The Home Alone house was one of the first movie posts I wrote, and it continues to be one of the most popular ones in my Movie Monday series. Since then I have learned a lot more about the house and found some photos of the real interiors as they look today, so I decided it was time for an update. What better way to kick off a month of Christmas-movie posts?
Let’s take a look at the entry first. The above photo is how it looked in Home Alone 2. Below is a snapshot I took in the original movie. Notice the changes they made, like how there are fewer family photos on the wall going up the stairs?
Julio Macat, the Director of Photography, said Home Alone was his favorite of all the movies he’s photographed.
Looking through the entry from the dining room, into the living room:
Here’s how the living room with the piano looked in the movie:
Here’s a photo of the same rooms taken in the actual house:
The family gathered in this room in Home Alone 2:
Big thanks to Eric, who generously allowed me to share his photos of the real home with you. He writes:
These are rare photographs of the gorgeous Winnetka, Illinois, house that was used in the movie Home Alone. The pictures of the inside of the house were taken by me sometime in 2004. I have to thank the wonderful owners of the house, for being kind enough to invite me in to their private home and allow me to snap a few quick shots.
Director Christopher Columbus says he was striving to make a film that looked timeless. “We intended the film to feel like Christmas, so we filled the house with greens and reds. I wanted the house to feel like a warm place.”
A photo Eric took of the real room in the house, taken in 2004:
Macaulay Culkin points out in the DVD commentary that in real life he would have crashed into the wall if he really attempted to sled down the stairs and out the front door.
A photo taken in the real house looking down the stairs:
Be sure to visit Eric’s website to see the rest of the photos he took of the house.
In the days before fancier effects were available, they used potato flakes to simulate the snow. It looks so pretty you’d never know the difference, would you?
In this shot you can see the backyard with the tire swing and tree house:
Macaulay Culkin says the homeowners were excited about having the film shot there. They would greet the crew with coffee and hot chocolate.
The kitchen, like the rest of the house, was decorated in shades of red and green.
The attic:
Did you notice we see almost every room of the house except Kevin’s?
Buzz’s bedroom–before all the shelves come crashing down:
Kevin in his parents’ bedroom:
This shot of the parents’ bathroom is from a deleted scene:
The parents’ bath as seen in the movie:
The upstairs hallway:
A glimpse into the hall bath:
Kevin watches a (fictional) old movie, called Angels With Filthy Souls:
Dining room:
Despite the resemblance between the actual rooms and the ones in the films, few of the interior scenes were shot inside the real house. Director Christopher Columbus talks in the DVD commentary about recreating the interiors on a sound stage in a high school gymnasium (a source tells me that they used the nearby New Trier High School, which was vacant at the time).
In these production shots taken during filming you can see that they’re just sets (not real rooms in a house):
Ceilings appear to be 8 ft high in the actual house but are taller in the movie. The foyer is reportedly wider in the movie, too.
The Home Alone house sits on Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois. Here are some stats that Eric tracked down about it:
- 5 beds
- 3.5 bath
- 4,243 sqft
- Lot 23,278 square feet
- Built in 1920
The house was recently assessed at $1,810,500. The Amazing Eric also shared these floor plans that he worked out himself.
First-floor floor plan:
Second floor:
Kevin drew his own floor plan when formulating his “Battle Plan.” Macaulay Culkin says that he remembers being given some Crayons to color some of it in and make it look “authentic.”
Hey, did you ever notice the guy with the beard standing behind Catherine O’Hara in the airport? Did you ever think he bears a striking resemblance to Elvis Presley?
Well, there are some diehard “Elvis Is Alive” fans who did see a resemblance. They point to this “sighting” as proof that The King of Rock ‘n Roll is still alive (and apparently working as a movie extra)!
Here’s an exterior shot of the house as it looks today:
And here’s how it looks when the yard is all leafy and green in the summer (found here):
Did you know…
- John Hughes wrote the part of Kevin with Macaulay Culkin in mind after working with Culkin on Uncle Buck, but he still had to audition for director Chris Columbus.
- Hughes reportedly wrote the script in a single weekend.
- When it premiered, Siskel & Ebert gave the movie Two Thumbs Down.
- The Guinness Book of World Records named Home Alone the “Highest Box Office Gross – Comedy” after it made $533 million internationally.
Check out my original Home Alone post for more photos of the house. This was Answer #2 on my Christmas-Movie Houses Quiz yesterday. Did you guess it?
Visit my TV/Movie Houses page for links to all of the others I’ve done, from A Christmas Story to Christmas in Connecticut.
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Julia,
This is a lovely and grand home, prefect for holiday parties!
Cathy
The Stylish House´s last blog ..Christmas Mantle Swag Tutorial
I watched this movie over the weekend and remembered you previous Home Alone house post, so I was surprised to see another post today. Love your blog.
Emily B´s last blog ..new goals
WOW, what fun! I have always loved the “Home Alone” house…thanks for the really informative trip through it (and the sets they used for the interior scenes). I think the set design was stunning. What does it say about me that I absolutely love red and green, and the Christmas decorations make me innately happy…yet I’m Jewish? LOL!!
Cynthia S´s last blog ..Finally we’re HAPPY to see water!
Julia, I love your blog re-design. It is lovely — just like you!
Bonnie´s last blog ..More Flowers
I love the wall paper in the entry and stair well.
Janet´s last blog ..Recycled Homes
Thanks for posting these pics! My Aunt and Uncle actually lived a couple streets behind this house and I’m pretty sure walking around Winnetka at Thanksgiving is what started my love affair with houses. Thanks for the walk down memory lane
Stephanie´s last blog ..The Christmas Card That Wasn’t
We will always love this house!
Celebrity Digs HQ´s last blog ..Neighbors at Legal War Over Rihanna’s Big Move
P.S. Love the new look of your blog!
Celebrity Digs HQ´s last blog ..Neighbors at Legal War Over Rihanna’s Big Move
That’s ALOT of potatoe flakes !
You just made my day. I loved the Home Alone house from the moment the movie came out (I was in high school). Thank you for the inside scoop!!!
Maria Hanson´s last blog ..It always tastes better in a tea cup
Wonderful. Many thanks.
I have a suggestion for another movie house I’d love to learn more about: the house from Beetlejuice.
That house is beautiful! I never really payed much attention to it before, but wow! Talk about curb appeal!
Shannon´s last blog ..Reindeer Burlap Holiday Pillow
So cool! Thanks for sharing!
MissCaron´s last blog ..HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Ask and ye shall receive! Thanks! I am definitely going to head up north and check it out one of these days, probably after the first snow so it looks all festive and cozy!
Well, Siskel and Ebert were wrong, huh? That’s one of the best movies of all time (the first one)! And I always *loved* the house. Thanks for sharing the info! Very interesting.
P.S. I don’t think Elvis is alive.
Carmen´s last blog ..My attempt at a Thanksgiving centerpiece
I just watched 1 & 2 this past week with my family on Thanksgiving. I’m so glad you shared the house, because it’s one of my favorites. Strangely I love the movie interior better even with all the wallpaper.
Have you done the Christmas Vacation house yet?
rue
rue´s last blog ..My mom’s Thanksgiving tablescape
This post ROCKS! This film is just a classic and that house is so beautiful.
Jocelyn Stott´s last blog ..Thanksgiving Quick Recap
It’s a lovely home, but it looks like the ceilings are super low! I wonder if I’d feel like a giant in that house. : )
the BLAH BLAH BLAHger´s last blog ..Thanksgiving Wouldn’t Be the Same Without You
I grew up just about 4 blocks from there. My parents still live not too far and my sister is now moving into a house that was built on the property that my parents house was located. I am still not too far from there but more than the 4 blocks from where I grew up. It is a beautiful house as are a lot of the houses in Winnetka.
I have already watched Home Alone this year!! I got an early start! Loved this post! Love that house!
Have a great week!
Lou Cinda
Lou Cinda´s last blog ..It’s Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!
This will always be one of my favourite movie houses. And I absolutely love the look of the house with NO wallpaper, haha. And is it just the lighting, or are the floors darker in the entrance area of home? Comparing the two pictures, the floors in the movie are a lot nicer.
First of all, I LOVE your new look!!!
I’ve been out of town and didn’t have a chance to catch up while we were away. It looks fab!
I must have missed this post the first time around. I feel like such a dunce for not noticing the underlying red and green theme in the house…guess why that’s why I always thought it felt so homey. It came out when I was a kid, and I remember just loving the house. The staircase/foyer is awesome.
Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..Tennessee Playhouse Cottage
I love this movie and the house. I read that they paid the people something like $100K to use the house, and then they came in and did all the wallpaper we see in the movie because the owners didn’t have wallpaper. Then after the movie, they came in again and took it all down. Maybe they put it up again for the next movie?
I loved seeing the real interior shots, Julia… what a difference from how they decorated the set!! In fact, for such a beautiful house (exterior), it was interesting to see plain white walls. Too bad, really!!
Fun post! Brought back memories of my son (now 22) doing the Kevin scream – hands on his cheeks and hollering at the top of his lungs!
Victoria @ DesignTies
Victoria @ DesignTies´s last blog ..Visions of Sugar-Plums… (or “The Best Way to Avoid Your Homework”)
loved reading all these behind-the-scenes secrets! i love how they used red & green decor to give the right vibe for a Christmas movie. gerat post & the new header is awesome!!!
xoxo,
lauren
Lauren Liess´s last blog ..Forcing Paperwhites/ Narcissus Bulbs
I’ve always loved that movie house! I don’t think that guy looks like Elvis though, not at all.
This is one of my all time favorite movie houses. Thanks for posting this! I can’t believe how similar the actual home is to the the sets. I would love to live in a house like that.
These are the best Home Alone movies ever made. The other Home Alone movies aren’t that great.
I LOVE the home alone house! I wish I could decorate like that! I think that is my favorite movie house…the 2nd is the father of the bride house! Thanks for sharing!
Jen @ After The Alter´s last blog ..Stuffed and Satisfied!
Beautiful house, looks so pretty in the different seasons outside
boysmum2´s last blog ..New Meaning
Hi Julia, I just love this home,and all the rooms inside. I was just wondering if there is a house plan out there somewhere on this house, so far I haven’t seen one that is close to it yet. I’ve looked at soo many plans now, they’re all staring to look alike to me. I think I need a break from looking at the plans.
Great post, Julia! I do love this house; think it’s one of my all time favorites!
Jacki´s last blog ..Garage Sale Treasure and Tagged
This is so cool and I too Vote on this being right up there among with the favorites of movie homes. ~?
Beth at Aunties´s last blog ..My Simple Day Book Post
What a cool blog post! I watched this movie so much…love the house!
Stephanie´s last blog ..Destination Canvas…. Where have you been?
I loved this movie! Seeing the floor plans really shows you just how big this house is, and it is beautiful! Funny how I notice now just how much wallpaper was used in the house/set.
My favorite Christmas movie ever, and yes, it has lots to do with the house!! LOVE this movie! I can’t imagine how it ever got two thumbs down. I think it should come back to the theater! I never saw it on the big screen!
~angela @ peonypatch
ps – I want this house!
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It’s so funny that you put this up! I had read your post about suggesting some holiday movie homes, and this one came to mind! So fun. Love your site, keep up the great work!
Julia-I am late getting here, but would never miss a Monday! I missed this the first time around and so enjoyed it. This house is just a classic . I remember loving the master bedroom and the kitchen when I saw the movie the first time. As for the Elvis sighting…doesn’t look a thing like him…saw him in Mempis today
susan´s last blog ..Christmas Under Glass…A Holiday Cloche Party
Thank you, thank you, than you!!!
