As the latest season of the hit reality competition series “The Circle” hit our screens, we couldn’t help but notice that something looks a little bit different.
And no, we’re not talking about the new AI bot that has entered the chat (sorry, Max).
The reality show has a brand new building, a whole new series of colorful apartments, and a fresh filming location set on American soil — stepping away from the UK filming location where all international versions of the dating series have been filmed up until now.
Season 6 sees contenders take residence in a Midtown Atlanta apartment building, with each of their units meticulously designed by art director Karen Weber, a reality series vet who also worked on America’s Next Top Model.
And she took extra care in designing each apartment, as well as the communal spaces the contestants get to enjoy while filming the Netflix production.
So let’s take a closer look at the Atlanta building that now houses the popular series, the colorful The Circle apartments and the design principles that brought them to life, and how you too can book a stay here — though your apartment might look a tad different than those the contestants live in.
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The Circle building is now the Sonder Midtown South, in Atlanta
Unlike previous seasons and all other international versions of the series — which all filmed in Northern England, at the 206-unit Adelphi Wharf building in Salford, UK, right outside of Manchester — Season 6 takes place stateside in Atlanta, Georgia.
Offering a fresh setting for the drama to unfold, the Sonder Midtown South apartment building at 126 Renaissance Pkwy NE in Midtown Atlanta serves as the main filming location for the hit Netflix series.
Designing the colorful apartments
Art director Karen Weber led the charge in designing the vibrant new apartments, housed in the Sonder Midtown South building.
With communal spaces like a retro launderette and a rooftop courtyard, Weber aimed to create distinct yet cohesive living environments for the players, each measuring approximately 1,200 square feet.
And this was no easy feat, especially while trying to emulate the bold, colorful aesthetics the series is already known for.
Each apartment has its own theme and decor
From bold color palettes to whimsical themes inspired by Barbie and Wes Anderson, the transformed spaces offer a Pinterest-worthy aesthetic that’s sure to catch the eye of viewers.
The apartments, given names like Glamour Room and Artist Loft, were curated with furniture and decor sourced from vintage shops and salvage yards around Atlanta, lending them a bespoke feel.
For some spaces, art director Karen Weber aimed to create “really bright high energy,” while other rooms were meant to feel “more adult, laid-back, and [a] little more restful,” she shared on Netflix’s blog. After all, the players actually had to live in the spaces throughout filming, so comfort is key.
And while the budget was the same for each apartment in the new The Circle building, creating a variety of spaces and aesthetics is paramount to the show’s success.
“Giving producers that kind of a range [of types of spaces] lets them figure out who fits where,” Weber added.
Design inspiration for fans of the series
But in Weber’s eyes, the apartments aren’t just for the players who inhabit them.
She also wanted viewers watching along to imagine themselves in the living spaces and perhaps inspire them to transform their own — either by stenciling something on a wall or spray-painting fish scales on a bathroom cabinet.
“I try to do a couple of DIY projects in each space that could be done by someone at home,” she says.
Re-designing 10 more apartments for the next contestants
As if Weber didn’t have her work cut out for her, as soon as she was done setting up the apartments for Season 6, she had to do it all again in preparation for the already-announced Season 7. For the upcoming season, another 10 new apartments had to be designed from the ground up.
“It’s the sandcastle theory, because you build this beautiful thing and then you let it all just get washed away and it’s done,” she says. “The rooms have their moment and then you have to move on.”
You can stay at the Atlanta building where The Circle filmed
While fans won’t be able to book a stay in the exact apartments seen on-screen, they too can book a stay in the building featured on the show whenever visiting Atlanta.
The Sonder Midtown South offers sleek and modern accommodations with amenities like a fitness center, outdoor grill, and in-unit laundry. And its colorful, imaginative makeover for The Circle only adds to the building’s appeal.
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When Don’t Worry Darling hit the screens, it wasn’t just the twisted plot and star-studded cast that captured our attention.
The real scene-stealers were the homes and the perfectly manicured fictional neighborhood of Victory, set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Palm Springs.
This desert oasis, long revered for its midcentury modern gems and luxury living, served as the ideal setting for the movie’s 1950s utopian town vibe — making everyone yearn for the idyllic Victory neighborhood and the picture-perfect homes that line its streets.
Let’s dive into the real homes that brought the eerie allure of Victory to life and discover if you can sneak a peek at them in real life.
Where to find the Victory neighborhood
The picture-perfect neighborhood of Victory in Don’t Worry Darling plays a crucial role in establishing the film’s eerie, utopian setting that belies a darker, more sinister undercurrent.
This idyllic 1950s town, modeled on American suburbia but with a sureal, futuristic edge, serves as a visual representation of the film’s central themes around societal perfection, control, and the unsettling reality beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect community.
And yes, a real neighborhood was used to create Victory on-screen. The filming primarily took place in Greater Palm Springs, an area renowned for its preserved mid-century modern architecture and luxury desert living, which perfectly complemented the movie’s aesthetic.
Palm Springs provided the quintessential backdrop for the storyline, with its sprawling desert landscapes, iconic midcentury modern homes, and clear blue skies, embodying the visual and thematic essence of the Victory town.
Related: Suzanne Somers’ beloved 28-acre Palm Springs retreat re-lists for $8.95 million
Specific locations within Palm Springs, such as the Canyon View Estates and the iconic Kaufmann House, were used to depict the homes of the characters, adding authenticity and a touch of architectural appeal to the film’s setting.
These real homes and neighborhoods lent Don’t Worry Darlin” a tangible sense of place and time, grounding the film’s more surreal elements in a recognizable, albeit stylized, reality.
Victory’s vintage vibes & its picture-perfect homes
Frank’s fortress: The Kaufmann House
At the heart of Victory’s mystery is Frank’s (played by Chris Pine) home, carefully picked to reflect his status as the project’s mastermind.
And director Olivia Wilde, whose elegant filmmaking techniques shine throughout the movie, made sure an unforgettable filming location was picked to serve as Frank’s house: the iconic Kaufmann House.
This architectural marvel, also known as the Kaufmann Desert House, was built in 1946 by Richard Neutra for Edgar J. Kaufmann and screams mid-century modernism with its clean lines, steel frame, and glass walls.
Fun fact: You might already be familiar with Kaufmann’s other iconic residence. The department store magnate and architecture connoisseur also commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design his home in Pennsylvania, the unforgettable Fallingwater House (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site). While the Don’t Worry Darling-featured Kaufmann House doesn’t quite have that level of pedigree, it’s nevertheless a famous structure in its own right.
Known globally, partly thanks to Slim Aarons’ iconic Poolside Gossip photograph, the Kaufmann House is a structure that encapsulates the essence of Palm Springs living. So much so, that even the production team was surprised they managed to film at this iconic location.
However, they did have to tread carefully when shooting scenes here.
Katie Byron, production designer for the film, told Variety that “We were shooting in one of the most historic buildings in California. The restrictions of how we could shoot it and what we could do inside were definitely the highest I’ve ever worked with.”
But the team knew all too well that they were lucky to land such an ideal filming location for their shots.
“It was so special to get, since Neutra was obviously a very good reference for the design of the film,” Byron said. “He was a design inspiration for Victory, but also kind of a character inspiration.”
While Don’t Worry Darling offers us a rare glimpse inside this private residence, don’t get your hopes up for a tour. This landmark remains off-limits to the public, but a leisurely drive by 470 West Vista Chino lets you admire its exterior.
Alice and Jack’s midcentury home: Canyon View Estates
The quaint cul-de-sac home of Alice and Jack mirrors the classic ’50s bungalow style, and is nestled within Canyon View Estates at 2400 S Sierra Madre, in Palm Springs, CA.
These single-story homes, with their expansive windows and open floor plans, reflect the era’s architectural ethos, designed by Dan Palmer and William Krisel.
Though the interiors were movie magic, the exteriors are very real and part of a community with a shared pool and green space.
These homes are privately owned, so while moving in might not be an option, a bike ride through the neighborhood is a must for any architecture aficionado.
Beyond the suburbia: The Volcano House
Stepping out of Victory and into the Mojave Desert, the Volcano House sits atop its hill like a landed UFO, ready to whisk you away.
This unique, dome-shaped residence set right outside of Barstow, Calif. in Newberry Springs and designed by Harold James Bissner Jr added an extra layer of otherworldliness to Don’t Worry Darling.
Though originally built for Vard Wallace and featuring 360° panoramic desert views, this peculiar piece of architecture is now privately owned.
While you can’t tour the inside, it’s visible from the road for those willing to venture into the desert to catch a glimpse of where reality meets the surreal.
Can you visit these architectural beauties?
While the Kaufmann House and the Volcano House remain off-limits to public tours, Palm Springs itself is an open book, ready to be explored.
The city is a living museum of mid-century modern architecture, with each building and estate telling its own story of a bygone era that still resonates today. Canyon View Estates offers a more accessible glimpse into the style and spirit of the 1950s, even if it’s just from the sidewalk.
Don’t Worry Darling might have brought these locations into the limelight, but their stories extend far beyond the silver screen.
Whether you’re a film fanatic, an architecture enthusiast, or just in search of some desert glam, a pilgrimage to Palm Springs offers a peek into the world that inspired the movie’s mesmerizing backdrop. So, grab your camera and a map, and set out on a journey to where history, architecture, and cinema collide.
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Ready for a nostalgia-filled jaunt back to the ’90s, complete with plaid miniskirts and oversized cell phones?
This time, we’re diving into something a tad more tangible than Cher Horowitz’s enviable wardrobe: her iconic Beverly Hills mansion. Or so we thought.
Buckle up, because we’re about to spill the tea on the real location of Cher’s Beverly Hills mansion – and trust us, Alicia Silverstone’s character would definitely not be on board with the address.
Picture this: the sprawling, sun-kissed mansion where Cher and Josh shared that oh-so-sweet kiss. The kitchen where a clueless Cher attempted to bake, and the lavish pool where the gang chilled to Kids In America.
Feels like a page taken straight out of the Beverly Hills, 90210 handbook, right? Plot twist: the real deal is nestled not in the hills of Beverly but in the Valley!
That’s right, Cher’s house is actually in Encino, in the San Fernando Valley.
But here’s the kicker: the Encino location, a suburban neighborhood, is quite the departure from the Beverly Hills glam portrayed in the movie.
Not only that, but Cher would have HATED being called a Valley Girl (a term that we owe to musician Frank Zappa, btw).
In the 1995 movie, the San Fernando Valley is mentioned and featured in a few scenes, notably when Cher is robbed at gunpoint in a parking lot after mistakenly driving onto the freeway, leading to a very stressful situation for her.
This scene is one of the few direct interactions Cher has with the Valley, showcasing her sheltered Beverly Hills life clashing with the broader Los Angeles area.
The real-life ‘Clueless’ house in Encino
So first, let’s get something out of the way: while Hollywood movies have long used the San Fernando Valley / Beverly Hills divide to highlight the social and geographical contrasts within the city (first example that comes to mind is Karate Kid and the new Cobra Kai sequel series), Encino is actually a very sought-after and safe neighborhood.
In fact, the median sale price for Encino homes in early 2024 stands at a hefty $1,900,000.
While that’s considerably less than what Beverly Hills homes sell for (the median sale price for the ritzy, star-studded neighborhood is $3.7M), houses in Encino are notoriously luxurious — with significantly more square footage than their counterparts in the Hills.
And Cher’s Clueless house is no exception.
This 9,441-square-foot behemoth boasts 7 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, and commands yearly property taxes north of $40k. Built in 1993, just a hop and a skip before Clueless hit the big screen, its fresh design had us all green with envy.
However, it’s worth noting that scenes taking place inside the house were filmed elsewhere, on a soundstage.
The house, sitting pretty at 5148 Louise Ave on a 2-acre lot, hasn’t switched hands since it was built back in 1993. The last publicly recorded sale was a land transaction in 1980 for $680,000.
Fast forward to today, and the house is pegged at a cool $7 million. Not too shabby, huh? But, surprisingly, it’s considerably cheaper than the next Clueless house on our list.
Dionne’s real Beverly Hills digs
Now, let’s dish about Dionne’s house. Unlike Cher’s Encino residence, Dionne’s Tudor-style mansion truly sits in the heart of Beverly Hills.
Boasting similar specs to Cher’s house but with a Beverly Hills zip code, this property screams luxury — and is considerably more expensive than the Horowitz residence.
Last sold in 2008 for over $10 million, its current value hovers around $17 million – making it way pricier than Cher’s home.
But it’s also worth noting that the house that sits on the lot today is completely different from the Tudor-style home that graced our screens three decades ago.
Property records show that the house at 705 N Sierra Dr in Beverly Hills sold twice since the movie’s 1995 debut: once in 1998, when it commanded a $3,350,030 sale price, and then again in 2008, when it sold for three times that amount, $10,650,000. So it does look like in between these two owners, a new house was built on the 0.51-acre lot.
Other real ‘Clueless’ filming locations
Our Clueless journey doesn’t end at Cher and Dionne’s doorstep.
Remember the fictional Bronson Alcott High? Those scenes came to life at Occidental College and Ulysses S. Grant High School.
And who could forget the Westside Pavilion mall escapades or the mugging at Circus Liquor? Not to mention Cher’s post-failed driver’s test meltdown on Rodeo Drive.
Los Angeles served as the ultimate backdrop, bringing the Clueless universe to life with its diverse filming locations.
And the most unique of them was surely the famous Spadena House — also known as the Witch’s house in Beverly Hills — a unique storybook home that was only featured on-screen for a few seconds, but that captivated movie fans for years after.
The Beverly Hills illusion
So, what’s the takeaway from our stroll down Clueless lane? First, it’s that movie magic can transform any location into a narrative’s heart and soul. Cher’s “Beverly Hills” mansion, firmly rooted in Encino, serves as a perfect example.
As we celebrate nearly three decades since Clueless graced our screens, let’s remember the film for what it truly offered: a comedic, stylish, and somewhat educational tour of Los Angeles’ diverse neighborhoods.
In the end, Cher’s house, much like the film itself, remains a beloved piece of ’90s pop culture. Its real-life Encino location only adds to the charm and intrigue of the “Clueless” legacy.
As for us? We’re totally buggin’ over the fact that movie magic can make us believe anything – even that Cher’s mansion was actually in Beverly Hills.
It wouldn’t be the first time tough. We also long thought that the Fresh Prince house is actually in Bel Air (spoiler, it’s not!).
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If you too have kicked off the year by watching what’s arguably the most disturbing “eat-the-rich” movie we’ve seen in a long time, director Emerald Fennell’s unsettling Saltburn, you’re bound to have plenty of questions left unanswered.
The movie, starring a cast of talented actors like Barry Keoghan (familiar to moviegoers due to standout performances in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Batman, and Dunkirk), Jacob Elrodi (Priscilla, The Kissing Booth), and Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, I Care A Lot) is chockful of disturbing scenes that are even more unsettling due to the talented actors’ stellar acting.
And while we can’t answer many of the questions fans are left with at the end of this hilariously bizarre and wildly disturbing movie, there’s one aspect that we CAN help clarify: is Saltburn a real house? And if so, where can we find it? To top it off, would Oliver’s efforts be worth it? How much is Saltburn worth?
The real Saltburn house & where to find it
Saltburn, the country estate of the Cattons — an aristocratic British family with widespread connections to British high society — stands at the core of Emerald Fennell’s story, taking a life of its own and becoming a central character in the movie (if the title wasn’t a big enough giveaway).
We won’t go into too many details about what happens at Saltburn (or what happens to Saltburn, for that matter), and instead, we’ll focus on the property itself, which is just as grand in real life as its on-screen counterpart.
The Drayton House, a Grade I listed country house in Northamptonshire, England plays the part of Saltburn, the wealthy Catton family’s country estate.
Dating back to the early 13th century, the massive estate has a total of 127 rooms and has been owned by the Stopford Sackville family since the 1770s.
The historic Drayton House
Once described as “Northamptonshire’s most impressive medieval mansion” by German-British art and architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner, the Drayton House is one of the area’s most famous homes.
Which makes it all the more surprising that its owners asked the Saltburn production crew not to disclose the name of the house when promoting the movie. But the cat was quickly let out of the bag, with all British publications quickly spotting the historic property set roughly one mile southwest of the village of Lowick in Northamptonshire.
Over the years, the sprawling estate — which sits in a park of about 200 acres known as Drayton Park — was home to many influential British families, including the Draytons, the Staffords, the Mordaunts, the Germains, all the way to current owners, the Sackvilles, one of which was the 6th Earl of Dorset.
Despite that, the Drayton House has never before appeared on-screen, which was a requirement director Emerald Fennell was adamant about when sourcing the main filming location for Saltburn.
“It needed to be something that hadn’t been used before,” Fennell told House & Garden. “That hadn’t been photographed even, let alone put on film. We always wanted the exact sense that it is a real place.”
And the Drayton House checked all the boxes.
Are Oliver’s efforts worthwhile? How much could Saltburn be worth?
Since we don’t want to spoil the movie for those who haven’t yet had a chance to watch it through, we won’t comment on the fate of the Saltburn house.
But we want to provide context as to how much the stately country house would be worth — and whether the lengths Barry Keoghan’s character, Oliver, goes through to inherit the Catton family’s ancestral home are worth it.
