action. Personally I wouldn’t be a fan of having too much clutter on my counters but then again I wouldn’t half of these gadgets! I love how she has fresh potted herbs sitting on the work top, no doubt picked from her amazing kitchen garden! Check out that amazing ceiling. So much detail everywhere you look in this room!
Another matchstick roman blind, very practical for a kitchen. There’s something about having your utensils stuffed in a container like this that I love. It really gives a sense that they are in use regularly so it would be inconvenient to have them stowed away in a drawer.
image via www.marleyandlockyer.com
In these shots you get to see her gigantic stainless steel refridgerator and stove and that lovely marble topped island in the centre. Beyond we see the french doors leading to her pantry/utility room and the back door leading onto a little porch.
This is the view from the living room into the dining area and kitchen. That amazing Swedish console table on the left caught my eye and that fabulous tall skinny table lamp. Absolutley beautiful.
Next we go down the beautiful hallway that leads to Jane’s bedroom…
The fabulous dark framed windows and doors along the left drench this corridor with sunlight that bounces off those bumpy tiles. The light fixture is one I’ve been searching high and low for since I clapped eyes on it years ago! This hallway inspired me a lot when designing my house. I loved the idea of having a walk way with windows overlooking a little patio courtyard with rooms either side looking onto it. Look what’s outside the windows..
This to me is just perfect. Roses climbing on the warm brick walls, weathered pots holding plants, beautiful lanterns and comfortable seating for a private meal for two or a get together with friends.
At the end of the corridor we enter Jane’s bedroom…
Another warm and inviting space. Lots of linen, dark and warm woods, oatmeal coloured rug and pops of oranges and reds. I love her linen upholstered headboard and her mismatched bedside tables. I love the seating she has in her room also and that adorable wooden bench at the foot of her bed. The walls are a neutral creamy taupe that provides the perfect backdrop for all the colours and textures in the room.
This the entrance into the room. Love the warm wood door and the rustic chest of drawers.
This shows the other side of the bedroom where we see the french doors into Jane’s bathroom. I love the idea of having french doors into the bathroom with curtains on the inside for privacy without blocking out the light. We don’t see a wardrobe in the movie but we can see some open shelving to the right of this picture for folded items. Perhaps there is a built in wardrobe on the opposite wall?
Jane’s bathroom features double wash hand basins which she insists Adam does not include in the re-model! I love that they chose a slate grey tub in here.
This is Jane’s dressing table in her bathroom.
Next we’ll visit Jane’s beautiful bakery…
A close up of the delicious pastries and desserts on offer at Jane’s bakery. Yuuuummy!!
Hope you enjoyed the tour! Would love to hear what you think?
Images for this post were found at:
