Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. No phones. No internet. No distractions. Just peace & quiet. The Complete Package found such a place – a respite from the big city –…

'THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE' (1974) -- Poster Art Print The original release poster for the 1974 debut of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' Tobe Hooper's classic horror film. A copy of this movie was recently added to the Historic Registry of Films in the National Library in D.C. DESCRIPTION Each Deluxe 11" x 17" (432mm x 279mm) Poster Art Print is suitable for framing. Framed or not, they make great gifts, as well as wall art for living rooms, bedrooms, dorms, as well as for library exhibits, classrooms, cafes, etc. All prints are hand-crafted. We never use mass-printed posters or imported prints. Unlike many cheaper sellers, our paper stock is superior, heavyweight grade. All images are digitally enhanced, giving them a clarity & vibrancy long missing. Because these are extremely limited & each print is unique, these will likely increase in value, owing to the rarity of the image sources. PLEASE NOTE: The depicted frame is for reference only. ARCHIVAL QUALITY & VIBRANT COLORS The colors and presentation have been digitally enhanced to make them both look retro accurate and best possible quality for presentation. Slight imperfections such as fake crease lines, fold lines, etc., are buried into the design to make it seem authentic. SHIPPING: We ship all orders in USPS-approved packaging. We ship internationally in partnership with ETSY. This product is 100% Made in USA.

The houses Brad Kittel builds may be tiny, but they're the product of big vision, pure salvage, and a fair amount of space magic.

Longwood Farm in Texas, a new home designed by Curtis & Windham Architects is a family retreat evoking the spirit of the English manor.

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With turquoise walls and sapphire-striped floors, the provocative Milan penthouse of Fiat heir and globe-trotting entrepreneur Lapo Elkann showcases his singular style and pays tribute to his favorite hue

Amarillo Texas Stanley Marsh 3 Dynamite Museum plasters traffic art signs all over the city 2014

A Texas park model tiny home is the ideal minimalist oasis with tons of storage, a private bedroom, and a large kitchen.

The renovation of this 1970s ranch involved an overhaul of the home's bones and cosmetic features while maintaining its mid-century authenticity. Claire achieved a level of livable luxury that's well-suited for any family, and I cannot wait to see who's lucky enough to call this home. Austin locals: here's the official listing. A Mid-Century Designer Home

The only question is which room to emulate first

Something's Gotta Give

CHARLES MOORE, Moore House, Austin, Texas, USA, 1984

Have you seen the Oscar nominated movie that should win the title of “Worst Release Date of Any Hollywood Movie – EVER?” As you know, this fall, Hollywood was rocked by a sex abuse scandal that exposed directors and movie honchos like Harvey Weinstein, and actors like Kevin Spacey, who was accused of pedophile behavior, preying on and abusing young boys. The charges of pedophile abuse in Hollywood involved both heterosexuals and homosexuals. The Hollywood sexual abuse scandal then moved from movies to television to politics to sports to business and on. In the end, no field was left untouched by the scandal. It was in this highly charged atmosphere that a much anticipated movie was released – “Call Me By Your Name.” Based on a book written by Andre Aciman – the movie chronicles a 17 year old boy’s first love affair with a 24 year old graduate student. Perhaps if the 17 year old was 18, there would be no controversy. But, these disparate ages are integral to the story. And more, perhaps if the affair was between a 17 year old girl and a 24 year old man – would it still seem so taboo? Like I said before – this movie could not have been released at a worse time. Regardless of the Hollywood scandal, Call Me By Your Name has been nominated for a host of awards all over the world, and with the Oscars upon us, it is up for four, including Best Picture. Its young star, Timothee Chalamet, is nominated for Best Actor. I’m surprised Armie Hammer, the other starring actor of Call Me By Your Name, didn’t get an Oscar nomination – he dominates the movie with his confident, swaggering good looks. I do firmly believe if it were not for Harvey Weinstein, et al, the movie would have received many more Oscar nominations. It’s just that good. It will be interesting to see if Call Me By Your Name does win any Oscars in this currently charged atmosphere, but I doubt it will. It would be like throwing dynamite or screaming FIRE. Call Me By Your Name is the kind of movie that once you see it – it stays in your mind for hours and even days. It’s impossible to shake. Set in the early 1980s, it is both sweet and sad, heartbreakingly so. Everyone can empathize with Elio, the shy, awkward 17 year old who is falling in love for the first time. As good as the movie is, the book is even better. A short, quick read – it’s impossible to not sob through its last 20 or so pages. The movie is set in northern Italy, filmed in the Lombardy district. It is a quiet European movie, heavy with atmosphere and beautiful cinematography. The book was written as a lark when the author, Andre Aciman found himself artistically blocked while writing another novel. Its become a cult hit now that the movie has been released and there is even talk of a sequel to CMBYN. NOTE: As a word of warning, there is just a little nudity, not much, but there are sexual charged scenes. Mostly, the movie is more sensual than sexual where every movement and every glance is filled with innuendo. The Italian landscape, the town square, the food, the lazy afternoons, the hot summer sun, the fruit, the streams – the film is a feast for the senses. Despite how fabulous the movie is, I wouldn’t be writing about it if there wasn’t a gorgeous house that goes with it. The director, Luca Guadagnino, is no stranger to beautiful Italian houses. He is most known for his movie “I Am Love” starring Tilda Swenson and the famous moderne Milan house where it was filmed: “I Am Love” was filmed in this contemporary house, now a museum in Milan: The Villa Necchi Campiglio designed by Piero Portaluppi. The director Guadagnino has quite the artistic eye. He says he would be just as happy as an interior designer as a director. He once joked he would like to design for “rich people who can afford to do things right.” Luca himself lives in a centuries old palazzo: Luca’s apartment with its recently uncovered fresco ceilings. Luca lives outside Milan in an 3400 sq. ft. apartment set inside a 17th century Palazzo which had been empty for 40 years. During a long restoration he found frescos hidden underneath the paint. The piazza at director Luca’s palazzo. I love the moderne furniture mixed with the classic architecture – although some was probably brought in for this photoshoot. And I love the pop of lavender. And here on the same piazza – a meeting with the cast of Call Me By Your Name. Luca’s house is located very close to the Villa Albergoni, the house where the movie was filmed. Luca’s beautiful palazzo. Luca’s palazzo is a short 15 minutes to Moscazzano, a small town where there sits a country house he has long admired. He once wanted to buy it – but it was out of his price range. Still, Luca never forgot that house – the Villa Albergoni – which sits secluded, hidden behind stone walls and greenery. Moscazzano, in Lombardy near the Alps, sits between the town of Creama and Milan. It was this house, Villa Albergoni, that became the summer vacation villa where Call Me By Your Name is set. In the novel, the house sits on the Mediterranean, but in the movie, the villa is landlocked. At Villa Albergoni – Elio talks with one of his girlfriends In Call Me By Your Name, Archeology Professor Perlman, his Italian wife and their prodigal son Elio, come each summer to this villa, joined by a different graduate student of the professor, who interns for six weeks. This summer of 1983, the intern is the devastatingly handsome Oliver, played to perfection by Armie Hammer. It doesn’t take long before Elio, played by Timothee Chalamet, a quiet bookworm and musical prodigy, falls hopelessly in love with Oliver, who seems to not even realize Elio is alive. Or does he? Elio with director Luca Interest in where the movie would be filmed was high – spurred on by Luca’s earlier movie “I Am Love” whose house was architectural important. Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Vogue and other important design magazines featured the “Call Me By Your Name” villa and it certainly did not disappoint. The villa, inherited by the Italian Mrs. Perlman, had to be special, but not extravagant. The Perlmans are academics, not socialites, and the villa needed to possess a faded, aristocratic atmosphere. Villa Albergoni, the 15th century fortress, was perfect for the role. Luca says he found the estate disheveled and a bit sad, although beautiful. It was exactly this faded glamour that matched the Perlmans’ lifestyle. The Professor, Elio and the intern Oliver It’s one hot Italian summer – and no one, except the Professor, ever wears a pair of pants, opting instead for either a bathing suit or shorts. The Set Designer is Violante Visconti di Modrone, an Italian duke’s daughter, and a relative of director Luchino Visconti. She is not a Set Designer by trade, but has a keen eye for interiors and Luca loves her taste. Violante actually even played a role in his movie “I Am Love.” The Production Director was Samuel Dehors. Together, Luca, Samuel and Violante furnished Villa Albergoni with antiques and decorative elements from the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Much of the furniture left in the house by the owners was also used in the film. The entire movie was filmed in the Lombardy district between its small towns. Tourists and locals swarmed the towns taking photos of different locations and matching it with the actual scene. Above is one such photograph taken by a young girl who also took photographs at Villa Albergoni after the movie crew left. And the actual scene – a glass of wine at the town square. Because of the popularity of the movie and interest in Villa Albergoni, the owners have recently decided to sell it. The announcement of the sale was last week and the internet exploded with the news. Priced at $2.7 million, the house comes with several outbuildings and a separate smaller house. The Villa is square shaped and has a large portico with two towers at its corners. In more recent times, a service wing where the kitchen is located, was added to the east side. There is a large center hall with rooms on each side. What is so exciting is that after watching the movie and seeing the pictures from the photoshoots, along with the new real estate photos and photos of the villa from before it was a movie set – I have gathered all of them together to show the house in all its 15th century glory. Enjoy!!! Cars are rarely used in Call Me By Your Name except for long distances. Mostly, everyone rides bikes to and from town. Here Elio and Oliver in his “billowy blue shirt” ride to the bank. And here, the boys are riding to town – leaving the Villa Albergoni. This is the actual street that the Villa is located on. In fact, its front brick wall is seen here on the left. The Google map photo of the same above street where they were filmed riding their bikes. There are two entrances to the Villa. This street, Via Montadine, leads to the side entrance. Villa Albergoni is seen here, its large estate is behind the red lines. The side entrance gate off Via Montodine is marked. The front door with the balcony above is where the arrow is. The front gate is located on Via Roma, but apparently most people use the more convenient side entrance. You can see the once elegantly landscaped Villa Albergoni has been abandoned to nature. It’s just waiting for someone to bring it back to its former glory. Word is that the gardens are currently being restored. In this Google Map view, you can see the square shaped Villa with the additional Kitchen added more recently. Also, you can see its two corner towers on opposite sides. The side gate on Via Montodine - Google Maps. A screenshot from Call Me By Your Name. This gate is often used during the movie, as is the green door. A fan took this beautiful photo on a wintery day of the now famous side gate. The gravel paths inside the estate. A watercolor of the original Villa – in Moscazzano. It’s amazing how fanciful it was drawn. But you can see the original square villa with its two towers. Where the street is – there is a moat or stream. There is even a side building. It is not clear if this is how the house really once looked. Villa Albergoni dates back to at least the 15th century or earlier, the date is uncertain. The current palazzo was built on the ruins of an ancient fort that was built centuries before the 1400s. It is also not certain if the two towers are original, but it is thought they were added on much later after the villa was built. The front of the house is on Via Roma behind these elegant iron gates. In winter, the villa is very exposed at the front entrance, but here in summer – you can barely see it through the trees. Google view. The villa today from the front with its left corner tower. Plane or lime trees block the entrance. A closer view of the front door and the balcony above it. To the left is the newer kitchen building. A view from the balcony above the front door. To the left are a set of farm buildings that stand between the villa and Via Montodine. The director Luca on the balcony. Elio and Oliver waiting to take a trip in the Fiat 128 to an archeology find. The same view, from further away. Everything looks so lush and green in the summer. The back side of the kitchen wing, with its outdoor fireplace and sink. This door leads into the kitchen. A pergola, built by an landscape designer, is on the other side of the kitchen building. On the back side of the villa is a set of stone steps with statues on the gateposts. With a little manicuring, this could be so gorgeous! The view from the top of the steps at the back side of the villa. A view of the stair gateposts, probably taken from the upstairs of the house. A closer look at the railings and statue. And another statue framed by the plane or lime trees at the front of the house. Here the Professor and his Italian wife, their son Elio and intern Oliver enjoy meals at the table set under these trees. One of these meals at night, by candlelight was so romantic, you just wanted to climb right into the movie screen and eat their pasta!! In the dead of winter with all the shutters closed for the year – you can see the statue and the newly topped trees. I don’t know why the French and Italians prune their trees like this! In the south, we prune Crepe Myrtles exactly like this – and it is just a horrible way to butcher a tree – they never properly recover from this kind of pruning. I call these plane trees – but the gardener for the estate said they are lime trees. Either way, he doesn’t know how to properly prune trees! Regardless, you can see this is where the Perlmans had dinner and lunch – right under the trees that now look like huge hands grabbing for the sky. Breakfast was always by the kitchen under the pergola. Whomever buys this estate needs to first take a pressure washer to all the stone like this statue. There is so much mold and mildew just begging to be sprayed off! Armie and Director Luca sit under the lime trees. In this view you can see perfectly how the topping of these trees while pruning has created “knuckles” on the trees, leaving them permanently deformed. Still – what a beautiful setting! Love the lights that were installed over the table. Today, after the movie crew has gone, so has all this furniture. A closer winter view – something that I hadn’t noticed before – look at the carvings around each window!!! Isn’t that unusual? It looks like the Aztecs carved it, but I know it’s not. I suppose I never noticed it before because the shutters were all open. Very unusual! Another winter view shows the tower and notice the tiny round holes above the second floor? Those are in the attic which we will visit later. A snowstorm in the dead of winter. HISTORY: The Villa was once owned by a wealthy iron industrialist in Creama. In the 1950s, he sold the villa to Francesco Albergoni or Popi, as the Professor of Botany was known. Professor Albergoni is similar to Professor Perlman, both being professors of the sciences. Albergoni chose to leave a large portion of the estate in its wild state, hoping to repopulate the rabbits. Each morning he would breakfast outside among the hares. Villa Albergoni was inherited by his two sons. A granddaughter is an actress in Los Angeles. Luca, the director, knew Jacopo, one of the sons, and arranged to use the house in Call Me By Your Name. While many of the rooms of the house were movie sets, others were used for costume, makeup and hair. Jacopo says that 80% of the furniture in the movie is owned by his family. Oliver’s bedroom is where Jacopo slept as a child and the kitchen remains exactly as he remembers from his childhood, as is the Library. Apparently, their piano was restored for the movie, but the famous pink sofa in the library was not restored, as you will see. Jacopo says that what he most remembers of his childhood home is the perfume of the gardens. The many fruit trees in the movie were already there, including the pomegranate. But the apricot and