You’ve Got Mail: Tour the Manhattan Brownstone Apartment 

Decorating, Tablescaping, Before and Afters, Thrifty Finds, and Gardening

You’ve Got Mail: Tour the Manhattan Brownstone Apartment

A while back I was in the mood for a feel-good movie.  I pulled out the movie,

, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, remember that movie?  I pretty much love any movie with Tom Hanks or Meg Ryan.  

 is a 1998 American romantic comedy set in Manhattan (Upper West Side) of New York City. Today I thought I’d take you on a little tour of the wonderful places we get to go in the movie.  Ready for a little movie house tour?

isn’t the first film to have been inspired or made based on that play.  An adaptation of

starring Margaret Sullavan and Jimmy Stewart. Of course, in 1940 folks were not e-mailing each other online so the story line was slightly different than the 1998 version.

was a box office success grossing more than three times the budget it took to make it, so chances are very good you’ve seen it.  If not, the basic story line is Kathleen Kelly (played by Meg Ryan) is the owner of a small bookstore called

.  She meets Joe Fox (played by Tom Hanks) in a chat room online and they become great friends.  Their chat room ID’s are “Shopgirl” for Kathleen and “NY152″ for Joe, just in case you run across that in a trivia contest one day. Joe owns a huge bookstore chain called

.  Online, they do not know each others occupations.

Their online friendship slowly develops into a romance.  As they are corresponding and falling in love online, they end up accidentally meeting in real life and become bitter rivals since Joe has just built a huge, modern discount bookstore that ultimately threatens (and does) put

out of business.  Throughout much of the movie, they have no idea, this person they dislike so much in real life is the very person they have come to love online. What a great story line!

Throughout the movie their paths cross (or almost cross) many times. I loved this scene where they miss each other by seconds.

took place on the Upper West Side of New York City.  In the movie Meg Ryan’s character, Kathleen Kelly, lives in the center brownstone (one with window boxes and plant) located at 328 West 89th Street, Manhattan. (Picture from Google Earth.)

When I saw this movie, I fell in love with the coziness of Kathleen Kelly’s apartment. I loved it instantly.  As I watched the movie this time, paying even more attention to the interior, I was surprised to see how simply it was decorated. Actually, it’s not “decorated” at all but it’s definitely loaded with charm. Her home is proof, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create an interior that’s charming, cozy and a lovely place to live.

Since much of the action in this movie takes place in Kathleen’s home, let’s start our tour there. Look!  She’s holding the door open for us. Actually, she is sick with a bad cold and is trying to get the evil, Joe Fox to leave. It doesn’t work and he politely ignores her.

Take a look at the stairway in this brownstone!  You would never in a gazillion years see gorgeous wainscoting/paneling in a hallway in today’s apartment buildings.  The beautiful molding you see around the closet door is all throughout Kathleen’s home, too.

I tried to find out when the brownstones in this area (Manhattan) were built and it appears to have been around the late 1800’s going into early 1900’s.  Not sure of the date for this exact building. It’s obvious folks took pride in their workmanship. These homes were not just thrown up like so many of today’s homes and apartments are. Today, if you purchased a brownstone apartment in Manhattan, you would have to spend several million, that’s if you could find one for sell.  They are very popular places to live.

We get a better view of the staircase when Kathleen’s boyfriend, Frank (played by Greg Kinnear) leaves for work.  Even this shared staircase is cozy and inviting.

Kathleen’s apartment has an English-Country-Cottage feel. I love the contrast of the beautiful wainscoting/wall paneling against the chipped, shabby table under the window in the kitchen. You’ll see more of this style decorating in Kathleen’s bedroom.  In this scene Joe is trying to win Kathleen over so he brought her a bouquet of her favorite flower, daisies.

Not exactly a gourmet kitchen but it’s perfect for a single person or a couple.  I love the real wood, true-divided-light, French doors.  My home has those type windows and I’ve resisted replacing them even though they aren’t that energy efficient.  My gas and electric bills are always so low, if I did replace my windows, it would take a gazillion years to make up the cost.  I’m sure when I move one day, the next owner of my home will probably do it, but  I don’t want to give up up the look of the old windows.

Here’s a view of the other side of the kitchen. Notice how placing a lamp in a spot where you wouldn’t normally expect to find one adds instant charm to a room, especially when lit in the evening.

We saw a great example of this when we toured the barn/potting shed of this Gentleman’s Equestrian Farm in this post: Historic 1825 Home and Equestrian Farm  See the lamp there, just off to the right?  Love that!  It’s unexpected and totally charming.

Have a spot in your home that could use a bit of charm or warmth?  Add a lamp.  I love soft lamplight in guest baths or powder rooms.  They are great to leave on during evening parties; when your guest enter the powder room, they won’t find themselves fumbling for a light switch.  Plus, it just gives cold bathrooms some much needed coziness.  Okay, I know I got way off topic, couldn’t help myself.

