Did you see Monster-in-Law, the movie starring Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez?
It had some pretty funny moments, but the sets are what really held my attention.
I especially liked the Craftsman Michael Vartan’s character lived in, so let’s take a closer look.
The Craftsman from “Monster-in-Law”
Kevin’s Craftsman:
We don’t see much of the exterior in the movie, but the photo above was snapped during production.
Lopez is sweet and likable as Charlie, a temp who spends her days walking dogs and answering phones but dreams of being an artist.
She doesn’t know what she’s getting into when she agrees to marry Kevin (Michael Vartan) until she meets his mother.
Charlie moves into Kevin’s house:
Actor Mark Ruffalo was reportedly asked to play the part of Kevin, but he declined.
Fonda is hilarious as Kevin’s mother Viola, who lends the movie its title.
n this shot, we can briefly see the staircase behind her:
In the DVD special features, we get a look behind the scenes and are treated to a couple of close-ups
of the beautiful fireplace and the built-in shelves on either side of it:
Looking from the living room into the dining room and kitchen:
This was Fonda’s first film in 15 years.
She has said that she based her character on her ex-husband, Ted Turner (!).
Charlie decides to add some of her own style to the house by painting a wall in the breakfast nook:
We never get to see how it turns out in the movie, but I spied it here in the Behind-the-Scenes featurette on the DVD:
The real house used for the exterior shots is in Pasadena.
The interiors were created on a soundstage.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes photo of the sets being built:
Iamnotastalker did some excellent sleuth work and found the actual house that they used in Pasadena:
“In real life, it’s known as the Ross House and it was designed in 1911 by Alfred and Arthur Heineman, the same architectural team who was responsible for giving us Dylan’s house from Beverly Hills, 90210 and the Eppes house from the television series Numb3rs.”
“The Heineman brothers built the residence, which features Craftsman, Asian, and Neo-Classical design elements, for a rancher named Winslow Ross at a cost of $8,000.
The house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, boasts Batchelder tile work, a hand-painted mural, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a whopping 4,657 square feet of living space.”
The owner of this Craftsman contacted me and sent me some interior photos of the house:
You can see all of his photos here.
Viola’s Country House in Montecito
Viola’s country home was the same house used on “Gilmore Girls” as the Independence Inn.
Visit my Houses Onscreen page to see the others I’ve featured, listed from A-Z.
both of viola’s homes were divine! funny that jane fonda based her character on ted turner, says a lot about him – don’t ya think! Loved that movie!
.-= Annie@A View on Design´s last blog ..Toorak’s finest =-.
That craftsman is to-die-for!
.-= Celebrity Digs HQ´s last blog ..“Seabiscuit” Writer/Producer/Director Down on the Farm =-.
I love this movie! Wanda Sykes has some hilarious lines! Since Craftsman style homes are my favorite, I love Kevin’s house. Thanks for another great post!
.-= Pam @ Design Fanatic´s last blog ..WHAT A DIFFERENCE A LITTLE PAINT MAKES! =-.
I did see this movie…I loved the subway rolls at his house!
.-= linda@LimeintheCoconut´s last blog ..Milo and the Big Butt chair… =-.
I thought this movie was hilarious! I love the Craftsman style house. Beautiful. I wouldn’t mind a Kevin either. 😀
.-= Carmen´s last blog ..The Few The Proud =-.
I loooooove Wallace Neff but I would choose Charlie’s place! It’s in Venice, near the beach, and I am definitely feeling the artsy/bohemian vibe. Kevin’s house is just too dark for me.
I really liked the craftsman style house, but the decor was a little too dark/modern for my tastes. But it suited Vartan’s character perfectly. Jane Fonda had some great freak-out scenes in this movie. 🙂 I am SO glad my mother-in-law isn’t like that!!! She’s only had two melt-downs, never in front of me, and they were during the Christmas holiday. We’ll be working on that this year. 😉
.-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..The Waste Land =-.