peach trees were newly planted by the movie’s landscaper. Jacopo says the gardens were the pride of his father. While it was just recently announced that the Villa was for sale – Jacopo says it actually has been for sale for years, using the word of mouth method. With busy careers, the brothers could only visit Albergoni once a year, during the summer. The upkeep is enormous. Jacopo and his brother were tortured by the decision to sell their childhood house, so full of memories. But, they feel that the popularity of the movie will drive the price for the villa up and now is the time to take advantage of that. The long-time gardener says that tourists come by every day to pay homage to the house for its beauty, but mostly for the love story that they obviously felt moved by. FLOOR PLAN: Here’s a fabulous watercolor of the ground floor, without the kitchen wing, drawn by Floor Plan Croissant, an architect who is obsessed with movie houses, like we all are. Isn’t this gorgeous? She sells her work from postcards to the originals. Go HERE to see more and to read her fascinating blog!!! AND if anyone wants a custom drawn plan of their own house, inside or out – you should commission it!!!! Here is Floor Plan Croissant’s drawing - including the kitchen wing!!!! And here is the upstairs – Elio and Oliver’s bedrooms, connected by a door and the bathroom. A huge thank you Floor Plan Croissant for letting me show her work. My own floor plan is so pathetic compared to these that I will save that only for my own eyes. No wonder I never made good grades in Architectural classes at UT!!! THE FRONT DOOR WITH THE BALCONY ABOVE: REAL ESTATE PHOTO: The center hall runs from the front door to the back. There are two rooms on each side of the center hall. The carved front door with the stucco carvings around it. REAL ESTATE PHOTO: Here is how the center hall looks as it was. Some of the owner’s furniture was used in the movie, but the Set Designer added quite a bit. AFTER CMBYN: This was taken after filming was over – I wonder if these chandeliers were added by Violante, the Set Designer. They are quite pretty. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME: Here is the same hall as furnished for the movie by Set Decorator Violante. This actually shows the back door. You can see in the center of the hall – matching Spanish/Italian tables that face each other. Large antique paper maps were bought to hang on the walls. Further by the door is an antique Italian settee (the owners) in cream, along with more prints. Stucco ceiling is coved. Violante spent a month shopping for the house, even borrowing accessories from her father’s home to use for filming. Violante gathered bamboo leaves each day for the vases – something she said that Mrs. Perlman would probably have done. Myself, I don’t agree. Mrs. Perlman was always too busy smoking to spend time in the garden!!!! The center hall is one of my favorite rooms in the house. I LOVE the way it was decorated for the movie. Beautiful!!! A Behind The Scenes look – shows the center hall with the film crew. Lights off. I think the maps are such a wonderful way to decorate. This center hall reminds me of Lauren Liess’ new house – her center hall. Notice the Italian Terrazzo floor. In the center hall it is cream and black with a black border. But in the side rooms – the terrazzo is yellow and black. And the director Luca, sitting on the antique Italian settee in the center hall. I’m obsessed with these maps. Such a wonderful element in the hall. Their coloring looks so good with the terrazzo. Real Estate Photo: A view of the house as it is today. To the right is the Front Room – which is not seen much at all in the movie, just one scene. At the left is the Drawing Room, the main room where Elio’s piano is. THE FRONT ROOM: The painted ceiling. REAL ESTATE: The smaller front room which is the size of the library across the hall. There are not many before photos. Be sure to notice the beautiful ceiling! THE FRONT ROOM in CMBYN: One scene where this room was used was at the very end of the movie – Elio goes in here during their Hanukkah Celebration dinner. The large painting remains where the owners had it. CMBYN: Elio relaxes on the white slipcovered chair that belongs to the owners. All the fireplaces are lit and popping – making so much noise, echoing throughout the ground floor rooms. NOTE: Throughout the movie while in the villa, one element was noise. It was as if the house was a character, making its own noise, creating its own dialogue. Each time the doors were closed - they are so heavy, made of solid wood – the noise would sound throughout the house. The footsteps on the terrazzo floors also created a natural noise. In one scene, there is a loud recurrent noise happening somewhere off screen as if it was a musical beat. It was obviously a shutter that wasn’t secured and was banging in the wind. Was it intentional or was it happening and the director left it in the movie? THE FRONT ROOM: The noisy shutters. Elio watches from the front room. THE DRAWING ROOM: CMBYN: Here is the drawing room, dressed for the movie. This room adjoins the Front Room via the two doors behind the piano which is an early 20th century antique. The room itself has such beautiful Italian architecture. The ceilings were painted in the 1500s by Aurelio Busso, a pupil of Raphael. Only part of the fresco remains – you can see those by the window. Notice the floor – it is more yellow here than in the hall. Again – the set decorator Violante chose rather shabby, used furniture – nothing bought new. Everything is used or antique. For the decor magazine photoshoots – the furniture was changed around. In CMBYN, it’s not nearly as neatly placed as it appears here. The opposite view – showing the large fireplace that is so tall, you can almost walk inside it. Notice the door in the right corner – this is one of the corner towers. At one point, there was a staircase in it. Now, it has been converted to a bar. If I bought this Villa, cough (I wish!) – I would paint the walls a soft white or cream, that matches the trim color of the ceiling. This sofa was added along with all these beautiful chinoiserie styled paintings. A screenshot from the movie – Elio playing Bach for Oliver. The same view – without Elio or Oliver. Of course there are books everywhere. Being academia – all anyone does is read in this house. At one point Mrs. Perlman reads aloud a centuries old book in German to her husband and Elio, translating from German to Italian and English. Some of this furniture was the owners – with slips in green. A throw was just put on the white slipped sofa, something that the Perlmans would do – rather than reupholster. Before Violante decorated this Drawing Room, shockingly, director Luca found it “rather sad and uninteresting” – wow! What a biased Italian! He must be so immune to beauty that an American can not even begin to understand! Violante used many Indian fabrics and throws, some of which were hers and others she borrowed from people she said were like the Perlmans. The throw on the sofa is hers. At the other corner is a old TV from the 60s or 70s. In the book, Elio makes a point of saying he has so much knowledge for a 17 year old because they don’t ever watch TV. But in the movie, they unfortunately do. I love this view – you can see into the Front Room which the crew obviously used as a work room when they weren’t shooting in there! A view of the center section of the ceiling. REAL ESTATE PHOTOS: Here is how the Drawing