House by Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton’s new design book House is an original concept, unlike anything you may expect from the Oscar winning actress or in a decor book in general.

Focusing on the aesthetics of seemingly contemporary simplistic edifices, Keaton shares images captured of homes in Vermont, Seattle, California, New York, Illinois and Italy. Grand, yet sparse in material details, each space is full of vast openness that force the onlooker to appreciate the architecture and elements. Creative designers such as Annabelle Selldorf, Roy McMakin and Tom Kundig lend their talents to Keaton’s large 272 page coffee table book which draws its inspiration from farms and factories turning classic, often decaying, rustic structures into gems of artistic talent. 

~Firefly Grill in Effingham, Illinois~

To the untrained eye, the lesson to be gained by diving into House is to realize that an appreciation of the space, a respect for the space is something to heed when decorating and creating a sanctuary. As one would imagine, more is simply more, and by taking the time to look around, the most significant lesson is to realize that beauty speaks to us most directly and loudly when it is not suffocated by excess. As designer Annabelle Selldorf describes her style - “specific, precise, restrained and plausible”, her inclusion of the word “restrained” is something that resonates with me as it takes discipline, but based on the images shared in Keaton’s House offers the greatest reward.

Diane Keaton’s Passion for Design

Recently, I have had a craving to watch Nancy Meyer’s Something’s Gotta Give.  I’m in the mood for inspiration in a variety of avenues – home decor, food, summer retreats and writing.  I honestly do get inspired all over again to write even more vigorously after I watch this film.  Initially, when I observed Diane Keaton’s character’s, Erica Barry, fits of crying and laughter while capturing the scenes in her new play, I thought them to be tedious and excessive, but now I soak them up – laugh, relate, and enjoy.

While so many of us have seen the interior of the home on the set, I began to wonder what type of home Diane Keaton would actually prefer.  I’ve known for some time that she is quite passionate about refurbishing and then selling homes, and takes painstaking care and attention when decorating each interior, so I thought I’d go hunting for her most recent home remodel. 

In November of 2008, Architectural Digest published Ms. Keaton’s Beverly Hills residence that was built in the early 1920s.  With its Spanish colonial style, Keaton’s friend and designer Stephen Shadley reemphasized this facade to bring to light the beauty of the building.  Photographed by Scott Frances, Keaton’s home is exquisite with its southwestern decor, exposed beams and paintings by local artists.  One of my favorite rooms is her library which is what greets her guests as they walk in the oversized arched doors. When asked about her need to not live for more than a few years in one particular home she stated,  “I’m eternally seeking out the adventure of discovering the magic of homes in California.”  And she has most certainly discovered the magic again.  Have a look.

Thanks to one of my lovely readers, In New York Paris Tomorrow, I learned that Diane is currently working on a Lloyd Wright house located on what used to be property for horses with vast expanses of land. Should be interesting to see what her skilled hands can do with it.

I’m off to enjoy another round of Something’s Gotta Give.  Enjoy your Monday!

Worth the Wait

Nancy Meyers did it again! With beautifully decorated set designs in each scene, my goodness even the garden was lush and green - the cabbages looked like cabbage patch kids were going to pop right out of them - everything every gardener envisions when they start planting in the spring was a feast for the eyes as I watched It's Complicated starring Meryl Streep. Seeing it all just makes you believe that you too can attain perfection! Well, maybe not perfect perfection, but at least a perfect attempt (is there even such a thing?).