At last, a plan of the house!
I absolutely love the film and this house. Home Alone comes out every Christmas to get me in the festive spirit and for the last three years I’ve ended up pouring over bits of paper trying to draw out the house plan. I could never quite work out the upstairs but my downstairs attempts seem pretty close.
Merry Christmas!
I love your page. I am looking for gold angel candles just like the ones on the dining room table.
Would anyone know where I can find them? Thank you. Happy holidays.
I’ve always admired that house. Home Alone is my all time favorite movie. I’m fairly sure that house was used in Planes Trains and Automobiles as well. It was Steve Martin’s house. They showed the foyer in the final scene & it was totally different from the Home Alone decor.
Colin speaks the truth.
Thank you, I was looking for this house plan since a long time. I loved the film and i’d like to build this house for my sims.
Sorry if my english isn’t perfect, i’m french.
Happy holidays
I followed a link over from Nester and I am LOVING this post. Home Alone was one of my favorite movies growing up.
Jamie´s last blog ..Goodbye Aughts
This is my favorite movie of all time – because of the house.
And I have to say, I think the interiors today are just the teensiest bit vanilla compared to the vibrant wallpapers and upholstery used in the film. I realize the film interiors would be considered dated today, but I think some of the papers on the wall are truly timeless. In fact, if I could snap my fingers and make it my own, I’d take the house decorated exactly like it was in the movie! 
hello julia,
i am a very big fan of home alone house.its so cosy n loving. i congratulate u on ur effort to draw up a floor plan for the house.i seen the movie many many times.i realise two rooms are not shown in the film the sun room in the 1st floor and anothe room in second floor.but how to get to this room in second floor.uve shown a door from buzzes room to tht place.but from the scene where buzz intros tht wierd guy in 1st movie,there is only dorr to closet in buzz room.also in the plan uve drawn there are no atteched baths exept in masterbed,but in second movie when kevin goes to get his tie,it shows a room with attached bath,ive tried many time to lacalize this n failed.can u pls help me.i know ur busy,i wud appreciate it tremendously if u mail me.thank you
dr nikhil…that is my attempted floor plan. Your absolutely right about all your points. The french doors in the dining room, I assume, lead to the “sunroom” however it is never shown in the movie. Also, there are many discrepancies with the upstairs and this is where it becomes obvious that it is only a set (which is true, read above^). The third floor staircase blocks any hall access to the “mystery room” on the far upper end of the house. I placed doorways leading to it from buzz’s room and the back bedroom assuming its a play room of some sort? What it really is is a mystery since the interiors dont perfectly correlate with the exteriors. And yes, I dont understand where the bathroom from the sequel comes in. Its definitely buzz’s room if I remember correctly but in the first movie the hall bath is directly accross from the staircase in the center.
This is one of my families favorite movies. Thank you for sharing the interior photos. I have always wondered what the interior looked like for the actual homeowners.
When my boys were little, as a last resort sometimes I would take them in the car to get them to fall asleep. I would drive through the neighborhoods of Winnetka. It was perfect, they would fall asleep and I could wonder down the brick roads, looking at all the beautiful homes. Not only were the houses amazing, the yards were beautiful also. I always came home with so many ideas.
Susie´s last blog ..Preppy Finds
I’ve always loved that house! So interesting to see the differences in the movie versus real life version…
Kelly
I loved Home Alone! And the blueprint is really cool!
That’s a fabulous house, I wonder how much it costs *grins*. I really wish they kept the original cast and stuff throughout all of the movies. I don’t like the rest after number 2! Definitely classics though. Thanks for the great photos and info.
Oh, what a lovely photos
I always love this movie and it’s so great that i have opportunity to see real interior of the house . Thanks a lot!!!
Kate@Florida country clubs´s last blog ..An Oceanfront Gem on the Florida Atlantic Coast
love this house!! wonder if it’s available for private weddings……
Not that I know of, since it’s a private home. I bet they could get a lot of business if they opened it up for events, though! -Julia