"Life As We Know It" Interiors

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was good, but over way too fast. I did manage to start my Christmas shopping, which is at once depressing (how is it that time of year already?!) and kind of triumphant (I'm Queen of the Procrastinators, I never start this early!) Yesterday I also watched Life As We Know It with Josh Duhamel and Katherine Heigl. I'll admit that I've had a crush on Josh Duhamel for ages and would watch pretty much anything he's in. This movie was predictable, but I think the charm and chemistry of the stars elevated it to entertaining--for me at least. What's telling about where I am in my life right now is that I spent almost as much time inspecting the movie's decor and interiors as I did gazing at Josh Duhamel.

The home in the movie was a charming Colonial-style in Georgia, although the interiors seem to be sets built with inspiration from the original. While searching for screencaps of the decor I came across Hooked on House's post about the real house (above) going on sale and you can see pictures of the real interior there. The movie's interiors are clearly meant to convey the stereotypical affluent suburban home, and incorporate a lot of trends seen everywhere these days, but I thought the overall look was warm and chic, classic and inviting.

I loved the wood floors. You can't see it here but they were also laid at interesting angles in some parts. For our new house we chose a darker greyish stain, which I was initially hesitant about, but M loved so we went with it. This movie had me seriously rethinking the choice in favour of a more classic chocolate brown.

Loved the red front door.

I wouldn't have gone with the taupe-beige

paint, but the mouldings are lovely.

Some of the accessories seem right out of

a catalogue, maybe not in a good way.

Kind of hard to see here, but that's a quatrefoil

lamp behind Josh. Loved the built-ins, too.

Suzanne Kasler Quatrefoil Floor Lamp

I liked the dining room set--dark wood table,

neutral nailhead chairs and a pretty chandelier.

There are tons of these dining chairs around, too,

that can be found at places like Restoration Hardware.

A similar light fixture to the one in the movie. This one
by Thomas O'Brien and available at Circa Lighting.

The very on-trend white kitchen complete with black

countertops and the requisite Wolf range. If you'd like to

replicate the look of the rattan stools (I have no idea

how comfortable those would really be),

you can try something like this:

Padma's Plantation Monte Cristo Rattan Stool

There are also a ton of industrial pendant lights to be
 found these days. The Edwardian style above from
Circa Lighting is only one example (another). 

The back of the real house. A great place to kick back with a bottle of red.

What do you think?

Liking this style? Have you seen the movie?

Photos via The Movie Insider and Hooked on Houses

Book of the Week: This Charming Man

So, Monday morning again.  A good day if you're from New Orleans.  This week I read This Charming Man by Marian Keyes, the first time I've read anything by this author.  I have no idea how I've gone this long without discovering Keyes considering she's sold about a kajillion books and has apparently been translated in over 20 languages.

The charming man of the title is rougish and handsome politician Paddy de Courcy and the book explores the impact of one event (bachelor Paddy suddenly getting engaged) on four very different women.  There is stylist Lola who goes into a tailspin, retreating to the requisite quirky small town to lick her wounds and recover her sanity, understandable as she is Paddy's girlfriend but not his fiance.  Then there is Marnie, a troubled wife and mother, who has never really recovered from her first love (Paddy) and her twin sister, Grace, a journalist who wants the inside story on the engagement.  And finally, Alicia, the actual fiance who happens to be a blast from the sisters' past and just may be getting in over her head. 

I liked this book a lot, but it wasn't at all what I expected.  Keyes' crafts a story that is both poignant and literally laugh-out-loud funny, with the right mix of mystery, suspense and romance.  Keyes deals with issues that range from alcholism to abuse to adultery and manages to produce female characters that are more than just stereotypes.

The book begins with the following...