We get our first glimpse of Kathleen’s home peering in through a window. I love this perspective, it’s like a little sneak peek before we actually go inside. Just soak up all that beautiful molding, you’ll see more of it in a sec.

This desk plays a pivotal part in the movie since this is where Kathleen spends evenings on her computer getting to know and love Joe.

This home feels cozy but definitely, not “decorated.”  Notice the random placement of the pictures on the wall.  There’s something kind of neat about that, makes me want to go hang some prints/pictures in a random pattern somewhere in my own home.

If you were Kathleen and you were sitting at your desk, this would be your view if you looked up. Don’t you love the desk coming out from the wall?  I’ve tried to work this into my own home somewhere but I never seem to have a spot where I can do it.  It’s a great way to pull furniture out into a space, as opposed to having it all lined up around the walls.

The living room is super cozy in the evening, made even cozier by all the bookshelves over-flowing with books. It’s just the interior you would expect in the home of a book shop owner.

The sofa is right out of an English cottage.  Wonder if that’s a Colefax-Fowler fabric? The whole apartment has that English Country Cottage feel, a style I do love.   Update:  Linda identified the fabric on the sofa, it’s Waverly Norfolk Rose and is still available as of this date.  Thanks so much, Linda for that info! That must be a really popular fabric for it to still be available today.

Kathleen’s bedroom again shows contrast in style.  The bed itself feels elegant with it upholstered headboard but the bedding is sweet and non-fussy.

The other furniture in the room looks as if it were collected here and there over time, again a very much non-decorated look. This tells you so much about the character, Kathleen. We know her Mom has passed, so these could easily be inherited pieces.

You’ll notice, later in the movie, some of the furniture is in different locations.  I noticed a couple of pieces were moved but didn’t realize how much until Claudia mentioned it in the comments. (Thanks Claudia!)   Did you notice it?  It happens in the movie after Kathleen’s bookstore closes and she and her long-time boyfriend split-up.  Toward the end of the movie, the bed is no longer against the wall but is instead in a corner.  Even Kathleen’s desk is in a different spot. I guess it’s part of the way Kathleen copes with all the big changes in her life.

Love the books stacked on the small table at the foot of the bed. Books give any room instant character and warmth like nothing else can.

Did you notice the window seat? This apartment has so much charm!

We get a little glimpse into the bathroom in this view…better shot coming up of that space.

In the movie, Kathleen loves daisies and we see that again in her bed linens.

Another glimpse into the bathroom and more views of the exquisite molding throughout this brownstone.  Even the bathroom vanity has beautiful carving. I wonder how they’ve manage to paint it time and time again these past 100 years without losing all the wonderful detail. So beautiful!

We don’t see a lot of Joe Fox’s New York apartment, but its very different as you might expect.

We get a little glimpse into the entry/hallways his apartment in this scene. That clock totally steals the show in this scene, doesn’t it?  Love that clock!

The kitchen is super modern.  Hard to believe this movie was filmed in 1998 because that could totally be a kitchen in today’s home.

Joe’s bedroom is sleek and masculine.  It totally has that “decorated by an Interior Designer” look, down to the bed linens.  Note the perfectly matching bedside tables.  No randomly hung pictures in this space.

The room where Joe has his desk is cozy though. Notice the fox sitting on the books, perfect for the owner of

Of course, we would expect to find bookshelves filled to brim in Joe’s home, too.

without taking you inside Kathleen’s adorable bookstore,

is located at 106 West 69th Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York.  The store in real life was a privately owned cheese and antiques shop; it was was converted into Kathleen’s book store for the movie. Does anyone know what’s there now?  Wonder if the cheese and antiques shop is still there?

A view of the interior looking back toward the entrance to the shop.

is a bookstore for children so it’s filled to the brim with lots of whimsical decorations.

I took way too many pictures of the shop because I thought it was so cute.  I managed to cull them down to these three.  I loved this little bookstore.  I worked for 5 years as a Media Parapro in my son’s elementary school library when he was a student there.  We had a reading corner and I used to love reading to the little ones when they came in for their library visit. I hope they still do that in the schools.

Update: Since we all loved this sweet bookstore so much, I created a separate post showing it in more detail here: The Shop Around the Corner Bookstore in the Movie, You’ve Got Mail

to share. Just picture a big, modern, multi-floor bookstore and ya got it.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of Kathleen’s brownstone in the movie,

Please feel free to share this post with friends; share buttons can be found below.

