Look Inside Meryl Streep’s Stunning House from ‘It’s Complicated’

The ranch found its way to the screen in “It’s Complicated” via a rather circuitous route. Back in 2001, location manager John Panzarella tapped the residence to appear in the closing scene of the crime comedy “Bandits.” Though little of the home could be seen in the segment, in which Claire (January Jones) and Harvey Pollard (Troy Garity) tie the knot, years later, while scouting for Jane’s house during pre-production of “It’s Complicated,” he remembered the place and showed it to Meyers. The rest is movie – and interior design – history!

Nancy was thrilled with Panzarella’s find. In the movie’s production notes, she says, “It had a wonderful, old-California feel to it. I lived in a house that was almost identical to it for many years. If I’d searched forever, I couldn’t have found a house that duplicated my own house more. It was definitely the environment I’d imagined Jane would live in.” 

The production made copious use of the outside of the home, with scenes shot at the front exterior of the property, in the backyard and in the courtyard adjacent to the garage. Quite a few changes were made for the shoot, including covering the patio surrounding the pool with grass. Jane’s extensive herb garden was also, sadly, just set dressing brought in for the filming.

Though the interior of the dwelling was not utilized, the Brooklyn set did take some cues from its design, such as the subtle mimic of the arched division separating the kitchen from the dining area.

The set was a creation of production designer/frequent Nancy Meyers collaborator Jon Hutman, though Meyers herself was deeply involved in the project – so much so, that she even went so far as to handpick the various books laying around Jane’s place. She explains, “I’m very particular about what’s sitting on a table. I’ll walk around the set, saying, ‘Would she really be reading this book?’”

The production notes describe the elaborate set as “opulent” and “full-scale.” Designed to evoke the feel of Southern California (namely Santa Barbara) living, the stage build also boasted “a huge expanse of lawn that was part of the set, surrounded by an artfully executed trompe l’oeil backdrop of native greenery. Lunch breaks often found crew members sprawled out on the fake lawn, picnicking under the lights of the sound stage.” Ah, the power of a Nancy Meyers set!

“It’s Complicated” and “Bandits” are not the only productions to feature the property. It also popped up as the residence of wealthy widow Liz Houston (Sally Kellerman) in the season 10 episode of “Columbo” titled “Ashes to Ashes,” which aired in 1998. 

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: Jane’s house from “It’s Complicated” is located at 714 W. Potrero Rd. in Thousand Oaks’ Hidden Valley neighborhood. Disclaimer: Please remember this is a private home. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way.

For more Dirt on the “It’s Complicated” house, click over to the main page.