Monday, April 28, 2014

Sunset Magazine Photoshoot At Our House

We arrived back from Cuba at 11pm on Sunday night, a day late. Fine, except we had a team of four people arriving from Sunset magazine at 9am the next morning for a two-day shoot of us and our house. Bloody hell! I suddenly noticed how filthy the green chairs were and set to scrubbing them. Then the sectional in the tv room. (I was a bit overenthusiastic and water dripped from them for the next two days.) I headed to bed at 1am.

One of the vignettes that stylist Michael created (plus he ironed all our sheets!)

I've always been a fan of the empty kitchen bench and no bits and bobs around so I was a bit skeptical when stylist Michael arrived with a carload of props from flea markets and antique shops as well as throws and kitchen gear from Ikea and Target etc. Plus he used some of the random crap treasures in our cupboards. The article will be published in summer and although he'd been up at sparrows to get to the flower market, it was all easter blooms so he had to buy some fake blooms and branches (which actually looked pretty real).

Some of the props stylist Michael brought

But when I saw the vignettes I was a believer.  He proved to be a master zshusher with towels and placement and whatnot and welding the iron, spray bottle and cleaning cloth (sorry our windows were so filthy Michael!) everything in his wake got fluffed but never looked overwrought.

My "work station"





Stylist Michael doing the ironing



Jackson skylarkin' around while we were supposed to be happy family



Photographer Tom, photo editor Sue and stylist Michael in the living room


Kids file out for some natural yet actiony shots while Michael arranges tabletop
Tom the photographer took an Instagram of the succulents and got 1,000 "likes." I did the same and got two likes -  from Tallulah, 12, and her friend Ariana.
Michael, stylist, Ebbe assistant watch the results on a laptop while Tom, photographer, take photo of dominos
The team in the bedroom reviewing the bathroom shots

Over the next two days (the first day was 9am to 7.30!) we had lots of chortles but I'm sure they were sick of me following them around and asking hundreds of questions. I had intended to procure a sassy yet casual new top for the shoot but no time so it was an old sweater (which truthfully looked a bit pregnancy in some shots). I should have worn white jeans, but concerned about the fat-arse effect I just just did the dark denim.

Teddy the dog was a hit and was in many of the shots which made us all happy. But the end of day two Teddy was relaxed enough to drag out his stuffed bear..er.. buddy and made his usual amorous advances. Michael hovered with his phone wondering whether it was seemly to take a photo for his Instagram account. "Maybe on a slow news day?" he wondered. He decided against... to preserve Teddy's privacy. A fitting end to two magical days.


63 comments:

  1. That is so cool you had a magazine over to photograph your home, marvellous!! Have a wonderful week :) x

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  2. How lovely for your home to be featured in Sunset! Congrats!

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  3. How fun! I'd love someone to come iron the sheets and make every nook and cranny look amazing. It would be a tall order, no doubt! Congrats to you!

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    1. He really did earn his money those two days with the buffing poor guy!

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  4. Did you get him to do ALL your ironing...I would have tried. Looking forward to the actual spread.

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    1. It did cross my mind actually. The old hubstar actually likes to iron so i have that in-house person already...

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  5. OH MY GOSH JODY THIS IS SO EXCITING!! You have to tell us what month so I can get it. I admit to feeling a little envious - we're still in a rental so my decorating dreams are somewhat subdued. In fact, I just bought two giant bean bags for our living room in lieu of a couch because anything we liked was just too much $$$ for a short-term living situation. Hopefully that will change here soon! I'm off to try to find you on Instagram. . .

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    1. Im on JodyHere, will follow you back. Must put more effort into my instagraming...

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    2. Didn't know you were on IG...I'll hunt for you!

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  6. LOL! Love your dog and his...erm....attachment to his...toy. Your house is amazing! The space, open plan... you won't see it here, that's for sure.

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    1. Yes, though sometimes it's the other bear. Love 'em and leave 'em.

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  7. Nice to see the behind the scenes shots and how they style them. I never realized they brought stuff along till about 15 years, and then thought it was a cheat, but now realize it is showing things people can buy against beautiful spaces like yours! When will the issue be out?

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  8. Love this insider look. Can't believe it takes them so long to do a shoot like this... kinda crazy.