Love Movie House Tours? You’ll find many more of your favorites here: Movie Houses

Filed Under: Movie House Tours, Movie Houses (All Posts), Valentine\'s Day Holiday Home, Valentine\'s Day Movies Tagged With: Famous Brownstones, Famous Houses, Jean Stapleton, Manhattan Brownstones, Meg Ryan, Meg Ryan Movies, Movie House Tours, Movie Houses, The Shop Around the Corner, Tom Hanks, Tom Hanks Movies, You\'ve Got Mail Movie

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I loved that Brownstone in You’ve Got Mail — and who doesn’t like a Meg Ryan movie?

Love, love, love this movie. And, love, love, love this post. Thanks, Susan.

Thanks for the pics of one of my all time favorite chick flicks. I have watched this movie so many times that I could practically hear Kathleen Kelly calling out “Sushi!” from the bathroom as she brushes her teeth. There are so many beautiful interior shots in this movie. I love Kathleen’s apartment. So charming. I love all the little details. One of my favorites (in addition to the lamp on the kitchen table and the pictures on the walls) is the quilt on her bed. Gorgeous. I also love Birdie’s apartment. Go back and check that one out again!

My sympathies on your loss of Max. I was so sorry to hear the news. You were so blessed to have found each other.

Enjoyed this post, this movie is one of my favorites. I have watched it more times than I can count.

I have watched this video dozens of times–know the storyline–just love seeing all the sights. I want to live in that apartment and reopen the little bookstore. Now I’m going to have to watch it tonight!

I love this movie & looking at all the wonderful stills is like visiting an old friend. Just curious – how did you get such good clear photos?

Thanks, Emma. It isn’t easy sometimes…just a lot of stopping, backing up, fast forwarding. Sometimes I can’t get a clear shot if the characters are never still. You’re right, it really is like visiting an old friend, what a great way to put it. I never tire of this movie, especially the wonderful ending.

This a favorite movie of mine and I loved her apartment. I always said the same thing that it is not really decorated big time but it is so charming, warm and inviting. I love the wood details a lot! Thanks for sharing this and giving us a closer looks!

Thanks so much for showing this apt. I love this movie so much, as well as the 1940 version! I really appreciate your taking the time to put these posts together. You are so wonderful and getting your posts MAKES MY DAY!!! Thanks! I believe that you also did a post on Doris Day fashion, right? How can I find that again? I want to add all those great images to PINTEREST. Thanks!

Thanks so much, Cherie! The Doris Day Movie House Tours are under the category heading Movie House Tours at the top of BNOTP. Then click on the subcategory, “Movie House Tours.”

But the post you’re thinking about, it’s also under the category “Movie House Tours” but then you need to click on the subcategory, “More Movie Posts.” I created that sub-category for all the miscellaneous movie posts that aren’t really tours of the movie houses.

Here’s a link that will take you straight to that subcategory page: http://betweennapsontheporch.net/more-movie-house-fun/ Just scroll down that page and you’ll see the links to the post about Doris Day’s Movie Fashions and the post about all the cute hats she wore. So anytime you wish to see those posts, that’s where they’ll be.

I still love to go back and visit those, too.

One of my all time favorite movies. I truly can watch it once a week. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are a match made in movie history. Their chemistry is so real and warm and fuzzy. Thank you so much for the tour, I loved it.

I loved the bookstore so very much in this film that it overwhelmed all my other views of her bedroom, etc. I think we have lost the beauty of owner operated stores and not the mega stores of today. Give me a small intimate owner/operated store and you have a new customer. We go to such a one in a small local community and it is a bookstore/cafe owner/operated one and everyone who finds it goes back again and again.

Loved this post and of course I am nostalgic of the beauty created by our ancestors and each of your posts such as this bring that time back to us. Thanks Susan.

Love that English cottage style, so cozy!

I love every set in that movie–her apartment is totally “unstudied” which is really hard to pull off. My house (an English cottage) craves this look, but so far I have been unsuccessful.

I love any movie with these two stars. I have been a Meg Ryan fan since she was on As The World Turns way back when. Did my eyes deceive me or is the floor in the kitchen and the floor in the bookstore the same? In most of Meg Ryan’s movies, her apartment seems to be decorated in this style. Makes me wonder if this a side of her real personality? Loved the tour.

They do look very similar, don’t they? I think the color is different, but otherwise look the same. Thanks, Linda!

