double take: monster-in-law [part ii]

It’s Double Take Tuesday, which means our dear Kylie from Bandelle is here to share with you yet another fabulous film [from a decor standpoint, that is!]. Thanks for your hard work, Kylie— take it away!

Soon we’ll feature some of your terrific movie suggestions for Double Take, but we just had to finish exploring Monster-In-Law. Viola’s (Jane Fonda) quintessential Southern California mansion is almost as grand as her character. Let’s see how they furnished this Mediterranean-inspired estate…



Unlike the vibrant orange accents of Charlie & Kevin’s house, Missy Stewart (production designer) purposely kept Viola’s palette fairly neutral with some cooler undertones. Most of the seating in the living room is upholstered in creams and whites, including the sofa, chaise, and ottoman. The profile of the earl collection is reminiscent of some of the pieces but with a tufted touch. Rest your feet on the petrie ottoman before heading over to dine on the louis upholstered armchair, similar to a classic Louis fauteuil. And what better way to divide the room than to use the four ladies soapstone room divider from Modabode.

Since I associate soft creams and whites with Martha Stewart, her Valspar paint collection may provide just the right hue for the walls. Perhaps the zen garden sand would be a good match.

Fancy a cup of tea on the patio? I could spend many hours reading a book on the santenay lounge chair while sipping irish breakfast in my juliet tea cup from Wedgewood. Add a soft spring touch with a couple of small asian floral toss pillows. Finally, accent the space with a bamboo outdoor floor lamp and a hand carved ebony buddha statue.

Can we please take a moment to drool over the architecture and gardens of this Wallace Neff estate? Neff’s Spanish Colonial style is sprinkled across Southern California, which is now well-documented in the book entitled, Wallace Neff and the Grand Houses of the Golden State. The set designers only spruced up the already immaculate rose garden just a little for the winter filming months, otherwise it looks as glorious as it does in the movie all year round. Hmmm…I think I’ll take that cup of tea in the garden instead, thank you.

Keep those terrific Double Take suggestions coming. We’ll try to feature as many as we can, including the upcoming Sex And The City movie.

Image credits: New Line Cinema, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Crate & Barrel, Modabode, Martha Stewart Colors, Ballard Designs, Wedgewood, Cooking.com, World Market, Dharma Sculpture, and Amazon.com.

  • Ohhh LOVE IT! I can’t get enough of your double take’s! And I LOVE Kylies collages! :-)

  • Terrific post!!!
    If you coul do the same with the house of When a stranger calls, it would be great, I love that house but could not find much info about it.

  • Oooh, I haven’t seen that movie so I’ll make sure to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion, Karina! And mandco, you are just way too kind.

    Erin, if I haven’t said it enough already, I’m sooooo honored to even be mentioned on your blog. You have such a gift for inspiring all of us.

  • oh this is a great idea! i too have heaps of films i love actually just for the interior sets. how do you come up with so many fab ideas for posts you clever thing! thanks for the fun.

  • Wondering if you could find out where to get the bed linens on JLo/Charlie’s bed or find out who the designer is – its the one with the white background and red flowers on it. I’d love to get a set for my own room!

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