The Real Villa Under the Tuscan Sun: Villa Laura

Have you had a chance to visit the beautiful table settings linked for yesterday's Tablescape Thursday? I had so much fun clicking on all the links yesterday. I wish I could leave a comment at every single blog and tablescape I visited, but unfortunately that would take about 12 hours. I'm afraid my comments would be the ravings of a crazy nut if I left comments for 12 hours. ;) But please know I do visit as many as I can each week, even if I don't get a chance to leave a comment.

A few weeks ago we toured the beautiful old villa used in the filming of the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun. (You can view that post HERE.) When I was doing a little research for that post, I discovered the villa in the movie wasn't the actual villa bought by the author of the book by the same title. Frances Mayes, the author who wrote the book upon which the movie was based, bought Bramasole pictured below.




The movie was actually filmed in another villa in Italy, Villa Laura.




In 2006 Villa Laura was sold and the new owners completed a full restoration of the property.




Let's take a look at how Villa Laura looks now after its restoration/renovation. It's still very beautiful.




It appears this beautiful arched doorway will take us into the living room...







I am guessing the above room is this room in the movie below. Look closely and you can see the floor is tiled in the movie, too.




The current kitchen in Villa Laura:




Beautiful!




Here's a view of the kitchen in the movie. Quite different isn't it? I believe I like the stove after the restoration a lot better. ;)




The current dining room in Villa Laura:




And here's a view into the dining room in the movie. At one point during the movie, while the restoration was going on, they were eating off a table made of lumber/boards.




Here's a little view of some of the bedrooms from the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun.







And here are two of the bedrooms in Villa Laura today. Aren't the terracotta floors beautiful?! According to the information at the Villa Laura website, all the tile was removed, cleaned and re-installed. Can you imagine? That's a true labor of love.




If you're traveling to Italy, you can actually stay in Villa Laura. It is 6,000 sq. ft. spanning over three floors. It will sleep ten. You'll find more information at this website, HERE.




This was the only bathroom we were able to see in the movie.




Here's a bathroom in Villa Laura today. I wonder if this is the same bath as the one pictured above. The window looks similar.




The photo below was also on the Villa Laura site. It is a view of a "neighboring castle" and you can see it from a window at Villa Laura. Now, how often do you get to look out a window and spy a "neighboring castle?" :) Love it!

Click HERE for a full tour of Villa Laura as it was in the movie, Under the Tuscan Sun.



All photos of the restored Villa Laura are from Villa Vacations, HERE.

You'll find additional Movie House Tours HERE OR click on any picture link below.

Dittle Dattle Inspires

I love it when little ol’ me can inspire someone! 

Deneen from Dreaming in Color just shared her own version of

Ballard Knock Off  Ticket Sign



This is a fun project to make!  I’d love to see your version.

Click here to see Dittle Dattle's Movie Ticket Stub

A Beautiful Herend and Royal Copenhagen Tablescape: Welcome to the 136th Tablescape Thursday!

Rain, rain, go AWAY. Come again another day. On second thought, don't come back for a few weeks. We are water logged here in Georgia. How is it in your part of the country?

I am seriously craving some sunshine. Fortunately, my friend, Cornelia sent some all the way from Switzerland via a lovely table setting. :)


Welcome to Cornelia's beautiful dining room.




She has the table all ready for us.




You may sit wherever your heart desires.




The tablecloth Cornelia used for this table setting is custom made and is made from the same material as the lining of her draperies. The napkins are vintage.






The salad plate is by Herend/Osier.




The dinner plate is Saxon Flower by Royal Copenhagen. All the china is beautifully hand-painted.




The bread plate is by Nymphenburg.




The glasses are by Baccarat/France and the colored glasses are vintage and come from Bohemia.




The vintage glasses are all hand-cut crystal.

They truly are beautiful!




The cutlery is silver by Jezler/Switzerland. The pattern is called “La Reine” / The Queen.




The tulips are Parrot tulips and the vase is Meissen.




Sooo pretty! A little sunshine on this cloudy day. :)




The figurines are all hand-made and hand-painted and come from Germany/Erzgebirge.




They are called "Flower Children" and are a symbol for spring. How cute are they!




A little candle light for our dinner...




Cornelia, thanks so much for having us into your lovely home. Everything was just magical!




Looking forward to viewing your beautiful tablescapes!




Please Read:
If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday,please be sure to add your permalink< below, and not your general blog address.

To get your permalink, click on your post name. Then just copy and paste the address that shows up in the address bar at the top, into the "url" box for InLinkz.

If you'd like to use the Tablescape Thursday logo button in your post, just copy and paste it to your computer and upload it to your post as you would any photo. Or, just grab the html code you'll find under the "Join a Party" heading at the top of this blog.

Please, link back to the host blog, Between Naps on the Porch. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful tablescapes posted for this Tablescape Thursday, thus increasing visits for all participants. Please, don't add your post name/blog name in ALL CAPS...it tends to create big spaces between the rows of links. Thanks!

Let's try something fun today! Please visit the person who linked before you and after you...that way everyone will get some visits. Hope you'll visit more, of course. :-)


Welcome! Thanks for coming to the party! Please don't forget to link back to this week's Tablescape Thursday party in your post, so your readers will find the party and your fellow Blogger's posts, too. Linking back increases visits for everyone who participates. : )

AMM #17 Features

Thank you so much for being patient with me and my computer troubles.  I’m about 95% up and running.  Computers!  They can be either a blessing or a nightmare……



Here is a teaser photograph of a few unfinished projects I have going on right now.  All of them are waiting for one supply or another to be finished.  The down side of living in a small town, I either have to drive at least  30 minutes or order online. I can’t wait to show them to you!

Because I appreciate everyone who participates in the “Amaze Me Monday” blog party, I wouldn’t think about skipping the feature section of last weeks party.  Every week gets more amazing!!  Here are a few amazing links from “Amaze Me Monday #17” ……..

Suesan from Frou Frugal reupholstered this beautiful ancestral map settee!  I love it even more knowing that Suesan customized the fabric herself! Fantastic.



Tracie from Cleverly Inspired caught my eye with her amazing Foyer Remodel.  I’m currently selecting moldings for my own foyer.  Tracie’s  foyer looks so fabulous and timeless!  And the chandelier is over-the-top gorgeous.  Well done.



Jodie from Love Laughter and Décor shared this adorable Cowboy Themed Birthday Party!  A party like this could have you named “Most WANTED Mom”.   Check it out all the other great party accessories!    

Full of Great Ideas shared an easy way to dress up a flat screen TV with a Custom Made TV Frame.   With a few pieces of wood and molding you could have one too!  Great idea.



Kate from Creatively Living Outside the Box shares her bold move in the kitchen….. Chalkboard Backed Open Cabinets!  This takes kahunas {in my opinion}!  But don’t you just love the look!?!?! 



Here’s a fun idea from Jaderbomb, Homemade Notepad using paint chips!  The minute I saw this fun project, I thought this would be great to carry around in my pocketbook using the paint chips from the room I’m remodeling!  Gotta give this a try.



Funky Frame Tutorial constructed by Not Just a Housewife.   Think of all the fun shapes you could make a frame into????  Not to mention the endless ways to decorate and paint!!!! 



 

We are getting closer to Spring Break and I’m gathering ideas that will keep my kiddos busy….. 

Here are a few fun ideas to do together.

Faux Stained Glass by All Thumbs Crafts. 



Easter Egg Art by Scene of the Grime.



Temporary Tattoos by Juice Box Dreams



So many wonderful ideas!  Please don’t forget to link up to this weeks “Amaze Me Monday” blog party, opened till midnight tonight. (eastern standard time)