Susan, I love the movie house tours! You always seem to pick exactly the ones I love and even manage to introduce me to a few I’ve been unfamiliar with. I too loved Kathleen’s cozy apartment and felt it suited her to a ‘t.’ I thought it so amusing that when she opened her front door, you actually had to step into her eating area and the living room was off to the left. A bit unusual, but I know in big cities with old houses made into multiple apartments the floor plans are often unconventional. I particularly loved her bookshelves and the way they wrapped around the corner … that little slanted shelf that led around to the bathroom just made the whole shelving system extra cozy to me. And I remember thinking her bed seemed so fancy looking with it’s satiny soft headboard and comfy looking pillows and bedding. (She always seems to have comfy looking beds in her movies, lol.) Yes, so much about this brownstone apartment is charming and cozy, from one end to the other. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I adore so many things on your blog, but I think the Movie Home tours are my favorites! I watch a lot of movies, and forget to look at the details in the homes and settings … then you feature them and I can’t believe what I missed, lol …

Thanks for the lovely tour. This is just one of my favorite movies of all time. Can’t wait to watch it again with a new point of view…..

I’m a retired elementary school librarian. In 2005 I was still reading to my little ones. As far I know my replacement is still reading to them as well. Reading to your child is so important to teach them to become readers. Just love love this bookstore!

I couldn’t even tell you how many times I have watched this. I guess in part since I have had a shop for 26 years it interested me even more. I love it all except Joe Fox’s vulgar mouth.

Thanks for the pictures!! Love to watch that movie just to see the apt. Another favorite is “The Golden Bowl”. I watch that one over and over to look at the clothing Uma Thurman and Kate Beckinsale are wearing.

Out of curiosity, I looked up the address on google. The building is completely unrecognizable! None of the original charm is left.

It seems to have become a placed called Café Sonatina which had a cute European type interior. (now closed according to Yelp). I can find nothing new about it though. Don’t look it up, it’s a sad, non-descript façade now.

Lisa, is that the bookstore you’re talking about? That is sad!

Yes! I’m sorry I should have been more specific.

I took the address you gave us and plugged it into Google and got those results.

Hi Susan loved your post. It is one of my favourite movies too. I have been to the shop around the corner. Maya’s cheese and antiques. They used her name for Joes aunt who was the little girl in the film. I was in New York City a year ago Christmas and the store has now closed. It was a different store inside. I always wondered what cheese and antiques could go together. And Maya was defiantly a character for sure. She loved to talk about the filming. I doubt it is still empty, probably something horrible now…like a Baby Gap..haha Cheers Frances

That is so interesting about using her name for Joe’s Aunt…I didn’t realize that! I would have loved to have visited that shop and met her. I like folks who are different and march to their own beat. Always hate to see a store I love close, especially the small Mom & Pop stores.

This is such a great movie. One of the few I had to purchase. When I watch movies with great interiors I always try to figure out the floor plan. Maybe I was an architect in another life. Well, I have always been stumped by the bathroom. See the gorgeous stained glass window reflected in the bathroom mirror. I cannot figure out what it looks out on. Any ideas???

Nancy, I was just looking again, trying to figure out the layout. Scroll back up to the picture that is below the one of the potting barn from that previous post. In that picture, you can see the stain glass window in the bathroom. I think that window faces to the back of the apartment because the the windows you see off in the distance in that other room are on the back of the apartment. In that picture, we are looking in through the bay window that’s on the front of the brownstone because her desk is facing toward us. So her bedroom is right there on the front of the home and that stained glass window faces backward. Maybe there’s a courtyard between the brownstones in back.

Susan, I did a little sleuthing and found this group of pictures from the blog Hooked on Houses. http://hookedonhouses.net/2009/06/28/meg-ryans-brownstone-in-youve-got-mail/

It looks like the stained glass window actually is an interior window between the bathroom and the entry way which make sense. And how charming is that. If you look at the main window which faces the back of the apt it appears to be further back than the stained glass one. What do you think?

I did notice that the distance part didn’t seem to make sense, so I bet you’re right. Why would a house have a window that looks into another room…weird. You know what, I read somewhere that they took these brownstones and cut them up into apartments. I bet they had to create a place for the bathroom for this apartment and that’s why it’s designed that way. Originally, there was probably no bathroom there.

Love the movie! Love the brownstone! I want to live there!!!

Susan, the comfy couch is covered in Waverly’s Norfolk Rose. My favorite fabric and it is still available. Saw it two weeks ago in Joann Fabric. Enjoy your blog very much. I will miss Max, that beautiful, wonderful and lovable cat.

Thanks, Linda. I feel like I’ll never get over him being gone, my heart hurts so badly. Thanks for the fabric info…I’m adding that to this post.

I love this movie and watched it recently, I have seen it many, many times over the years. I love to watch happy movies like this one over and over. We have lots of movies and I would rather watch them than TV most of the time. I loved seeing each room in a still picture, so easy to notice every detail! Did you notice, I hadn’t before your pictures, the framed art over her bed looks like pages from children’s books and there is a mobile of a bear, who looks like Pooh?, and twigs and a rabbit! I love that

I hadn’t noticed the mobile before and only got a close look at it and the art from your still photo. I always assumed the apartment had been her mothers including the furnishings. Her place really looks lived in, not spit spot with everything in it’s place. I love her linens and quilts, so charming. You are right, they don’t build places with that kind of quality anymore. It was an art back then and something to cherish today. How wonderful it must be to live in one of those homes. This was great fun to see, thank you so much!