So we turned to Reddit, where the movie started a series of heated discussions on the topic, with people commenting on both the Catton family’s ritzy lifestyle and the value of their estate:
I think the house alone would be worth at least £100m if not more. It’s kind of funny to me that places like Drayton House are still referred to as a country home, whereas really from the size and level of grandeur of this one specifically, it almost feels like it should be classed on the same level as a castle or a palace!
As for their lifestyle – I would imagine that at this level we are talking about the kind of wealth that unless you’re born into it, marry into it, or are Bill Gates or Taylor Swift, is completely unattainable. Probably more than most members of the British royal family?”
u/usernamegodmntaken
Very very rich, all generational. They would own massive amounts of land that they can live on forever. Aristocratic wealth dates back 100s of years in the U.K. so I imagine they have hundreds of millions if not more.”
u/TheLizardKing
But there were also quite a few people who didn’t think Oliver’s efforts would be worth it, particularly due to how difficult a sprawling estate like Saltburn would be to maintain:
Controversial opinion: I don’t think Oliver’s obsession with Saltburn makes much sense.
Of course his first obsession was with Felix and once he got rejected he turned his attention to stealing the family fortune and essentially trying to become Felix but as a middle class man myself I don’t understand his obsession with Saltburn. Most people know it’s a pain in the ass to own a stately home most people maintain them out of family tradition, it costs a fortune and to offset this cost you often have to open it to the public for visitation. Most middle class people would accept the money from Richard E Grant and live the rest of their life very comfortably.”
u/TripleDouble_45 source
In my view he wasn’t obsessed with Saltburn, but rather with taking it as revenge. He wanted desperately to join Felix’s set and belong, and when he was rejected, he set out to destroy the family, with Saltburn as the trophy.”
u/Mickleborough
My theory is that the house is a living entity and the house chose Oliver. It pulls him in more and more. The Felix doppelgänger is proof that otherworldly things are at play. Perhaps the house knows its current occupants aren’t deserving. They’re complacent and entitled. Maybe the house wants someone who will work for it. Oliver works. Maybe the house demands sacrifices. Oliver kills.”
u/fishinglife777
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Starring Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Nick Offerman, and many more recognizable faces along the way, Candy Cane Lane tells the story of the Carver family, as they compete in a yearly holiday house decorating contest to win one hundred thousand dollars.
After losing his job just a few days before Christmas, Chris (Murphy) puts job hunting on the back burner in service of creating a festive masterpiece on his front lawn.
And yes, in case you’re wondering, we felt those Deck The Halls vibes too!
Enlisting the help of his youngest child Holly (sibling of Joy and Nick… get it?), he stumbles across Kringles, a magical Christmas shop where Pepper the elf sells him a ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’, Christmas tree.
When it and the ornaments from each of the twelve days unexpectedly come to life and flee the tree on the night of the competition, Chris and his family must find the five golden rings in time or Pepper, who it turns out was exiled from Santa’s workshop, will turn him into a singing ceramic Christmas ornament.
Is it a classic Christmas tale? Not exactly. Is it a little offbeat? Sure.
But did we have fun with the movie and love seeing all of the houses alight and twinkling ahead of the big day? You bet we did!
Now, we know you’re wondering if Candy Cane Lane is a real place, whether you can visit, and if they actually shut down a whole street to film the movie there.
Well, you can have yourself a merry little Christmas because we’ve done the research for you and can answer all of these questions and more – happy holidays!
Is Candy Cane Lane a real place?
Yes, Candy Cane Lane is a very real place located on East Acacia Avenue in El Segundo, California. Every year since 1949, with an understandable one-year hiatus in 2020, the street comes alive in a spectacle of Christmas lights and festive displays made by the residents.
With nightly shows from December 9th – 23rd, and visits every other evening from Santa himself, it’s a sight to behold and definitely one for the bucket list!
Unlike in the movie, there is no competition between neighbors.
Instead, the displays serve to bring the residents and the community together in celebration of the season.
Did they film Candy Cane Lane on the actual Candy Cane Lane?
Whilst it might look just like the real thing, scenes outside the Carver house were actually all shot on a stage.
Where? None other than Colonial Street at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Setting the backdrop for many of our favorite films and television series over the years, if you’re thinking it looks familiar it probably does!
Other productions filmed on Universal Studio’s Colonial Street
Arguably the most recognizable show shot here was Desperate Housewives.
Since the street was as much a character as the residents themselves, we wouldn’t be surprised if some eagle-eyes fans spotted Wisteria Lane the moment they pressed play on Candy Cane Lane.
Other productions include, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Malcolm In The Middle, Leave it to Beaver, Why Him, and Sabrina The Teenage Witch – and that really is just naming a few!
More filming locations from Candy Cane Lane
With no snow to build snowmen or go sledding in, children at the start of the movie can be seen sand surfing and building sandmen instead.
According to Atlas Of Wonders, these scenes were filmed in California on Playa Del Rey Beach. Meanwhile, exteriors from the high school were shot in El Segundo itself.
Other movies that feature Candy Cane Lane
Since we’re guessing you love holiday movies (and movie houses!) just as much as we do, you’ve probably come across Candy Cane Lane in TV shows and films before this one.
Most recently, we saw Candy Cane Lane in the holiday movie The Happiest Season, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis.
However, this Candy Cane Lane was based on a different, yet equally amazing display in Duboistown, Pennsylvania, and scenes were filmed on Cleveland Avenue in Avalon.
Read all about that and the other dreamy filming locations and houses we tracked down from the movie right here:
Meanwhile, New Girl fans will remember an episode called The 23rd in season one, where the gang drives to Candy Cane Lane at 4 am and proceeds to scream and shout for the residents to turn on their lights.