Room actually looked. All the furniture is white slipcovered. Some of the paintings remain, they belong to the owners. Through the door you can see the center hall, with the back door open. The mantel looks much better without the painting – as it was in CMBYN. BEFORE: This view shows two pianos. The mirror belongs to the house, as do the paintings above the door. The other two large paintings are a surprise – these weren’t used in the movies, afaik. And here, above the windows, you can see how little of the original fresco remains. Note – the mirror here to the left is the one that Violante moved to the library, above the sofa, where it remains today. THE LIBRARY: REAL ESTATE: By the front door, on the left, is the library – most of these books were used in the movie, as was the very shabby pink velvet sofa. This antique wood desk was not used in CMBYN, nor was the mirror or the red wallpaper behind the sofa. BEFORE: On the front side of the room is a large fireplace. The trim work and doors are all painted black throughout the house. The wall behind the sofa is where the kitchen addition was added. Therefore – the window in this room was closed up – which might account for this odd niche behind the sofa. AND – access to the corner tower is no longer from this room, it’s on the kitchen side. CMBYN: Here, you can see the different desk that was used, along with the chairs, including the Ming antique. Another huge change was the paper behind the sofa. Violante covered the red wallpaper with a brocade from Dedar. As a nod to Professor Perlman, Violante added the collection of antique cameos of Lombardian kings. She also added books on Greco-Roman sculpture, antique maps and a globe. Luca wanted to get rid of the sofa, but Violante asked that it remain. She felt that it was exactly the comfy sofa that Professor Perlman would have. Notice the two old brass sconces flanking the sofa. They look like ones that Restoration Hardware sell now!! Such a pretty photo! CMBYN: Another updated view of the library. CMBYN: Violante did straighten up the books and added volumes on antiquity sculpture. Through the side door is the stairwell. On the desk are antique crystal ink wells. CMBYN: As so it begins….Elio meets the traveling intern Oliver when he first arrives in his blue billowy shirt. I love the way Violante decorated the back wall with the cameos. The library is the setting for one of the most powerful scenes in the movie – a talk between the Professor and his son Elio. Every time I say “the Professor” – I think of Gilligan’s Island and its theme song: “The Professor and Marianne, here on Gilligan’s Isle!!!” That back wall is perfection! And the stylist really made that shabby sofa look very nice! NOTE: Using this idea of tiny frames surrounding the mirror in a niche is a great design idea that you could emulate - without a spending a huge amount of money. I love how this vignette looks – fabulous!!! TODAY: And here is how the library looked after the movie crew left! You can see the new wallcovering remained, as did the mirror which had been moved from the drawing room, but all the tiny frames surrounding it are gone – probably owned by Violante. A young Italian girl was recently allowed in Villa Albergoni and many of the “after” photos shown are hers. To see the entire collection of her photos – go HERE and this is her twitter account if you want to follow her. FACTOID: When the girl first posted all the photos she took chronicling all the film locations (like above) – she received instant Internet fame and even got to appear on a television show with the entire cast of Call Me By Your Name!! THE STAIRWAY: BEFORE: The ground floor has such tall ceilings – that to reach the second floor you must go up two flights of steps. Along the way are original frescos on the walls. BEFORE: Looking down at the main floor. Through the door is the center hall. It looks like the owners had a stand up piano which was moved out for the filming. FOR THE MOVIE: The lobby to the stair hall was cleaned up and edited. The piano was moved out and the shelf was dressed. The beautiful painting on the left was in the film. The stairs are said to not be original to the house, they were replaced at some point, after the house was built. CMBYN: Elio and the painting. Above are lights for the filming. AFTER THE MOVIE CREW LEFT: Through this door is the kitchen wing – and also the entrance to the left tower. BEFORE: The guest bathroom with painted walls and trim. THE DINING ROOM: BEFORE: On the other side of the staircase is the dining room – used by the family as a billiard room. So THIS is where that cream antique Italian settee is from!! Through the door is the center hall. BEFORE: Notice the fireplace and ceiling. AFTER: FURNISHED FOR THE MOVIE CMBYN. The main scene filmed here was the very last scene, unfortunately. Although we barely see this room in the movie, it is beautifully furnished. Through the left wood hanging door is a pass-through to the kitchen wing. CMBYN: Another pretty photograph from the movie set! You can see the kitchen through the pass through. Most of the paintings came with the house, while the dining table was brought in for the film. CMBYN: A screenshot of Elio in the dining room. He is standing next to the marble fireplace which gives you an idea of how huge they are all!! And here is the last scene, Elio looking into the loudly crackling and snapping fireplace in the dining room, while the Oscar nominated song plays. THE KITCHEN: BEFORE: The kitchen in the adjoining wing that was built much later than the main house. At the right is the breakfast room. Love the Italian case clock, painted blue. BEFORE: Here is the “moderne” kitchen with marble countertops and a large farm sink! White tiles on the walls. Cork or tile floors? HOW THE KITCHEN LOOKED DURING THE MOVIE, CMBYN: Not much was done to the kitchen, except to accessorize it. A red check fabric was added to the sink, along with a collection of copper pans. A wooden table was added next to the sink. I think Violante installed the light fixture too. This looks just perfect for an old Italian family kitchen. CMBYN: Aftermath of a lunch with all the plates. This is real life styling - all for show for the movie! Looks so authentic! CMBYN: The cook rules the kitchen and the family. Who didn’t have a TV like that? Notice the old small appliances. Those plugs!!! FOR THE MOVIE: Outside the kitchen door - landscaper Gaia Chaillet Giusti built the pergola and added the lushness. This is where breakfast and brunch was served along with soft boiled eggs and peach (!) juice. Of course the Perlman’s chairs wouldn’t match. AFTER THE MOVIE CREW LEFT: This is all that remains! Sad! The young girl who took these “After” photos reported that the garden was being restored when she was there. THE TOWERS: The two old towers both once contained stairs that lead up to a look-out view over the land and to the attic space over the house. One tower was changed into a bar, while the second remains a staircase. Notice the view-holes in the walls of this tower: It’s hard to get a photo of the staircase inside this tower. This movie scene only lasts a few seconds, but here you can see Elio goes up the tower – to the attic. The daylight is from the holes in the stucco tower. This tower was probably once accessed through the library. Now you must go through the kitchen wing to reach it. The second tower – off the Drawing Room. This is now a bar that is reached through a short door in the Drawing