Susan, I love you — your posts are always so fun and interesting and wonderful. Thank you for a good time. Always.

I love this movie and watched it recently. We have lots of great movies like this one and I watch them over and over and over ..

I loved seeing each room in a still picture, so easy to notice every detail! Did you notice, I hadn’t before your pictures, the framed art over her bed looks like pages from children’s books and there is a mobile of a bear, who looks like Pooh?, and twigs and a rabbit! I love that

I hadn’t noticed the mobile before and only got a close look at the art from your still photo. I love her linens and beautiful quilts and I love that her home looks lived in and comfortable. I always assumed the apartment and furnishings had been her mothers. I would love to decorate “movie” homes, that must be a fun job! You are right, the beautiful craftsmanship is so awesome, it is art history! It must be wonderful to live in one of those homes. This was great fun to see, thank you!

Nancy, I hadn’t noticed that. Good eye, you have! That fits perfectly with her being the owner of a children’s bookstore, doesn’t it? I love all the linens, too…love how they are all different but look great together. I’ve heard it said, buy what you love and it will all work together in your home.

Thanks for the fun tour. I really enjoyed being able to look at still photos of the movie sets~

Susan, “You’ve Got Mail” is one of my all time favorite movies. And how fun to know that I lived very close to these brownstones many years ago. I lived in NY when I was a child, and when my parents separated, my Mom and I moved to an apartment at 18 West 70th Street! It was an apartment building, but there were so many brownstones right across the street. They were always so interesting. They lined the entire neighborhood. I hope they never tear them down. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.

lOVED THAT TRIP DOWN CINEMA MEMORY lANE

As soon as I saw the first photo, I knew the movie! Loved every bit of it – characters, city, story, setting…Thanks for the tour. I’d LOVE to know what’s in that shop. Hope it’s being loved.

I too love this movie…even more now that my son lives in that neighborhood. W 82nd. We always visit the Starbucks in the movie and Cafe Lalo…where Meg Ryan sat with a rose. It’s a great neighborhood and we go as often as possible.

What a delightful post. Love this movie! I’ve seen it many times and am likely to see it again and again. Like one of the earlier comments, I too am curious about floorplans, my thinking on the bathroom is that the stained glass window is a means to let light in from the kitchen/dining area so that it wouldn’t be so dark. To me it is an interior room given that from the corner bookcase you can see the french doors to the kitchen and you can also see the glass from her front door picture. I think this movie shows that you can embed memories of your loved ones, the decorations in her home, the way she dresses is a throw back to older days, even the bookstore is filled with things that make you realize that she idolized her mother, why even Birdie wears a locket of Kathleen’s mother! The one thing that has puzzled me is why Joe (Tom Hanks) moves to the boat when he and his not-so-nice girlfriend split. You are so right in that a lot of homes today do not have the charm that houses used to have. It’s definitely all in the details.

I’m with you…I loVe Tom & Meg…and I watch that movie every time it’s on…even if it’s twice that weekend…I also loVe the Jimmy & Marg movie…watched that this last winter…I loved her place in NY…I wondered what that apt would cost to rent or buy..wonder what they did with the furniture and things when they were done filming…when Run Away Bride was filmed near Ocean City MD..just over an hr from me…they bought a lot of things at antique shops here in Cambridge and the surrounding area…I heard they had a yard sale after they were finished…have you seen the Julia Roberts movie…Sleeping with the enemy…I LOVE..LOVE..LOVE the house she moves to in a small town…just WonderFul………hope your having a nice day.!!

I don’t think I’ve seen the Jimmy & Marg movie…what is it called? I’ve never seen sleeping with the enemy…is it scary? Wende, now you have me wanting to see the house!

The movie is the one you mentioned…shop around the corner..from the 40’s…it was about 2 people that already know each other…a great old movie..i watched it on TCM may have been new years eve…i watched several movies that night…sleeping with the enemy isn’t scary…you will love the house and the little town too…i bought the sound track from that movie…it does have some scary sounding music..but not how you think..classical mostly…a couple yrs ago my grand daughter started making up stories to the music while in the car…she was 5 at the time…they always end with…do not go in there…

The green and cream painted piece in her bedroom that you thought they moved? That’s still the bedroom – you can see the edge of the bed. After watching this movie countless times, I realized that it is really one large studio apartment. It has nooks and crannies, but the bedroom is simply at the other end of the room. I would live there in a heartbeat!