According to the New Girl podcast, Welcome To Our Show on which the show’s stars, Zooey Deschanel, Hannah Simone, and Lamorne Morris re-watch and give behind-the-scenes info about each episode, this Candy Cane Lane was shot on the Disney ranch.
Why? Like most holiday movies and shows, the episode was not actually shot at Christmas.
The takeaway? Even if you can’t take a trip to Candy Cane Lane this year, there are plenty of festive movies and TV shows that can transport you there from the comfort of your very own home – Merry Christmas everyone!
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Netflix’s latest bid for the upcoming Oscars season brings together stellar acting from both well-established and emerging stars, an eerie atmosphere, unsettling sound effects, and a story that’s immensely captivating — even when not much is happening.
And at the center of the action (or lack of, at times) is a perfectly appointed house that perfectly contrasts the chaos the characters are surrounded with.
The postapocalyptic thriller, directed by Mr. Robot’s Sam Esmail, tells the tale of a family that rents a luxurious home for a weekend away with their kids, with their vacation cut short by the appearance of the house’s owners, who are seeking refuge in the middle of the night following an apparent cyberattack.
Starring big screen darlings like Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Myha’la, the movie is based on the National Book Award-nominated novel Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam.
The ‘Leave The World Behind’ house in Old WestburyIt was featured in Dwell magazine
And while we don’t want to spoil the movie for those who haven’t had a chance to watch yet, the plot sees the two families “reckon with a looming disaster that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.”
The ‘Leave The World Behind’ house in Old Westbury
While most postapocalyptic movies build elaborate sets to serve as a backdrop for the production, Sam Esmail’s movie was filmed on location at a real-life house in Long Island.
You’ll find the Leave The World Behind house in Old Westbury, a charming village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island in New York.
Known as the Open Corner House, the Long Island residence is a striking modern farmhouse that was completely rebuilt in recent years, after the former French-style home on the property burned down.
So owners Roula and Fotis hired award-winning New York-based The Up Studio to design the 5,200-square-foot contemporary farmhouse as a home for their family.
From the layout — which was restructured to better fit the L-shaped lot and maximize nature views — to the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows, dark steel accents, and warm wood floors, THE UP STUDIO created a bright, light-filled, and modern home for the couple, one they didn’t necessarily expect the entire world to see.
Talking to CURBED Magazine, John Patrick Winberry, a partner at The Up Studio, admitted that he “didn’t know he was designing for a movie apocalypse when he started the project with his team, but the house has a cinematic quality all the same.”
It was featured in Dwell magazine
The house’s beauty didn’t go unnoticed.
Well before it was a glam Airbnb rented by Julia Roberts, the Old Westbury house received plenty of accolades for its stellar design — and was featured in quite a few home design magazines, including Home Adore and Dwell.
You can take a full tour of the Leave The World Behind house and get a better understanding of the design concepts it was based on by watching the full Dwell interview with both the home’s designers and its owners.
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As the autumn leaves fall and the air grows chill, the timeless allure of classic Halloween movies beckons us once again to the eerie and fantastical realms they depict.
Films like Beetlejuice, Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family, Sleepy Hollow, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Friday the 13th have become staples of the season, drawing us into worlds where the supernatural reigns and the eerie takes center stage.
Yet, beyond the talented actors, eerie plotlines, and haunting soundtracks, there is another essential element that breathes life into these cinematic masterpieces — the sets and interiors.
These iconic films transport us to a realm where witches, ghosts, monsters, and vampires coexist with the living, where the macabre meets the mundane. The interiors of these movies play a pivotal role in setting the stage, creating an ambiance that is both captivating and spine-tingling.
They are the canvas on which the artists behind the scenes — visionary movie directors, stellar production designers, and art directors — paint a rich tapestry of emotions, invoking a unique blend of awe and fear that leaves a lasting imprint on our psyche.
It’s no secret that the setting and backdrop for a movie are of paramount importance, but in the realm of fantasy and horror, this importance is magnified. A well-crafted set can serve as a character in its own right, immersing the audience in a carefully designed world where the surreal becomes reality.
The creaking floorboards, dimly lit corridors, and eerie artifacts scattered about these cinematic interiors hold the power to transport us to the very heart of the narrative, intensifying our connection to the story and its characters.
Reimagining the interiors of our favorite Halloween classics with the help of AI
These classic Halloween movies, some dating back decades, have become an annual tradition for many, a comforting yet spine-tingling journey back to a time when our greatest fear was the monster under our bed.
They’ve left an indelible mark on our hearts and imaginations, making us yearn for the feeling of nostalgia and suspense they offer. In a world that perpetually seeks the new and novel, there is a unique satisfaction in revisiting these timeless classics, like worn pages in a cherished book.
But, what if you could revisit these iconic movie interiors in a fresh, modern light? What if you could reimagine the Addams Family mansion in the 21st century or walk through the halls of Sleepy Hollow with a new perspective? Thanks to the wonders of artificial intelligence and computer-generated imagery, we can now explore these treasured movie settings as if they were born anew.
With a little help from the creative team over at Swift Direct Blinds, we’ll delve into the magic of AI-generated images that recreate the interiors of our favorite Halloween movies. These images provide a modern lens through which we can appreciate the artistry of the original sets while also marveling at the potential for reinterpretation.
By fusing the nostalgia of yesteryears with the technological prowess of today, we bridge the gap between tradition and innovation, offering a fresh look at the beloved and the eerie. Join us as we embark on a journey to unearth the haunted beauty of classic Halloween movie interiors, rekindling our love for the timeless and the macabre in a new, hauntingly realistic light.
#1 Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton, has solidified its place in cinematic history as a beloved cult classic. Released in 1988, the film has retained its charm, continuing to enchant audiences with its darkly whimsical and quirky narrative.
Set in the afterlife and the realm of the deceased, Beetlejuice introduces us to the Maitlands, a recently deceased couple who find themselves trapped in their own home. When the Deetz family moves in and begins to alter their beloved residence, the Maitlands seek the help of the titular character, Beetlejuice, an obnoxious and mischievous ghost.