Room. Shield-shaped windows were added in the bar – you can just barely see one of them here at the side of the tower. DURING THE MOVIE CMBYN: In this dramatic scene, Elio gets a nosebleed and he used the ice from the refrigerator in the bar – through the short open door, seen behind him. Sorry for the bad screencaps – but there are no other photos of the bar in the tower. Here you can see the window AND the stucco cutout with the grille over it. On the other side of the tower – you can see more of the stucco cut out with the window open. What a nose bleed! LOL. It’s lasting forever!!! Not really. The bottom of the tower bar with cabinets. I’m obsessed with the towers – especially since they are now different and both serve a purpose as opposed to just for security. THE SECOND FLOOR: The upstairs is like the downstairs. Two major rooms are on each side with the center hall in the middle. DURING THE MOVIE CMBYN: Here is the master bedroom as decorated by Violante. She redressed the bed and changed the hanging fabrics. The scenes shot in this room didn’t make it into the movie. There are rumors that the movie was almost four hours long before it was cut – I would love to see all those scenes that were left on the editing room floor! Through the side door is the blue tiled bathroom, also not seen in the movie. CMBYM: Another view. Notice the trumeau that came with the house as did most of this furniture. Through the door is the hall with the door to the balcony. CMBYN: In the corner – Elio’s mother’s dressing table. CMBYN: A close up of that dressing table – think of how much time Violante must have spent getting this vignette just right – and then, you don’t even see it in the movie!!!!! BEFORE: And here is how the master bedroom in the house actually looks – faded glamour. The new fabrics and bedding really made the room come alive!! Another view. Notice the chair propping open the door. Many needed to be propped open or else they slammed shut with a loud noise which reverberated throughout the house. During the movie the sound of these heavy wood doors was a continually used element. BEFORE: The second master bedroom as it really looks. BEFORE: Another view of this room, with a stove heater! This room was not used in the movie. BEFORE: The blue tiled bathroom with the stained glass window which looks like it has gotten a recent repair. Again – this bedroom was not used. After the movie crew left: This was Elio’s room, while Oliver is staying there. Such a pretty bed. FOR THE MOVIE - CMBYM: The same bedroom fitted out for the movie – as how a teenaged boy would live. Notice how the upstairs rooms have such beautiful wood floors!! For the movie – this small room is supposed to be what the family used as a storage room. Elio always moved out of his room during the intern’s stay. Since it is a storage room – Violante added lots of old things, making it more of a messy, catch-all room. CMBYN: Elio and his girlfriend watch Oliver arrive to the house for the first time. CMBYN: Just like a movie by Nancy Meyers, each detail needs to be fleshed out for the screen. Here is Elio’s desk, piled with his school and comic books. The beautiful blue tiled bath between Elio and Oliver’s rooms. I think this is so pretty!!! If you bought this villa – would you restore this bathroom, or leave it exactly how it is now? Hmmm. Another view. Oliver’s room is straight ahead. CMBYN: Violante used the owner’s vintage twin beds for Oliver’s room. Old posters from the 80s were put on the walls. Peter Gabriel – Live In Concert!!! CMBYN: And another view. THE ATTIC: The left tower – with the staircase that Elio uses to go to the attic. Notice the tiny round holes in the stucco, above the second floor windows. Those holes are where the attic is. Notice the second round hole has a security spotlight installed in it. You’ll see this again! SCREENCAP FROM CMBYN: The dark attic – which the family uses for storage – there’s an old sofa here, a lamp shade, a chandelier sits in a chair. See the round opening in the stucco – and the window that closes it off – this is the round hole above the second story windows. Elio comes up here to be alone – the doves are cooing and you think it must be a dovecote. Perhaps doves do roost in the tower. Not sure. It’s really only when you watch this scene a few times, to prepare a blog story(!), that you realize this is actually the attic. On the first view, I thought it was the dovecote. SCREENCAP FROM CMBYN: Violante said this was her favorite room to decorate – but it was barely seen except for a few short scenes. In this window behind Elio – you can see the spotlight that was installed to illuminate the yard. This is the spotlight you can seen from outside. THE ESTATE: Even though the house is so fabulous – much of the activity takes place outside. All meals are eaten either under the pergola or under the plane/lime trees out front. Here, breakfast and cigarettes are served. And behind the scenes, what really goes on. The same scene shown above – being set up. Poor Mrs. Perlman – she has to chain smoke throughout the movie. The gardener tends to his apricot and peach (!) trees – which don’t really grow here, but were brought in for the movie by the landscape designer. The area by the side gate – which you can see here at the back left with the urn on top of the post – this is where the faux swimming pool is. As usual, bathing suits!! After the movie, this photo was taken by the young girl who visited this winter. The same area as seen above, from afar. You can see how large the front yard is – this row of buildings line the street where Elio and Oliver ride their bikes. The swimming pool was built by making a trough and surrounding it with recycled stones purchased from a warehouse – which were then painted to look old. Had me fooled! I thought the pool was real! Of course the director, Luca, was behind the rustic, small swimming pool. He said a family like the Perlmans would never have a fancy, new pool – it would be too nouveau riche for them. This shows how high the stones were for the “faux” swimming pool. I wonder if they left this – it would make a great fountain!! In the end, despite the beautiful Italian villa and wonderful landscape – Call Me By Your Name is a poignant story of first love – and all the heartbreak that goes with it, as you can see here. Elio! I am hoping Timothee Chalamet wins for Best Actor and the movie wins for Best Picture. If The Shape of Water wins, I might never watch another Oscar award show!! But that’s personal. If you’ve seen the movie – read the book. It’s much better than the movie, if that is even possible. Six days now and I still can’t get the movie out of my head. Even Oprah, with Elio, agrees with me!!!! To order the book, click the photo below: AND…. For something completely different…Fixer Upper’s The Gaines have just introduced their new spring collection at Target, just in time for Easter: Here is part of the collection showing the beautiful plates that are a cheaper take off on Juleska plates which cost a small fortune. And, aren’t those bunny egg cups to die for!!! SOOOO CUTE!!!!! I like the glasses too with the Juleska (again!) detailing. HERE The plates with the Juleska styling. The charger is made to mimic a birds nest. HERE More darling white pieces for spring!! LOVE! HERE ANOTHER PART OF THE SPRING COLLECTION HERE THIS IS THE MATCHING MAGNOLIA STOOL AND PILLOW IN DIFFERENT COLORS HERE CHAIR IN BLUE, BLACK OR GRAY HERE TO GO WITH THIS TABLE – ALL FROM TARGET!!! TABLE HERE