Claudia, I thought that was the bedroom off to the left, but it looks like the painted piece was moved for the bedroom scene where she’s sitting eating on the floor. In that scene (where she’s sitting/eating on the floor) the painted piece is close to her bed and it’s underneath a large picture. In the other scene where she’s standing by the windows (with the window seat) looking out the curtains, the painted piece is right beside the windows and has different pictures over it. That’s what makes me think they moved it when they shot the bedroom scene.

I know, I was just thinking, how much space do we really need, right? It’s perfect for a single person or a couple.

Have always loved this movie and have seen it a jillion times! Thanks for the tour ~ I thought her apt was so warm and cozy. Loved the look!

One of my FAVORITE movies of all time, Susan!! I’ll be in NYC in July and i may just have to go see what the Shop Around the Corner is now! Thanks for such a fun post!

Just adore this sweet movie. I have watched so many times just like Sleepless in Seattle. Will watch it again. I find these movies so comforting. Wonderful and happy ending. Thanks Susan! Such fun.

I also love this movie. I would love to get a copy of the poster in her bookstore, What I Learned From Children’s Books. Thank you for the tour!

Love that movie! and yes, Kathleen’s style is sweet and comfortable.

My great grandmother and her first husband lived in a brownstone in Brooklyn, NY. They were the first to come from Ireland to America. When I watch different movies with street scenes of Brooklyn I often wonder if the any of the buildings were my great grandmother’s home.

After commenting, I went back to look at the pictures once more, and maybe you mentioned this or one of your readers, did, but in the first scene the bed is against the wall and the dresser on a short wall where she is walking into the bedroom, then in the next scene of the bedroom the bed is place at the corner, and the dresser is between two windows. Did I miss something?

Yep, you’re right. I just noticed that a few minutes ago and added that to the post. Claudia mentioned in an email that the apartment seems to get rearranged after the shop closes. I guess that’s all intentional in the movie, part of the way she is dealing with the big change in her life by rearranging the furniture.

Thanks so much for this awesome tour! I love this movie so much — it’s still one of my favorites to this day. I love seeing all of the personal touches around the rooms that speak to the characters in the movie. That’s something I think is so great about set design — so much thought about the character is put into it!

That is so true, Maria! I love that, too.

Every time you would do one of these movie home tours I would always think, “I hope she’ll do You’ve Got Mail someday”. I love kathleen’s apartment. I just seems so real. Thanks for the fabulous tour!

Leslie, I’m so glad I chose You’ve Got Mail to do this time! I didn’t realize how many folks love that movie until today. Thanks!

What a great movie! I love the moldings in Meg’s home! Wow! Love the vanity details! Thanks for sharing this!

Love love love You’ve Got Mail. Yes, it was a remake of The Shop Around the Corner but did you know that the Judy Garland, Van Johnson musical, In The Good Old Summertime was also based on that story? If you look carefully at the last scene, you’ll see a toddler Liza Minnelli with her Mom, Judy.

Who doesn’t love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan? A match made in movie heaven. I loved this movie, but have to admit I did not love the fact her store closed. I guess I wanted a true fairy tale story ;).

It’s funny…the Barnes & Noble type bookstores put small shops like this out of business, now we are seeing so many of them close too due to fewer people buying books and reading everything on line. Very sad.

Sleeping with the Enemy is a fabulous movie Susan. You would love it. The house Julia Roberts lives in with her husband, albeit not your style, is set in an unbelievable spot overlooking the ocean. The movie is not scary, but it IS suspenseful. I’ve watched it several times and never get tired of it.

I read what you said about how your heart physically hurts right now and you feel like you will never get over losing Max. The relationship you and Max had was very special, and I don’t think you are meant to ever get over it. That’s not a bad thing. It doesn’t mean that you won’t get past the physical pain (you will), or that you won’t someday love another furry friend. It just means you will always love Max. Real love never, ever dies. Not ever. Embrace it and be grateful you had each other, and that you were a wonderful gift to each other. XXX

Doreen…you said perfectly just what I think about Susan and Max’s relationship. My heart is hurting for Susan’s loss and it is what I saw happen when my hubbie lost his dear kitty pal. We have had five kitties since then but never a day goes by we don’t all miss that sweetie. We planted a special rose bush where he is buried and my hubbie very often leaves his cigarette butts out there so I know he’s been visiting his pal. Some lucky little 4-legged people will undoubtedly be blessed by Susan’s love and care in the future but there will always only be one Max for her heart. Thank you for expressing it so well.

