Friday, February 4, 2011

Inspiration Friday: The Princess Diaries Firehouse

picture

Guys, I have a confession: I love the Princess Diaries (and really, am I alone?). I watched this movie again this week, and renewed my dream of moving to San Fransisco and living in a converted firehouse. It's gonna happen sometime.

In the movie, Mia (Ann Hathaway) and her mom live in a firehouse-made apartment/studio. It's kind of an odd set-up, so I tried to pay attention this time to what specifically I like about it. Here goes...
picture (and all following pictures)

  • Tall ceilings. You can't see it in this picture, but there are finished paintings hanging wayy up on the ceiling. And check out the ladder.
  • Room for huge paintings. I did my first big collage last year and loved it. But it's not super practical for me to take up our entire kitchen to paint very often.
  • Small tables scattered around, for holding art supplies- and coffee.
  • I like that it's really a studio, office, and living room all in one. But each space is divided nicely to keep them semi-separate.

  • Plus I wouldn't mind staying in my pajamas and painting all day. :)
  • Lots of things hanging everywhere - this is actually practical for a smaller house, too.

  • I like the kitchen colours and checkered floor
  • Pictures and lamps everywhere.
  • See the mugs hanging on the wall on the left? My roommate and I did that in our dorm room in college. Were we subconsciously influenced by this movie?
  • See that thing hanging on the wall on the right? That's a real phone. I miss those.

  • Mia's room: also lots of pictures and lamps (and a spiral staircase- hello!)
  • I'm not a huge fan of the mint green and peach wall colours, but I do love the hanging lights and how comfortable the room looks.

  • a huge chalkboard for the grocery list.
  • a fireman's pole to slide down on your way to school. Come on, that's cool.
  • I also love those big mugs they're drinking out of. Makes me miss the early 2000's.


  • Look at that red stove. Just look at it.
  • Ok, those are exactly like my kitchen curtains. Awesome.

  • The trap door and staircase leading up to the another part of Mia's room.


  • Plants, paintings, books, printed curtains...a sink just to clean your paintbrushes.

  • I love how the living room is right in the middle of the studio, but feels like a separate area.
  • Check out the huge painting on an easel. Can I have one in my living room too?

  • Alright, side note: there's a scene where Mia and her mom make a painting by pinning balloons filled with paint to canvas, then throwing darts at them. I have plans to do this with my friend Rebecca, and will be back with the results. Doesn't it look like fun?


  • Mia's room again- isn't it interesting that she has two vanity tables? One on either side of the bathroom door.

  • The 'office'- pictures, paint supplies, pens in mugs, a tv and a computer. What more could you need?

  • I love the round tables next to the more square furniture.
  • a huge oriental rug.
  • lots of pillows on the couch.
  • candles everywhere.



So, here's my conundrum. I love this house, and wouldn't mind living there. :) But I'm trying to come up with some ways to implement what I like about it into my own house. The conundrum is: I'm a pretty neat person, and this is a really messy house!
So far I'm planning on re-arranging my desk to have more art supplies out and I'm trying to find a large rug for the living room. And I'll start lighting more candles!
And I guess it wouldn't hurt for me to relax in general about having such a clean house. :)




What do you think? Do you like the Princess Diaries firehouse, or is it to cluttered for you?

8 comments:

GLENDA CHILDERS said... Reply To This Comment

50th and France movie theater . . . good memories, Jenny.

Kirra said... Reply To This Comment

I love when you do these posts. :) Love Princess Diaries so much too. :) Thanks for the inspiration. Can I have that stove? Serious.

Christy Childers said... Reply To This Comment

seriously. so great.

Anonymous said... Reply To This Comment

love the movie. house is cozy. laughed out loud at your "like things neat and this house is messy" statement. i like looking at it in the movie, but it's way cluttered for what i want to live in. i line up on the "neat" side. : )
Anne

minotchka said... Reply To This Comment

I love that you pay attention to movies design . I love princess diaries and also you've got mail apartment. I also can't help being distracted when I watch BBC series like EMMA . I lost in those colours and furnitures and victorian era...

Thea said... Reply To This Comment

It's like watching the making of a star to see all those old stills of the film. She's really come into her own as an actress! She has "comedic" chops...will fun to see her do more with this. Thanks for the fun post!

Elle Green said... Reply To This Comment

I'll have to watch it! Im sure I've seen it before but it must be ages ago, even Ann Hatheway is way too young there:)

Anonymous said... Reply To This Comment

i LOVE this house. i want it. i didnt even think it was that cluttered...:) such a dream!!!!!

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