Sometimes something as simple as a selfie can save you from prison...

Torino, Italy Source unknown [via]

The renovation of this 1970s ranch involved an overhaul of the home's bones and cosmetic features while maintaining its mid-century authenticity. Claire achieved a level of livable luxury that's well-suited for any family, and I cannot wait to see who's lucky enough to call this home. Austin locals: here's the official listing. A Mid-Century Designer Home

Decorator Gwynn Griffith's Converted San Antonio Factory

Have you ever looked at a Medieval Castle and wondered - “how in the world did they ever build that back then?” If so, you aren’t alone. In France, a medieval castle is now being built, using only tools and construction methods from that era, in order that we may learn exactly how man was able to build such magnificent buildings without the use of any modern conveniences and utilities. How is this endeavor even being done? Chateau Saint-Fargeau The project started here, at this Chateau, in the Burgundy region of France. Michel Guyot owns this beautiful chateau, which he spent years renovating. What Guyot didn’t know when he bought this chateau, was that it harbored a secret within its walls. This hall, overlooking the courtyard at Chateau Saint-Fargeau, has marble floors and marble busts. Notice the beamed ceiling, original to the chateau. This long hall holds a clue to the chateau’s secret. The dining room. The chateau’s secret would eventually be revealed to its unsuspecting owner… This room is filled with weapons, suits of armor and a row of fabulous iron antique chandeliers. Once the renovation was completed, Chateau Saint-Fargeau was opened to visitors. And this is where our story begins. In the attic, visitors can see the bones of the chateau – which holds the clues to its secrets… The genesis of the idea to build a medieval castle from the ground up started here, at Chateau Saint-Fargeau. When the owner, Michel Guyot, first purchased the castle, he hired a team of experts to renovate it. After studying the project, the renovators discovered a striking secret: within the walls of the castle was the remains of a medieval castle. On the last page of their renovation proposal, they included a drawing of this “medieval castle within the castle” – as it once looked: The secret revealed: The drawing of the medieval castle as it once appeared - its stone walls were found still standing, hidden within the newer Chateau Saint-Fargeau, which had been built around this medieval castle. Here is an aerial view of the castle – you can match up just where the footprints of the original medieval walls are hidden inside this newer chateau. Once the secret was revealed, Michel Guyot became obsessed with the medieval castle hidden within the walls of his chateau. It was this drawing of the original castle that was the genesis of a building campaign. The renovators had written on this drawing: “Reconstructing Saint-Fargeau would be an amazing project” – and Guyot agreed. Could it even be done? At that time, Guyot had spent over 20 years saving castles from ruin. To spearhead the project, in 1995, he hired Maryline Martin who was as enthusiastic about rebuilding the hidden medieval castle as he was. But, after much discussion, in the end, it was decided that rebuilding the original medieval Chateau Saint Fargeau would be cost prohibitive, and that idea was scraped. But, perhaps ANOTHER medieval castle could be built? The answer was yes. Plans were then drawn up to build a new medieval castle from the ground up, using only tools and construction methods from that time period. Investors were found, the location at Guedelon, Burgundy was acquired, and the project was started. It was to be known as Guedelon Castle. But first, a fictional back story of the castle was created. The year was 1245 and King Louis IX is on the throne, while over in England King Henry III rules. Westminster Abbey is just being built and the Seventh Crusade is underway, led by King Louis to avenge the fall of Jerusalem to the Persian Sunni Muslim dynasty. The castle is being built for the fictional “Seigneur Guilbert,” whom, they wrote, fought for the royal army. Seigneur Guilbert was given the money to build a modest castle as thanks for his loyalty. His chateau will be both modest and small compared to other medieval castles. There will be no expensive moat – just a ditch. With this back story written, the project begins. The land chosen for the building site is a former quarry, surrounded by forest. All the natural materials required to build the castle are found here: stone, wood, earth, sand and clay. It is from these elements that the building will amazingly rise. The laborers will wear clothes just as those in the medieval times wore. Visitors and volunteers will help to build the castle – and, today, over 300,000 come each year to see the castle and many of these lend a hand with the construction. The entrance fees now completely fund the project – making it a financial success. The laborers here are quarrymen, stonemasons, woodcutters, carpenters, blacksmiths, tile makers and rope makers, amongst others. Since there are no rulers, knots in rope are used as a means of measurement. Work stops during the cold winters. When the weather warms, laborers from across the globe toil to create Guedelon which now includes within its curtain walls - the Great Hall, the antechamber, the kitchen, the storeroom, the guardrooms, the crenelated wall walks, the Great Tower, the Chapel Tower, the Pigeonniere and the drawbridge. Here is a drawing of how the castle will look when finished. The Great Hall is at the center of the castle. To its right is the Great Tower, while the Chapel Tower is to its left. To understand the importance of this project, this is the first medieval castle to be built in 500 years – and the first castle of its kind, using only medieval tools, methods and materials for nearly 800 years. And here is an actual model that was built, which is now on display at the site. The site plan, showing the Great Hall and antechamber. The head architect is Jacques Moulin who drew up the plans. It was Moulin who thought that Guedelon could be both a genuine research project, as well as a visitors attraction. The project thus became not to only finish the building, but also to observe and learn from each phase of its construction. A balance had to be created between a rigorous scientific program and a program that would appeal to visitors. One change that was made as time went on – the front gate houses were deemed to be too fancy for the modest castle and today, the plans have been altered to build a much less complicated gatehouses than those shown in the drawings. The layout of the project. The canopy of shade trees leads to Guedelon Castle in Burgundy. The Guedelon Castle Project begins in 1997: here is the land, cleared, before the building can start. In 1998 – the public is invited to come visit for the first time. There are 20 workers who build the perimeter walls. Most visitors aren’t very impressed…yet! It’s hard, dirty labor, for sure. By 2000, the Chapel Tower begins to take shape. Is this the 14th century????? There is no suspension on these carts which makes for a very bumpy ride. The signage is in French - Picnic Area, The Mill… By 2002, the engineering on a corner tower begins in earnest. Notice the spiral stairs. 2004: The Great Hall begins to take shape. A closer view of the main building where the Great Hall will be. This does not look like fun. Why are they smiling? I’d be crying!!! By 2008 - the Great Hall’s second story is being started. It’s been ten years now and this is all that has been built. As the years go by, the crowds grow larger. A print of the famous “Artisans of the Middle Ages” hangs on the castle walls for inspiration. It does look remarkably like what is being done today at the castle. The roof is finally being installed on the Great Hall. All the mills are powered by water. 2009 – the roof is halfway done on the Great Hall. At the right is the Great Tower. To the left is the Chapel Towel, not yet finished. A view inside the roof of the Great Hall. First the wood base is built, then the tiles cover the base. In 2012 - the Chapel Tower with its distinctive window is started. A view of the Guedelon Castle. The Great Hall is now completed. A view from outside the walls of the castle. The round wheels are moved from construction area to construction area – the wheels are used to hoist heavy materials up to high elevations. Like a hamster in his wheel, a worker turns the wheel by using her body weight. The beautiful window is installed in the Chapel Tower. From the outside – the window in the Chapel Tower. Below is the covered walkway. A surprise to visitors is how much wood is used on medieval castles – it’s not only stone. But through the centuries - the wood quickly decays, while the stone decays at a much slower rate. A door in the tower. What is most interesting to think about is that when you see a medieval castle today – you see the ruin. At Guedelon, nothing is ruined. All the stone is new and the woodwork has not yet decayed, the plaster is still on the walls, and the paint is bright and beautiful. The interior room of the Chapel Tower – before its stone walls were whitewashed. A view of the window – and the ceiling of the Chapel Tower now whitewashed. Just beautiful! The Chapel Tower contains the first rib-vaulted roof to be built with purely medieval techniques in over 600 years. A lavabo in the Chapel. The ground floor of the tower – painted in faux stone. A view lower of the