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  9. Jody Fantabulous!! I love Sunset and every little thing about that magazine. How wonderful they chose your home. Of course it's perfect for it! Your home has a very Hawaiian vibe I love. (Or maybe it's Kiwi?) Anyhow, it's gorgeous. So interesting to see all the work behind the scenes and what they get up to. How you came home from a trip and did this the next day is a testament to your relaxed way. I love it! Now off to read about Cuba!!
    x Kim

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    1. sad that I missed your ge- together Kim, you all looked so happy and chic!

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  10. I really like the idea of someone coming along to iron the sheets! Interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes.
    Thanks for your comment. I'm not sure about the gorgeous blue chairs. I know Patricia Urquiola does chairs like that so they may well be hers. I'd like a few in my garden!

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  11. Jody- How exciting! Isn't it amazing to watch those pros work? I can't WAIT to see your home - magazine worthy.

    But you have to write a post when it runs to tell us everything they added... an what is yours!

    I had so much fun when Whole Living came to my old house to do a shoot in my front yard. I cleaned the whole house JUST IN CASE they wanted to take any photo inside... but a no go!

    Can't wait to see - especially the casual-fun-family oils they always take!!!

    Loretta

    p.s. my Kickstarter was funded! Yea!

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    1. Congrats Loretta! that is so great! I had menat to get the windows washed etc. but just never got around to it.

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  12. Hehe how excellent! Very happy Teddy got to be the star he is and that his privacy was protected.

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  13. How very exciting! It looks like when the stagers came to our house years ago with all of their stuff. We were in the paper too. Great PR for the stager -too bad she didn't cut us a deal on the job.
    Which issue will you be in?

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    1. They just said in summer so not sure which of the three months that means

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  14. Wow that must have been quite the experience indeed at your feed, The pup had to get in every shot

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  15. So exciting!! I hope you will do a big fat blog when the magazine comes out. Who knew it would take 2 days? x

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    1. I know, interior shots apparently are the most time consuming. Will do a big fat post when it comes out!

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  16. I've seen pics of your house before, but I am looking forward to see the new 'adorned' look.

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    1. Hi Rose, sorry haven't captioned stuff as I should have. Here is the props that stylist added in the photos I posted.

      1. Work station: Anthern metal spike: $68, Ikea navy storage boxes $18.99. Target navy desk lamp, $22.99. Vintage cards, postcards and wicker tray - stylist's own.

      2. Bathroom: Target small wood tray, $12.99, striped towels and toiletries, his own stock

      3. Bedroom, both bedside table vignettes: all books and vase from antique stores, crystal, stylist's own. Shell beads, mine.

      4. Patio: All Crate and Barrel, blue tray $14.37, tall carafe $13.56, cocktail napkins $10.36,appetizer plates $18.96, All Target: White outdoor lanterns (2) $59.98, orange drinkware (6) $11.94


      5. Dining room. Tall white vase added to my silver pieces: Target $30, plastic branches from Gardenology (I have ordered some from him they were so good)

      6. Kitchen: All Ikea: set of three tins $3.99, marble rolling pin, $14.99

      Seating area in Kitchen: vintage dominos, wicker tray, vase and flowers, stylist's own.

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    2. There was loads more props added in elsewhere, but this is just the pieces for the above shots...He also bought in his own pillowcases and a cream coverlet to layer over our silver shiny one (thank goodness because I hadn't realised how raggy ours was)

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  17. I'm sure someone has probably mentioned this in the above comments but I would really love it if Tom could stop by my house - not for pictures or anything, just a quick zhush. Your shoot looks like it's going to be amazing!
    xo Mary Jo

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  18. Oh my...like photoshopping your house!! I love it. I have always wanted to sleep on ironed sheets but I'm too lazy to do myself and too cheap to pay someone else to do it. Simply fabulous. Let us know when the issue hits the stands!! xoJennifer

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    1. Jennifer, he actually bought white pillowcases with him and added a cream coverlet on top of our raggedy cover _ apparently he said white and cream photographs really well. Also he said in photos you have to layer, sometimes more is more apparently!

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  19. Oooh, how fun! I can't wait to see the pics - did they say which issue? I get Sunset mailed to me all the way over to the UK!