What sets Beetlejuice apart and contributes to its enduring popularity are its aesthetics. The film’s production design and set decoration transport us to a world that is a delightful blend of the gothic and the absurd.
The Maitland’s haunted house is a marvel of grotesque beauty, filled with eccentric and grotesque details that are meticulously crafted to perfection. And AI managed to capture all of its magic in recreating an interior design inspired by the 1988 movie, as we’ve seen above.
#2 Sleepy Hollow
Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow, released in 1999, is a modern classic that has left a lasting mark on the world of fantasy and horror cinema. This adaptation of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci transports us to a hauntingly atmospheric world where mystery and the supernatural reign supreme.
The story unfolds in the eerie, fog-shrouded town of Sleepy Hollow, where the legendary Headless Horseman terrorizes the inhabitants. Ichabod Crane, a skeptical constable from New York, is sent to investigate the grisly murders attributed to this decapitated specter.
As he delves deeper into the macabre secrets of the town, Ichabod discovers a web of dark conspiracies, and the line between the living and the dead becomes chillingly blurred.
Sleepy Hollow is beloved for a multitude of reasons, but its aesthetics play a crucial role in its appeal.
Tim Burton’s signature style is on full display in this film, and it’s impossible not to be entranced by the hauntingly beautiful world he creates. The movie’s visuals are a mesmerizing blend of Gothic and Victorian influences, rich in dark and brooding atmospheres.
The misty, moonlit woods and decaying manors of Sleepy Hollow are brought to life with an enchanting and eerie allure.
The film’s muted color palette, dominated by deep blacks, blood reds, and smoky grays, lends it an unmistakable sense of foreboding. The costumes, too, are meticulously designed to capture the essence of the period, making the characters feel like they’ve stepped out of a haunting painting.
And the interiors AI conjured in the image above beautifully reflect the moody aesthetics of the world Burton created.
#3 Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th (1980), is a beloved classic in the slasher genre. The film follows a group of camp counselors who, while trying to reopen a summer camp, are terrorized by an unknown assailant. As the body count rises, the identity of the killer becomes a chilling mystery.
This film is cherished for its role in popularizing the slasher subgenre and its effective use of suspense and tension. Its aesthetics, though simpler compared to other horror films, play a significant part in its appeal.
The movie’s camp setting, with its rustic cabins, dense woods, and isolated lakeside, creates a sense of vulnerability and fear.
See also: Is it Real? Michael Myers’ house in ‘Halloween’
The dark, shadowy cinematography and gruesome practical effects contribute to the film’s enduring reputation as a quintessential slasher classic. Its iconic killer, Jason Voorhees, has become a symbol of horror, and the film’s aesthetics remain an integral part of its enduring legacy.
And here’s how the movie’s aesthetics translates into interior design:
#4 The Nightmare Before Christmas
The 1993 stop-motion animated masterpiece The Nightmare Before Christmas
has carved a special place in the hearts of audiences as a holiday classic. This enchanting film, directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, takes us to the whimsical worlds of Halloween Town and Christmas Town.
The story revolves around Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who stumbles upon Christmas Town and becomes captivated by the holiday’s joy and cheer.
Determined to bring Christmas to his fellow residents, Jack embarks on a misadventure that blurs the lines between the macabre and the merry, resulting in a heartwarming and visually stunning narrative — that AI managed to transform into eccentric interiors that blend both the eerie and cheerful visual elements of the Halloween classic.
What makes “The Nightmare Before Christmas” so beloved are its unique aesthetics. The film is a visual marvel, with its meticulously crafted stop-motion animation creating a surreal and captivating world.
The character design, with its array of eccentric and endearing denizens, including Jack Skellington, Sally, and Oogie Boogie, is both spooky and lovable. The contrast between the dark, Tim Burton-inspired Halloween Town and the cheerful Christmas Town is an aesthetic triumph that underscores the film’s central theme of transformation and discovery.
#5 The Addams Family
The Addams Family, the 1991 cinematic adaptation of the classic TV series, remains a beloved classic known for its quirky characters and distinctive aesthetics.
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the film brings the delightfully macabre Addams family to life on the big screen. The family’s eccentricities, from Gomez and Morticia’s passionate yet gothic love to Wednesday’s morbid fascination and Pugsley’s appetite for destruction, add a refreshing twist to the family comedy genre.
Aesthetically, the film is a visual feast.
The production design immerses viewers in the eerie and opulent world of the Addams mansion, which becomes a character in its own right. The mansion boasts a foreboding exterior and lavish, cobweb-covered interiors filled with bizarre artifacts and contraptions.
And while the exterior of the opulent house is by no means easy to replicate, AI quickly reimagined the interiors of the Addams family house, carefully incorporating the movie’s key themes and aesthetics.
The film’s color palette combines dark, moody tones with vibrant pops of color, capturing the whimsical and Gothic elements that set it apart from conventional family comedies.
The Addams Family embraces the macabre without losing its sense of humor, making it a unique and enduring classic that celebrates the unconventional while reminding us that there’s beauty in embracing the bizarre.
#6 Hocus Pocus
Another Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus (1993) has cast its spell on audiences for decades, becoming a cherished tradition during the spooky season.
The original movie — a much-awaited sequel was released in 2022 — weaves a captivating tale of three witch sisters resurrected on Halloween night in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts, and the trio’s quest for immortality.
Related: The wonderfully witchy Hocus Pocus Houses & filming locations for the new movie
The film’s enduring appeal lies in its enchanting blend of humor, supernatural elements, and timeless aesthetics. The Sanderson sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, infuse the story with their zany yet malevolent charm, making them iconic Halloween figures.