I love Kevin’s house! It’s funny that the thing people don’t like about it, that it is dark, is exactly why I do like it. I think I’m a bit of a den animal, at the end of the day I want to hole up somewhere dark and cozy to relax! Beautifully decorated too but not fussy. Love it!
.-= Hip Hip Gin Gin´s last blog ..Simple Pleasures =-.
Oh girl I loved this post. This is one of my favorite movies. I not only loved looking at the homes, I loved Jennifer Lopez’s style…very bohemian chic.
.-= Becky @ Farmgirl Paints´s last blog ..Chase the Lion =-.
very funny movie, the house is really pretty too!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Canvas Unwrapped, Deployed in Iraq, Constance and Matthew’s Story =-.
I loved this movie! All the houses were gorgeous. It was hard to choose which was my favorite!
Thanks for a GREAT post! Happy Monday!! =)
.-= Vicki @ In The Sandbox Comic Strip´s last blog ..Being a second child =-.
Thank you for this, you worked so hard for all these great pictures! I’m fascinated that the vote above favors the Craftsman House over the big mansions – how lovely we all have our feet on the ground.
Funnily, I was driving to work this morning and noticed the subway sign that they used (shown in a couple of your pics) in the window of Restoration Hardware.
.-= Struggler´s last blog ..Impulsive but Adorable =-.
The craftsman house is a stunner — inside and out. And it’s almost sad to know the interior was just a set in a sound stage. I shouldn’t be surprised but I always am!
.-= Lesley @ TheDesignFile´s last blog ..Green kitchens – the color, not the eco trend =-.
Hi,
Enjoyed your post today!! I just discovered your blog. I am really enjoying it. I love going to the movies with my friends just to see some of these houses. Favorite ones are the English cottage from The Holiday, Hampton House in Something’s Gotta Give, and the house in CA for the movie It’s Complicated!!!
Claudia
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..My first blog post! =-.
I rented this movie right after it came out on DVD and I liked it. I loved how Jennifer Lopez character, got back at Kevin’s mom. She had it coming to her.
I loved the Craftman and Country styled homes. I could see myself living in any one of them.
I was just talking (and laughing) about this movie 2 or 3 days ago with someone from work. Funny movie– Jane Fonda and Wanda Sykes are hilarious! Love the craftsman the most. Surprised that the interiors weren’t “real”.
Surprisingly, I loved all the homes in this film. The craftsman is my fave, though.
Remember the scene where Viola wakes up Charlie with the airhorn, then claims that she thought it was air freshener (then cackled evilly)? That’s my mother. Seriously, that is EXACTLY something my mother would do. My brother’s wife is a living saint having my mother for a MIL.
Mmmmmmm…Michael Vartan……
I’m sorry…what were you saying?
: )
Julie M.
.-= The Little Red Shop´s last blog ..French Larkspur ~ Jeanne D’Arc Living Garden Book Giveaway! =-.
Hi Julia I voted for the Pasadena Estate but I love Kevins place too. The pressure to make this vote….. I’ll take all of the above. Is Pasadena anygood at this time of the year? You know I have only seen this movie once I loved Wanda Sykes character she is my favourite and now I’ll have to send hubby shopping for the DVD. This was great thanks Julia. Regards Esther from Sydney with Autumn on our doorstep.
Is the country home the same property used as The Independence Inn on Gilmore Girls??
Claire–
Oh. My. Gosh. It is! It’s the same house! I’m a huge “Gilmore Girls” fan, but I didn’t even notice it. I just checked the first season to get a look at the Inn again and you’re right. I’ll have to update the post as soon as I can get a photo from “G.G.” Thanks! -Julia
You have a great blog ! very inspiring … please continu to make me dream !
Have a wonderful week-end !
.-= Tania – Grange de Charme´s last blog ..Ma rencontre avec Rachel Ashwell =-.
I’ve been looking for a bed to buy and found the perfect one when I saw this movie again. How did I miss that bed? Can anyone tell me where to buy the Master bed seen in Jane Fonda’s mansion? It’s in the scene before the wedding. You can see it in one of the photos above where she is sitting on it. PLsss.!