What!  You too?  I thought I was the only one. - C.S. Lewis

Everyone remembers where they were the day they head that Paddy de Courcy was getting married...I was extra surprised and that was even before I knew who the lucky woman was...Anyway, Jacinta Kinsella (boss) needed a quick piece on the engagement so I had to put my personal feelings to one side and be a professional. -Grace Gildee

It would have been nice if you asked me first. - Alicia Thornton

I was on the net, checking e-bid for owl handbag (by Stella McCartney, not just any 'oul' handbag) for a client to wear to a wildlife charity thing when I saw the headline...I went into shock.  Actually thought I was having heart attack.  Would have called an ambulance but couldn't remember 999.  Kept thinking 666.  Number of the beast. - Finnola "Lola" Day

Don't you dare be happy, you bastard.  That's what I thought when I heard.  Don't you dare be happy.  - Marnie Hunter

The structure of the book, with past and present events rolled out from the point of views of all four of the women, is interesting and its a testament to Keyes that all four voices are unique and even the side stories are engrossing. Personally, I enjoyed Lola the most.  Even unbalanced and sadly stuck on a man who never deserved her in the first place I found her sweet, funny and relatable.

4/5

I saw When In Rome this weekend (worth it just for Josh Duhamel who I have crushed on since he was Leo on All My Children) and I couldn't get over how cute Kristen Bell looked.  I also loved the Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery she wore, like the Alhambra sautoir necklace below.

Alla Prossima

PCM Review: When In Rome

Josh Duhamel and Kristen Bell star in the romantic comedy When In Rome. Bell plays the work obsessed Beth who doesn't seem to have any success with her love life. She travels to Rome for her sister's wedding where she meets Duhamel's character Nick. The two really hit it off, but when Beth takes some coins out of the famous fountain of love she accidentally casts a love spell on an assortment of men who threw their coins into the fountain and she can't be sure if Nick's love for her is real.

The movie has a fairly predictable plot, but it will surely keep you laughing throughout. Each of the men under the love spell are peculiar--there is a sausage salesman, a street magician, an aspiring artist and a self obsessed model--but they all cause a lot of hilarious encounters. Beth gets chased down the street by one of her suitors who ends up getting hit by a horse and carriage and another unsuccessfully tries to escape from a Houdini like mummy suit in the middle of Beth's living room. Jon Heder's character even has a personal video taper who will be recognized by Napoleon Dynamite fans and adds to the hilarity.

Duhamel and Bell really make a dynamic on screen couple as Beth goes back and fourth about the relationship and Nick continues to pursue her. It's hard not to want their relationship to work out as the dreamy lovestruck sports reporter, Nick, is determined to convince Beth that she really can find love. She learns to believe in love again as she also must figure out how to break the spell she accidentally cast on several men. When In Rome is a fun high energy film that does not disappoint with its diverse cast of characters and endless laughs.

2010 Golden Globes

Happy Monday everyone!  I didn't get to watch all the awards, but I did manage to catch most of the red carpet pre-show (the most important part, no?)  What struck me last night was how many of the ladies looked pretty, but how few really had standout looks.  I know its not the Oscars, but it seemed that everyone was playing it a bit...safe.  Looking back I can't even pick out one look that I loved the best, but maybe its just me!  And I'm happy to hear The Hangover won - easily my favourite film of the year.

I noticed quite a bit of white on the red carpet.  I thought Kristen Bell looked darling in Jasmine Di Milo and Louboutins.  Also loved that Anna Kendrick and Kate Hudson chose sculptural Marchesa (although isn't Kate's dress reminiscent of what she wore to the Nine premiere?)

Lots of purple, too (I love purple!)  Rose Byrne looked uber-romantic in Lanvin.  Newly engaged Jane Krakowski was elegant in J. Medel and I liked Fergie's lilac number (she also sported another trend of the night - intricately beaded waists).  And, strippers or not, I don't think accessories get better looking than Josh Duhamel, am I wrong people? 

I liked the colour of Sandra Bullock's Bottega Veneta gown (and, really, how adorable is Sandra?) but I wasn't loving the bottom.  Leona Lewis was another in the purple brigade and Rita Wilson joined in with a purple floral pattern.