My all time favourite movie . What I noticed most in her apartment , were the pictures of swans , elegant , just like her. Even though its how her mother was described it was what she aspired to. There are lots of things in this movie which stick with me , ” a butterfly got on at 6 th and ( can’t remember) on its way to Bloomingdales to buy a hat , which I’ll be a mistake ,as invariably all hats are .” Also the garden where the paths meet ! Oh my goodness , what a garden! As for the bookshop , it’s my dream to own a bookshop. I once had a position in one, sadly we closed. Back to my dream there is a shop locally it has stained glass bump front windows , I have even drawn a floor plan , I have a name too . It’s from the movie A Lone Read .

Oh, that’s right…forgot about the swan imagery…very observant! I love the butterfly line, too. The garden was amazing. Was that Central Park? Forgotten now what park they agreed to meet in. I hope you get your dream, Donna…that would be wonderful!

Donna, the garden they kiss in at the end is the 91st Street garden…just found that info.

Oh thank you I wonder if I can find any more pictures of it on the net? Nothing like our Australian gardens that’s for sure.

Enjoyed the pictures & loved the movie. You are wise to not replace your old windows. We did last fall & yes the house is tighter so heat/AC is a little better. But oh how I miss the glass & wood I had for 30 years. Once REAL wood is gone, the original traditional has lost some charm. If only I knew then what I know now!

Sorry, Janie. I’ve been tempted since I know folks who have done it, but it dawned on me one day that my electric and gas bill is so low already, it wouldn’t make that much difference. Probably worth it if you live way up north where it gets really cold and bills can run a lot more. I’ve heard there are companies that custom make the true divided light windows with thermopane or whatever they use now, but I think they are super expensive.

Oh gosh, how I love this movie, and watch it over and over!!! Thanks for the tour, and love reading all the comments too, learned a lot!!! I always loved her apartment, how casual, cozy, collected over time it looked…….ya know, that’s called real life!!! And I always thought also that most of the things were from her mom. I had also noticed how things were changed around in the movie, and now it makes sense to me from what you have all said!!

My former in laws lived in Queens in a large apartment building built in the 20’s, they had parquet floors, beautiful moldings, solid wood doors with glass door knobs and that tiny black/white ceramic tile in the bathroom. The kitchen had painted cabinets all with glass doors on top. So much charm is missing in today’s buildings……

Maybe the parquet is original then! Had no idea it was around back then. I thought it was a 70’s-80’s thing. You’re so right about the charm missing in today’s buildings.

Thanks for featuring my favorite Movie, “You’ve Got Mail”! I love everything about this movie especially the old time charm of Kathleen’s bookstore. After watching that movie, I always wanted to own a bookstore just like that one – so cute! I love where they meet at the end of the movie in that beautiful park, surrounded with all the colorful flowers. I still get misty eyed when he wipes her eyes and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” plays. Ahhh, I just love that movie!

I too am and have been a big fan of this movie. This was so fun seeing everything and getting really check it out. How do you get these great photos? We should give you some requests from movies we all love and watch over and over.

It’s like taking a little mini vacation looking at the homes close up like this. Thanks!

What a super fun post! I have always loved that movie and I think one of the reasons I love it so much is because of the decor in her apartment and her store. The movie is as charming as all the decors. Thanks for this post.

I probably watch this movie 4 times a year and always cry at the end of it!! I love the flooring in Kathleen’s kitchen. The pictures of daisies all over and the soft color palate. Did you notice the type of computer they used? The other thing I noticed was her clothing was always a subtle color in the gray tones. I also love both of them celebrated Christmas with friends & family singing songs.

You’re right. She did have a bag when she is opening up the shop in the scene I showed in the Bookstore post, but I don’t think it was a purse. Maybe folks don’t like to walk around on the streets of NY with purses…probably not safe.

Oh I see I am not the only one who loves that movie! I can’t even count how many times I have watched it. I thought I knew every detail of every room, but I did not notice the furniture rearranging in the bedroom! I even visited Cafe Lalo on one of my trips to New York. Thanks Susan for this wonderful little tour! I’m waiting for my life to have that same “happily ever after”………

I love this movie…so much so, that I watched it w/the directors commentary and learned….that Kathleen Kelly’s wonderful apartment is not really in the brownstone…it’s on a sound stage. Burst my bubble!

Angela, I just found a site that said the interior of the bookstore was filmed on a sound stage. Are you sure the brownstone was, too? I can’t find anything on any site about the interior of the brownstone being a set.

Hi Susan…Unfortunately, yes, I’m sure. I watched it last night to double check. The late, great Nora Ephron gives a running commentary on the DVD. She even explains why Kathleen doesn’t carry a purse.

I’ll have to get my DVD out and see if it has the commentary version so I can hear about all that.

Hi Susan! One of my favorite movies. About the couch fabric, amid the scattered roses is the occasional “happiest flower”, the daisy. It is amazing how the character of Kathleen and her preferences were evident to such detail. As for the bookstore, all that it lacked was me and a cat!