The film’s witty and light-hearted approach to witchcraft and the supernatural, coupled with the nostalgic ’90s setting, creates a perfect blend of family-friendly Halloween spookiness with aesthetics that continue to captivate both young and old alike.
And they translate into some equally charming interiors that perfectly capture a timeless and whimsical Halloween atmosphere.
Visually, Hocus Pocus captures the essence of Halloween with its cozy small-town setting, complete with quaint colonial houses and a centuries-old cemetery.
The film’s visuals evoke the quintessential Halloween ambiance, replete with autumnal colors, jack-o’-lanterns, and the sisters’ distinctive witchy attire. The Sanderson sisters’ spellbinding concoctions and magical mishaps, rendered through practical effects, add a touch of enchantment to the film’s aesthetics, making it a feast for the eyes.
#7 Little Shop of Horrors
The 1986 cult classic is celebrated for its unique blend of musical comedy and horror. Directed by Frank Oz, the film tells the story of Seymour, a meek floral shop worker who discovers a peculiar plant with a ravenous appetite for human flesh. As the plant, Audrey II, grows and demands increasingly gruesome sacrifices, the story takes dark and humorous twists.
The film’s beloved status can be attributed to its entertaining combination of humor and horror, with a cast that includes Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, and Steve Martin. Little Shop of Horrors offers a fresh take on the B-movie horror genre, using catchy musical numbers and witty dialogue to add an unexpected charm to the story.
Aesthetically, the film features a distinct 1960s urban backdrop with a color palette reminiscent of comic book aesthetics, easily replicated by AI when creating Little Shop of Horrors-inspired interiors.
The imaginative design of Audrey II, a menacing and larger-than-life carnivorous plant, is a visual highlight, blending seamlessly with the film’s darkly comedic themes.
The film’s aesthetics play a crucial role in making it memorable, creating a world where the bizarre and the hilarious intersect, ensuring Little Shop of Horrors remains a beloved classic for those who appreciate its quirky charm.
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Bringing a dozen strangers from different parts of the US together on a picture-perfect Greek island, Surviving Paradise — Netflix’s most recent answer to the question “What reality show can we get people hooked on?” — is best described as Survivor with influencers.
Promised the summer of a lifetime, the contestants are in for a huge surprise as soon as they reach their destination.
Instead of living it up at the luxury clifftop villa overlooking the ocean, they’re banished to the wilderness of the forest nearby and have to face a series of challenges (and lots of scheming) to earn their cozy spot inside the villa.
At stake is a $100,000 cash prize for those who manage to form the right alliances and move from the outdoor camp back into the villa — and stay there until the end.
The reality series was filmed in Lefkada, an idyllic Greek island in the Ionian Sea known for its soft-sand beaches, rich, blue waters, and picturesque traditional villages.
And while there’s no shortage of luxury villas on the beautiful Greek island, the producers made sure to pick one of the most impressive ones, to make the contestants’ efforts worthwhile.
Located in Porto Katsiki in Lefkada, Greece the Surviving Paradise villa is known as Noiya and consists of a main house and three standalone glass studios.
With 8 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms, the luxury house can accommodate up to 16 guests, who also get to enjoy its many amenities, which include two swimming pools, a basketball court, and unobstructed sea views.
The villa’s description on The Thinking Traveller summarizes it best:
“Ensconced in the fragrant, emerald green pine woods of Lefkada’s southwestern promontory, Noiya occupies a panoramic position that has few rivals. Down below are two of the island’s most iconic beaches, and the charming seafront village of Vassiliki is close by, but once settled in, you may feel little inclination to leave behind the inspiring contemporary design, the luxurious touches, attentive service, and the splendid array of amenities that make Noiya such a joy to experience.”
Now try re-reading that description (particularly that last part, about having “little inclination” to ever leave the villa) through the contestants’ eyes.
The property is also for sale — though the contestants wouldn’t be able to afford it even if they all were to win the cash prize and pool the money together.
The villa appears to be listed for sale on the Barnes International Realty website with a €4,300,000 price tag. That’s a little over US$4.5 million. Mrs. Marika Dimitriadou holds the listing.
Renting it doesn’t come cheap either. A one-week stay at the Surviving Paradise villa costs between €13,000 and €32,000, which means groups can pay up to $34,000 to spend a week here.
So if you’d like to spend your next getaway with friends here, maybe ask a few (or a dozen) extra guests to join and split the costs; I hear there’s also an outdoor camp nearby that can accommodate people who aren’t welcome in the villa.
This isn’t Netflix’s first production shot primarily in Greece.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was filmed in Porto Heli, Greece, with an equally impressive villa serving as Miles Bron’s Glass Onion house (though the glass onion portion on top was added with CGI), as was the 2021 drama/thriller Beckett, the first Netflix movie shot entirely in Greece.
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If you grew up in the 90s as I did, you likely watched Father Of the Bride, erm, let’s say more than a handful of times.
I’m also willing to bet that, while you sat there admiring Annie’s eternally bouncy curls with utter certainty that stonewashed mom jeans and layered turtleneck sweaters would never go out of style, you also dreamt about growing up in a home as warm and welcoming, (not to mention downright huge) as the Banks’ house.
To be fair, Annie’s outfits have come full circle and are once again considered the height of cool-girl fashion. As for our love of that fairytale family home, you’re not the only one still pining to step inside over 30 years later.
To this day it remains one of the most searched-for movie houses on the internet and after a quick re-watch (or three) since the film joined Disney+, I was instantly reminded why.
It also got its fair share of recognition in the 1991 movie that starred Steve Martin as George Banks, Diane Keaton as Nina Banks, Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Annie, Kieran Culkin as Matty, and Steve Martin’s Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short as the eccentric wedding planner extraordinaire Franck Eggelhoffer.