ground floor of the tower. All the buildings outside of the castle walls are so charming! A more recent aerial view of Guedelon. The corner towers do not yet have their distinctive pointed cone tops, and the two gate house towers have yet to be finished. Another view. The Great Hall, on the top floor. Past the Great Hall is the Anteroom, or the owner’s bedroom. On the ground floor is the storeroom and the kitchen. Do you notice the roof tiles are darker on the right side of the Great Hall, than on the left? This was caused because the first batch of tiles were left in the oven too long!! Today the towers are built – just the pointed cone tops are missing. The walkway along one side of the curtain walls. And the same hall from the opposite direction. A corner tower awaits its top. Stone stairs inside a tower. There will be no moat – only a dirt ditch. The “owner” Seigneur Guilbert was of modest means and could not afford a more luxurious castle with a moat. Today, after twenty years of hard labor – the gatehouses are finally being built, scheduled to begin next season, 2018. The main bridge will no longer be usable during the construction of the gatehouses – so a second temporary bridge was built to the side, seen here. Not one nail was used in its construction!, The temporary side bridge – built for use while the gatehouses are built this coming season, 2018. Baskets are needed to tote tools and supplies. The blacksmith. These women are in charge of dying the thread. This is a lime kiln, built exactly as it was used in medieval times. The kiln fires for several days and then it is rebuilt. Lime is fired here to create mortar. The fire must be kept going for at least four days – teams take turn keeping it lit. Sometimes there are many watching over it – other times, there is just one person in charge. Geese, chicken and pigs roam freely around the yard. Paint is made from pigments from the earth and clay. Notice the accurate, for the times, drawings on the walls. I love these botanicals. Once the towers have their tops, the castle will look more finished. Benches were made for the courtyard. The courtyard will not be paved, instead it will be as it is now – packed earth. First we will visit the Anteroom, or bedroom, located on the second floor – at the very right of the Great Hall. Below, is the kitchen, reached by the door on the right side. A drawing of how it will look when the Great Tower has its top. To the very right is the door to the Great Tower. The stairs take you to the Great Hall. The doors to the kitchen are on the ground floor, at the right. The Anteroom is one the prettiest room in the castle with its walls painted in the style of the day. The King of England’s rooms in the Tower of London had a similar roses and stones pattern. I love this fireplace! Through the arched door is the Great Hall. The arched, wood ceiling. The arched windowseat overlooks the courtyard. The view of the wall and windowseat that overlooks the courtyard. The mural is not quite finished here. Close up of the roses pattern. The windows have no glass. Looking up at the Anteroom’s wood ceiling, which is just amazing! The paintings on the wall were inspired by the murals on the walls of this ancient monastery in nearby Moutiers. A close up of the murals. The artists at the castle decided not to portray humans or biblical figures at Guedelon, instead they only painted the flowers, plants, and whimsical forms. The King’s bedroom in the Tower of London shows the Roses and Stone painted decoration on the stone walls of this medieval castle. This décor was also used as an inspiration for the murals in Guedelon Castle. To reach the Great Hall, visitors use the outdoor staircase, seen here. An early view before the floor was installed and the roof tiles were placed over the wood beams. The Great Hall today is just beautiful!! Two arched windowseats overlook the courtyard. The back windowseat looks out at the Chapel Towers. The floor is tiled. There is a fireplace on the right. But it is the ceiling that is so remarkable. Dressed for a banquet with a simple table cloth and bench. Above is a flower arrangement. Another view of the Great Hall. The ceiling!!! The arched door that leads to the Great Hall is on the left. Ready for a party. Everything was made at the site. The window – notice how thick the walls are. And the window seat that looks out to the Chapel Tower. Notice that the window casts a shadow on the tiled floor. The Great Hall is so pretty – I do wonder if when it is completed, will they rent it out for weddings or banquets? The Great Hall is on the second floor. At the right of the hall is the Anteroom, or bedroom. On the first floor is a storeroom. Under the Anteroom is the kitchen, which is reached through the door at the very right. At the left is the Chapel Tower with its distinctive window. Will the castle’s stone be painted when it is completed? Maryline Martin is quoted as saying that, yes, the stone will be painted. White? Probably. But Martin says she would prefer the walls be painted a bright, happy color. Hmmm. I vote for white! The first floor Storeroom, now painted white, is located under the Great Hall. It is not nearly as grand as the Great Hall, but it is beautiful with its tiled floor and whitewashed walls. Looking the opposite direction towards the kitchen. These high windows overlook the courtyard. Beautiful photo of the sunlight streaming in through the high windows. The kitchen with its simple furniture. Don’t look for it - there’s no refrigerator here! Leavened bread is made each morning here in the kitchen. If they were Jewish – they would be making unleavened bread, or matzo! LOL! The baker busy at work. A night view of the kitchen. The arched, grilled windowseat in the kitchen that looks out on the courtyard. Notice its interior shutters. The garden was just recently planted. Herbs used in medicine? Claire Randall Fraser of Outlander would LOVE this garden! The medieval garden was planted outside the walls of the castle. When the project is completed in another five years – will anyone ever live here? The answer, at this time, is thought to be “no.” But I do wonder if overnight vacation days won’t be sold here – “sleep two nights in the owner’s bedroom!” The Great Tower – with its decorated wood door. At the left is the staircase. The stone stairs to the Great Tower with its rope railing. The Lord’s Seat in the Great Tower where he can overlook the activities in the courtyard and beyond to the gatehouses. With daylight streaming in. The tower’s ceiling was painted white with a faux stone pattern. From the back side of the Great Hall – an interesting view of the chimneys. The Bridge that leads to the castle. This next summer season in 2018, the gatehouses will be completed. Notice the small window high up on the Great Tower? That’s the Lord’s windowseat shown in the above photo. In order to get ready for next summer and the building of the gatehouses – the large wheel was moved here. Laborers walk inside the wheel, similar to how a hamster does! A thanksgiving banquet held in the garden. From outside the castle walls – the Carpenter’s House is to the right with its distinctive A-frame roof. The temporary bridge was built at the side since the main bridge is now closed. This past weekend, all activity at Guedelon Castle ended for the 2017 season! Twenty years completed!! I can’t wait for next summer to see how the gatehouses will look!! After the success of Guedelon Castle, a few years ago, a French couple approached Michel Guyot and offered their land in the Ozarks of Arkansas – for him to build another castle, here in America! Plans were drawn up, funds of $1.5 million were raised, and the 20 year project was begun in Arkansas – on the 50 acre plot. What is worth noting is how different the Arkansas castle looks, due to the stone of the Ozarks, which is white, not yellow like at Guedelon. The Ozark Medieval Fortress with its white stone walls – it looks so different from Guedelon with its warm stone walls. Work was begun and the project waited for the visitors to come. They didn’t. Money became an issue. At Guedelon, the success of the project is because it is now completely funded by the visitor fees. In Arkansas, with no food or restroom facilities – word of mouth was negative and the project was put on hold. No one came. It is said they are still looking for funding, with hopes that the project will be finished one day. For now, the castle is a ruin. To visit Guedelon Castle – it’s a few hours drive from Paris. Children are welcome. If you plan to go, visit the web site and Facebook to learn more. HERE. Places to stay from glamping to chateaus are listed on the web site. AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: Today, Target debuted Joanna and Chip Gaines much anticipated collection: “Hearth and Hand With Magnolia” Here are a few objects in their collection: GALVANIZED TIN VASES HERE GREEN VASES AND ASSORTED CLEAR ONES HERE BLACK AND WHITE PILLOW AND ALSO IN GREEN PLAID HERE BLACK LANTERNS HERE LOG HOLDER HERE DOG BED –MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN ALL AREAS? HERE GALVANIZED ORNAMENTS ALONG WITH OTHERS HERE DOLL HOUSE – THE CUTEST!!! HERE DOLL HOUSE GIFT WRAP HERE TABLE RUNNER WITH MATCHING NAPKINS AND PLACE MATS HERE CREAM AND SUGAR STONEWARE AND OTHER PIECES HERE PLAID CHRISTMAS MATCHING PJ’S HERE GREAT COLLECTION OF PLATES AND PLATTERS - STONEWARE IN CREAM, BLACK AND KHAKI HERE THIS IS THE CUTEST IDEA EVER – BUT IT’S ALREADY SOLD OUT – MORE COMING HERE TO SEE JOANNA AND CHIP GAINES’ COMPLETE HEARTH & HAND COLLECTION – GO HERE.