I thought Courteney Cox and Marion Cotillard looked beautiful
in Victoria Beckham and Dior, respectively.  Loved their fresh-faced
make-up and Courteney's dramatic earrings. 
 (Close ups here and here).

I'm loving sequins lately and I think Olivia Wilde's Gucci

gown really suited her.  Glenn Close looked smashing--

ditto Anna Paquin in Stella McCartney.

Can I please look this adorable when I'm pregnant? 
Loving Amy Adams' Carolina, but I'm even more in love

with her accessories, which totally match her hair!

And a few not so great looks...

Talk about busting out, I'm not loving the fit of Mad Men's
Christina Kendricks' Christian Siriano gown.

Julia Roberts looked pretty in vintage YSL,

but is it just me or is she too dressed down?

The stuff on the shoulder and waist of Drew's

Atelier Versace gown makes me think of those plastic pom-pom

things they use to decorate "Just Married" signs.

Hello girls!  Would have been a pretty dress if I

weren't so distracted by Mariah's twins.

Chloë Sevigny - I'm undecided on the Valentino.  It suited her and was on trend, but... something.  I'm not sure what. 

Penélope Cruz - Tanned and pretty in 2005 Armani Privé.  Am I the only one who noticed some similarity with the banding on Penélope's dress and that on Mariah's? 

Emily Blunt - Pretty.  Love the sparkly bracelets.

Christina Aguilera - Her Versace was totally her and I think she's looking great.

Glee's Lea Michele - Is it me or was she the only one to do a really big dramatic skirt?  Seemed like a bit much on her, maybe because I'm used to seeing her in fun, youthful, short numbers.

Carey Mulligan - Beautiful Nina Ricci dress, not sure if it suited her.

Julianna Margulies - Her Narciso Rodriguez was simple, elegant and seemed made for her.

January Jones - Loved the hair and make-up.  The Lanvin dress not so much.

Elisabetta Canalis was working the sex goddess thing in Cavalli.  I can't believe how much her face has changed over the years.  Maybe its just that she's skinnier but she looks so angular now.

I love Tina Fey.  I loved her Zac Posen from the waist up.

Is it just me or were Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Aniston and Heather Graham pretty but boring?  Same with Kate Winslet.

I thought Mickey Rourke's date looked rock 'n roll chic.

And I love Julianne Moore, but really?

What were your favourite--and least favourite--looks of the night?

Photos:  style.com, Socialite Life

Alla Prossima

Josh Duhamel Allegedly Cheats on Fergie

Josh Duhamel is in Fergie's doghouse for sure.

Georgia-based stripper Nicole Forrester contacted the National Enquirer and claimed she had an affair with Transformers star Josh Duhamel. Duhamel was in Georgia filming Life As We Know It. According to Forrester, he went to Tattletales Lounge, a strip club, with a friend. Forrester told Duhamel that she thought he was gorgeous, and he replied stating that she was hot too. Forrester claimed Duhamel called himself "JD" and paid her for a nude dance for himself and his buddy.

A few days later, Duhamel contacted Forrester and invited her to his hotel room at the St. Regis Hotel. Forrester claims that she had sex with Duhamel. The National Enquirer stated that Forrester passed an extensive polygraph test and that her story is absolutely true.

After this information came to light, other women began contacting media outlets claiming that this isn't Duhamel's first infidelity. A woman named Serena contact San Francisco's Wild 94.9 radio station and revealed that Duhamel cheated on Fergie while on the set of Transformers 2. Serena claims that she and her friend were stationed at an Air Force base in New Mexico while Transformers 2 was being filmed. She claims her friend had sex with Duhamel. His co-star, Tyrese, allegedly attempted to have threesomes with other cadets.

Josh Duhamel and Fergie, the female member of the Black Eyed Peas, were married in January 2009. There have been no statements from either star since Duhamel's cheating scandal made the news.