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  20. How very bloody exciting! I wonder if the mag will be available online? I'd love to see it!
    Our very brief moment of fame was to be interviewed and photographed in our house for the Sunday Times (UK) - it was an article on Brits who'd moved to Aus.... They didn't really style our house much, though, so it looked its usual cluttered self!

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    1. Yes, I'll link to it. how fun on the Sunday Times - send me a link!

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  21. How exciting, and probably nerve racking at the same time - I think we all need our own Michael to zshush the house (well I know I do)

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    1. In the end I was glad I had no time to worry and clean obsessively. He cleared the way for the photographer anyway. Would have liked a more interesting top to wear though..

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  22. Your home does look lovely, but i must ask, what's a sectional?

    I don't know if I could put up with a bunch of blokes tramping about my happy home for two days. I think I'd feel an overwhelming urge to kick the buggers out.

    Did you realise that the picture of Jackson could be interpreted as him having a smoke from a bong?

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    1. Sectional is one of those sofas that goes along both walls at right angles. It's like two sofas in one

      Don't tell Jackson - he'll put it on Instagram. Bad enough that Cy took photos of himself with huge cigar in his mouth in cuba

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  23. How exciting Jody!!! I can't believe how relaxed you were about it to only clean until 1am though.... I would have moved my family out for at least a month beforehand, hired in a team to clean for a week, and then allowed the photography crew in on the proviso that they photoshopped heavily.
    Having never seen much of the inside of your house, I'm dying to see more from what is tantalisingly included in these photos... your bedhead in particular looks amazing. And of course Teddy is the star. My bet is the family don't make it in the mag spread, but Teddy does! xx

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    1. Yes I agree with you. They took photos with us and ones without us. In the end the Tedmeister will be in. I expect to see your house next in Elle Decor Australia, loving your wallpaper!

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  24. Kids and pets--- always know how to embarrass us publicly! It is really interesting to see the styling process. I wish I had a professional stylist just to make things look chic and well-manicured --- you know, before my child destroyed the perfect setting.

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  25. How fabulous! My sheets need ironing so I'm very jealous.

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    1. Amazing how luxurious it made the bed, just a bit o ironing

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  26. Very impressive, Jody. It must have been bizarre to see your house through the eyes of others in the photos.

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  27. Looks like great fun! I love your rattan furniture - reminds me of Hong Kong.

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  28. YOU doNOT have a DULL LIFE!
    You will look at magazines now completely differently............the time it took one shot, the cleaning, the re-arranging etc!
    VERY EXCITING...............XXX

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    1. Ye, even though we viewed the photos on the laptop as he went along I'm sure we will not recognise it

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  29. Oh Jody, I have chills...seriously. This photoshoot looks uhmazing!! I can't believe you arrived home from that colorful Cuban adventure to this. I want to be a fly on the wall in your life sista! ;) Oh yes, and then had the Pet Shop Boys this month too. Rock on!
    xx, Heather

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  30. How awesome. I love the behind the scenes look. Thank you for sharing. Now that I need a team to come over here and spruce things up a bit!

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  31. Seeing the pictures of your home in this and previous blog posts, it doesn't surprise me at all that it was featured :)

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  32. Your house is so amazing! Please share the final photos when they come out!

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  33. You can make me your 3rd like on the succulents with Talluleh and 'sassy yet casual' always goes over well with me. Please alert us when Sunset goes to press with this spread. I can see why they chose you; very NoCal casual chic.

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    1. Thanks for third like GSL, will follow you back! tallulah always feels really sorry for me and says "Ariana really liked your photo today.

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  34. Your home looks lovely ... I will wait for final photos of your home ...
    Margaret
    http://www.decordesireforbeauty.com/blog.html

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  35. Teddy getting jiggy with his buddy would increase the likes on your Instagram account, never mind succulents and sectionals. Do it before Michael sneaks it in on a slow news day.
    Were the dominoes yours or Ikea's?

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  36. Oh I am so glad to see this behind-the-scenes stuff! I thought they only photographed the houses of people who iron their sheets … ;-)

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  37. Hilarious to think of Teddy indulging in a bit of rumpy pumpy while serious photography was going on!

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