Steve Martin’s character, George, proudly boasted that “I love this house. I love that I taught my kids to ride their bikes in the driveway. I love that I slept with them in tents in the backyard. I love that we carved our initials in the tree out front. This house is warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and looks spectacular with Christmas lights. It’s a great house, and I never want to move.” Safe to say that if we lived at the Banks’ house, we’d stay put too!
So, is the Father of the Bride house real? Can we go visit it? And, most importantly, can we too carve our initials on the tree out front?
Probably a firm no on that last one but in answer to the rest, I’ve done some digging and finally know everything I’ve ever wondered about this heart-warmingly nostalgic home. And spoiler alert, it’s not in San Marino, where Steve Martin’s character, George Banks, said it was.
“We live in a small town in Southern California called San Marino. I love this town and not just because it’s the kind of place where people still smile at each other. But because it hasn’t changed much in the past 25 years.”
Is the ‘Father of the Bride’ house real?
Yes, the Father of The Bride House is absolutely real! However, as it turns out, they actually used two homes to bring the movie together. The first, built in 1913, was used to film interior scenes and features as the front of the home that George pulls up to at the beginning of the movie.
“This is our house, 24 Maple Drive”
It has an incredible total of 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and remains as charming today as it was back in the early 90s.
Though the true address isn’t quite as pretty sounding as 24 Maple Drive, it is, as George says, located in California. You’ll find the house looking just as dreamy as you’ve always remembered it at 843 El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California.
It’s a private residence of course so any trips there should be respectful and discreet, making sure not to trespass on the property or disturb residents and neighbors. There’s been plenty of that in the past; according to betweennapsontheporch.com, the young couple who purchased the property shortly after the movie was made even had people ringing their doorbell and asking for a tour.
However, if you’re noticing that the first house doesn’t have those same iconic pink flower-lined white picket fences you remember from the movie, that’s because they were constructed especially (and temporarily) for the film.
The new owners had them taken out and replaced with new ones when they moved in.
The second house was used to shoot scenes for Annie and Bryan’s backyard wedding.
A Colonial home built in 1925, that property boasts 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and almost half an acre of land. There’s also a partly furnished basement, a working fireplace, and a parking spot outside to keep the family car in. No mention of a basketball hoop (or swans in the bathtub) of course but I like to think the owners have one!
House #2, the wedding house, it’s also in California and stands at 500 N Almansor St, Alhambra.
“I’ll be honest with you. When I bought this house 17 years ago it cost less than this blessed event in which Annie Banks Became Annie Banks McKenzie.”
A lot has changed since 1992 when Father of the Bride first hit theatres. Not least the cost of huge five-bedroom houses with white picket fences and beautifully landscaped backyards.
So, three decades on and, sadly, more in the know about the cost of real estate, I couldn’t help but wonder just how much the Father of the Bride house would set you back today. Zillow had the answer. Though it’s currently off the market, they estimate that the iconic 4,339 square-foothouse is worth over 3.5 million dollars!
And, if you’re hoping the house used for the backyard wedding scenes might be more reasonable, you’re in luck… kind of. Also off the market, Zillow estimates this equally striking family home’s worth at around the 2.5 million dollar mark. It was last sold in 2016 for $1.998 million.
I’m suddenly considering giving up writing in pursuit of owning my own cook nook or perhaps an athletic shoe company!
Featured image: The real-life house featured on “Father of the Bride”, photo credit: Peter M. CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr
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When The Sound of Music hit the big screen in March 1965, audiences fell in love with the von Trapp family.
The hills and the movie theaters alike became alive with the sound of music, dance, and romance thanks to Maria and her crew.
As the third highest-grossing film of all time, The Sound of Music stole our hearts, as did the film’s stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer as Maria and Georg.
And these are just a few of our favorite things!
That’s why today, we’re taking a look at another big part of the musical family’s legacy: the Trapp Family Lodge in the United States. Continue reading about the family’s majestic alpine lodge that sits on 2,500 acres in the Green Mountain State.
How the von Trapps landed in the United States
The family’s homestead has more than just raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
As the story goes, the von Trapp family escaped their native Austria as the Nazis took over their beloved homeland.
The family’s daring escape led them to none other than Vermont in the United States.
Before officially moving to the New England region of the US, they toured the country in the early 1940s as the Trapp Family Singers.
They soon settled in Stowe, Vermont, on a farm with sweeping mountain vistas reminiscent of their beautiful native land. The house they lived in at the time was called “Cor Unum”, which means “one heart”.
How Trapp Family Lodge came to be
In the summer of 1950, the von Trapps opened their rapidly expanding, 27-room family home/lodge to guests.
After a devastating fire in 1980, the home was replaced by the Trapp Family Lodge, a 96-room alpine lodge situated on 2,500 acres.
Offering guests a variety of indoor and outdoor resort amenities, the entire property is owned and operated by the von Trapp family.
How to get the von Trapp experience
Located at 700 Trapp Hill Road in Stowe, VT guests are greeted with wide, open arms at the stunning Vermont resort.
After the fire in 1980, the lodge was expanded, rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1983. And in 2000, the west wing was added.
Open all year long, the resort offers a year-round indoor heated pool and hot tub, along with an outdoor pool during the summer months.
Guests are treated to world-class dining with three different restaurants serving farm-to-table cuisine.
There are plenty of trails to explore, tours of the sugar house (via snowshoes during the winter), and brewery tours of the onsite brewery, to name a few of the fun activities.
And did we mention the ski hill?
Of course, there’s much to check out, including family photos, movie posters, playbills and more von Trapp family memorabilia on display at the Trapp Family Lodge.
Bring your family to the family lodge
Grab the kids and pack your bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens!
The Trapp Family Lodge is a great place to explore the great outdoors with your family, while getting a huge dose of movie memorabilia.
Maria and Captain von Trapp are survived by their children Johannes and Rosmarie, many grandchildren, as well as many great-grandchildren.
You might run into one (or many of them) while visiting the lodge as they are the owners and operators of the exclusive Vermont resort.
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