I know some of you think my adoration of Gwyneth Paltrow is super lame. It might just be, but I happen to think she’s got pretty cool taste and I admire her desire to be more than just an actress by crafting her newsletter GOOP. I will agree with you, the name has got to go. Kind of like Cougar Town (one of the FUNNIEST shows on TV-watch it), the name puts some people off. But beneath the verbal oversight lies some really good stuff. Like this week’s newsletter showcasing an apartment Gwyneth had decorated for a short term stay while she filmed a movie. Photostylist Annette Joseph did a fabulous job designing the space in such a short amount of time, and I can totally picture Gwyneth and her adorable little ones residing here. Plus, since it was short term, it was done on a budget- making it more approachable for us real life folks without movie star status! Check out the details of the design here, but below are some teaser shots!
One of the things I love the most is that Annette borrowed artwork by Jeanette Montgomery Barron for the space. Jeanette is the photographer behond the amazing book My Mother’s Clothes (which I have to pick up ASAP). There is such a painterly quality to her work, and such touching meaning.
You are free to admire whomever you like (of course!) but the problem I find with Gwyneth (and this whole GOOP enterprise) is that is so UNapproachable. Sure, a few of the GOOPs have had some good tips, but this one in particular really got to me. The whole time I scrolled through it this morning all I could think of is the fact that she did ALLLLLL of this for a TEMPORARY home, that she lived in for a few months, MAX. I know she brough her kids along and wanted them to have a pleasant environment to live and play in, but this was all a bit much for a (very) temporary residence. What a waste of money. I really hope she donates this furniture to an organization of some kind.
I really like her as well – I have found a lot of good stuff in her newsletters. I like a lot of her recipes and the Saffron Chicken has gone into the rotation. She does get such a hard time for it in the press.
That’s one amazing space! I can’t fathom it being merely a temporary home. Wonder what happened when the film wrapped?
I love Gwyneth and Goop and her new temporary apt. I have to agree with the others, all of this for something part time?
But I still love it!!
I’ve never heard of My Mother’s Clothes, it sounds amazing.
I didn’t know Gywneth had a news letter and will definitely check it out. Great stuff here and a lot of ideas. I wonder why the first comment is so angry? Won’t the next people to use the house enjoy it as much as she did? Film sets get torn down in one day most of the time!
Cougar Town is my (and my bf’s) new favorite show. I have never laughed out loud at a tv show so much (possibly even more than Mod Family!)
I am so with Hillary on this one! A huge waste of money and all for a “celebrity.” I know they have special privileges and have the resources to support these special privileges but geez. I’m sure there would have been a suitable place for her and her children that didn’t require such a major overhaul and wastefulness. And no offense to you Erin (because I reallly enjoy your blog, really, I do!), but this is hardly a makeover done on a “budget.” The sofa alone was nearly $3K and all the furniture in the living room totaled nearly $9K. I don’t know about you all but I do not consider such a price tag affordable. This just illustrates how spoiled celebrities are. Maybe I’m just jealous. It does look really nice but hardly achievable for us common folk.
I don’t think we read the same newsletter.
There is no way, shape or form that that loft was “budget”. Sure, the designer found pieces at retailers we often shop at, but she also purchased a $3,000 bed. Her client also had to have a “proper” $1200 bathtub to bathe the kiddies in. A third or more of the kitchen was redone simply because Gwyneth wanted a gas stove and subway tile up to the ceilings. All this had to be done in 10 days, with hundreds if not thousands of man (overtime) hours. All for a two month stay, highlighting that she was constrained to a tight indie film budget! What’s wrong with a furnished rental?
Sure a high-earning actress can afford that, and I don’t begrudge her for making her temporary home away from home more homelike for her family, but I don’t like how she tries to tries to pass her lifestyle off as normal and ordinary. She lives a very atypical (albeit stylish and swoon worthy to some) lifestyle, but I would find GOOP’s latest issue more palatable if she just said: This is what can be done to a not-so-perfect temporary home in 10 days with a lot of help. Enjoy!
Love the idea of the chalkboard paint in the kids’ room- super fun! Erin, I thought of you and your foo dogs today while I was doing one of my periodic sweeps of Homegoods… came across a pair of red lacquered (they also had white) foo dogs sitting on lucite bases. I like your blue ones better but the red (or white of course) could be pretty cool in the right setting! After reading your posts on them I’m starting to notice them all over the place now…
Agree totallly with Tracy. Ahhh … lifestyles of the rich and famous. A HUGE waste of money and time for a few short months of comfortable, hip, Gwyneth-style living. And actually kind of ridiculous when you think about it. Celebs live in a completely different stratoshphere than the majority of us, and “done on a budget” has a very different meaning. If only GP would’ve taken the money she wasted on this little temporary set-up and built a shcool in Africa that would’ve had more importance, meaning and longevity.
I love that purple bunk bed! Fabulous Post!
I have to agree with a few of the previous comments – although this apartment is beautiful, I certainly don’t consider it more approachable due to the ‘budget’.
Just saw this over at Chateau de lu – what a great space and what a transformation!
Just to clarify, while I understand that this space was not cheap, it is “on a budget” by interior design standards. They used a lot of fstuff from Overstock.com which is very affordable and quite a bit from Mitchell Gold, which, while not cheap, is not to the trade only or showroom level furnishings. I am sure this space was either sold furnished or the furniture was then sold or brought to a prop house for photo-stylists.
I loved her latest newsletter and even blogged about it yesterday as well. Good eye Erin. Have a great weekend.
How have I missed “My Mother’s Clothes”? It looks fabulous! I’m off to the book store this morning!
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The apartment turned out beautiful!!! And no worries about being “a waste”, its being sold fully furnished:)
For all of you who think 9k is a lot for a living room (a high end living room at that!), add up everything you have in your living room. The average person purchases their home furnishings over time, giving the illusion that they are only spending a couple hundred dollars for each space. BUT in all actuality, the average amount spent on main living spaces is $10,000 (each). This is an average,… meaning your average everyday common folk :)