There is one place I love to escape to at any time of the year (within the realms of my imagination, that is). However, at this time of year, it feels extra magical to spend a little time in the house of my wildest dreams...
I am certain that most of you have seen and love the movie Practical Magic, based on Alice Hoffman's novel. Not just for the story but for the house and the incredibly delicious decor and architectural detail of the home.(image below is a movie still)
You can imagine my excitement when my friend, Miss D, told me she ordered a magazine lot of goodness knows how many old Victoria Magazine issues, just to get her hands on the October 1998 issue. But even better was that, she lent it to me in May, and I returned it to her on the 4th of July.
Of course, I snapped a few shots all those months ago with the plan to share it with you at this time of the year.
I don't have every inch of the article to share, just a few lovely snippets to inspire the soul. Don't forget you can always go to the Practical Magic fan site, Amas Veritas, for tons of details about the film.
I have been watching it for years and years, and never tire of it. How could you, with that dream kitchen alone? (image below is a movie still)
Let me share a bit more of the article from October 1998's Victoria Magazine below...
Oh that greenhouse! Dreamy, no?
I could stare and stare at these images for hours...
The one thing I can't get over is that, the inside of the home was actually built on a sound stage, can you believe it? And the actual home built on San Juan Island was a mere shell.
Amazing. I want this house. Ooh, yummy dreamy love house!
There was also a tiny cottage that we didn't see in the movie...
You can kind of see the cottage roof in this movie still below...
I have a huge map of the San Juan Islands that I acquired rather serendipitously one day many years ago, maybe it is a sign???
I also quite love the shop Sandra Bullock opens in the film, I would love a shop as such. Sigh. And those stairs, oh those stairs!!!(movie still below)
Shall I tell you a true little tale that sort of has something to do with this post, but not really ;)
Okay here is some pointless trivia.
When I was a kid, I lived in a Gingerbread like house, with my parents, in a heavily child populated neighborhood (this was before I had siblings). My Dad used to take me hiking into the desert hills, to a piece of land he bought where he was going to build his dream home.
Anyhow, when I was about 8 (my sister was about 2) my Dad and Mom built the house way out in the desert hills. So we left the kid friendly neighborhood, and we moved out to the middle of nowhere in the desert hills, amongst mines and such (which quite fascinated me, but that is a whole other blog post).
There was one mean kid who lived out there and only 3 other houses in this dirt road laden far away place that we went to live in. However, my Dad had a keen sense because over the years, people found that spot to be a sort of desert paradise, and started building their own homes in this area.
When I was a young teen, one of the people who built a home in this remote neighborhood I grew up in was Griffin Dunne's lovely Mother (who has since passed away). Griffin Dunne happens to have been the director for Practical Magic. See how that works ;)
His mom had an amazing fashion show when I was a teen (at her home), showcasing all of her costumes and such. Griffin Dunne and his daughter both happened to be there.
So you see, that is my pointless information for today ;)
Now I am totally inspired to work on my potions and such, aren't you?
Brew away, brew away! The party is only days away~
I must be off to make some toast, and keep out of trouble >:)
♥ ,V
(last 4 images are movie stills from the movie, Practical Magic)