I love the moulding in her apartment. I also love the fact that she actually has books on her bookshelves, I’m going crazy about all the “how to style your bookshelves” posts… My bookshleves are packed with books! I adore the fact that her desk is facing the room. I’ve tried the “desk against the wall” once and I couldn’t stand it! I love facing seeing my house from my desk, where I spend countless hours working.

I love the tour because I love, love the movie. See it at least once a year (that’s at least 15 times!) I think I know every line and scene. I’ve even added the songs to my playlist. I visited the brownstone and several other locations on a day in NYC. I did a post about it on my blog-http://ritamay-days.blogspot.com/2010/10/youve-got-mail-our-day-in-nyc.html. I’m going to add a link to your post so that everyone visiting me can also see the inside.

Rita, that would be so much fun, to visit the actual locations. I wonder if the producers and actors all know how big an impact this movie had and how many fans it still has all these years later.

Susan, how do you find this amazing info on movie houses…your posts inspire me to seek out movie houses I love but there just doesn’t seem to be the great stuff you find. (Maybe you could find something more than a past real estate listing for the beach house from ‘The World According to Garp’?) Thank you for all these lovely tours! It is heart warming to see you keeping in touch with us in any way and being out here we all want you to keep moving forward, forward. May our prayers for you and your busy-ness heal your heart with kindness just the way you helped heal Max’s hurt body and spirit when he first came into your life.

I have always loved everything about this movie! I have watched it so many times and always find myself wondering about all the details of her brownstone that we didn’t see – like was there a clawfoot tub, where was her closet, etc.??? Thanks for sharing!

That is a movie I can see over and over again….and every time I see it, I notice another great item in her apt…such great NYC pats and movie!…

Susan, you’ve done it again! Love this post. We seem to share a love for a lot of the same movies.

Fun! I think I want to see this movie yet again. ~ Sarah

I love this movie! I watch it at least 4 times a year and always want to open up my own little bookstore after watching the movie;)

Ahhh Susan, this movie never fails to tug at my heartstrings. Isn’t funny how the most lovable characters occupy the most wonderful spaces? I must have watched this movie 100 times. I’ve often dreamt of opening a “Shop Around the Corner”, but would it prosper and flourish today? Doubtful. Two other films I love whose main characters have homes I would love to inhabit are Diane Keaton’s home in the Hamptons in “Something’s Gotta Give” with Jack Nicholson. The second is Meryl Streep’s home in “It’s Complicated”. I love that house! And let’s not forget her business “The Bakery”. It’s exactly the type of place I business I would have if dreams came true. Thank you so much for all the tours you do. Love them! Deena

Thanks, Deena! I love all those homes…and don’t forget that adorable cottage in The Holiday!

You probably already know, but just mentioning in case, you can tour the Something’s Gotta Give home and It’s Complicated home under the Movie House Tours category at the top of BNOTP…just mentioning if you didn’t know those were under there. I so wish little bookstores like that were still around.

Loved looking through these photos…I’ve always like her little apartment in the movie!

Hi… love this, because I so totally love this movie! Everything about it. And especially her apartment! I have watched it over and over and over… and when I do, I rewind constantly – trying to get as good a view of every nook and cranny as I can. How do you get ‘still ‘ photos like this to share? Is it a special kind of video program that will stop the movie frame and it will be ‘clear’…. ?

I was surprised you did not pick up on the bedroom change… she is commenting about he store closing and about how everyone says ‘change is good’ when they show that scene… and along with the change of losing her business she also has re-arranged her bedroom. I love the bed at an angle and able to sit up and look out the window that way, which I love to do. Thanks for whatever means you had of making the still photos and sharing them. I’d love to know how it’s done.

Now, for your next movie project – would you please do “Mr. Mom” – because I have also watched that movie a gazillion times, just for the purpose of figuring out the floorplan of that home..lol. I used to sit with paper and pen and the remote, constantly stopping the video to try to graph it out. Love that home!!

Laurie, thanks for that suggestion. I love that movie and that would be a fun one to post about. You are too cute. You are definitely a movie house fan every bit as much as I am!

I watch the movies on my computer and when I purchased my computer a few years ago, it came with a feature (may be part of Windows 7) that will let you take a screen shot of what you have showing on the computer.

I know, I don’t why I didn’t realize she had rearranged after all the big changes. Makes perfect sense that she would do that. Okay, I need to order Mr. Mom or see if Netflix has it.

Thanks for the info… I’ll have to see if that kind of option is still available. I just now realised I don’t even own the movie Mr. Mom…????… how on earth is that possible. Guess I didn’t need to because they used to show it on t.v. constantly. I need to add it to my collection! Just talking about it makes me need a ‘fix’ of watching it. Your post about it will be fantastic, as is all your posts!

Hi Again…. I remembered another one of my most favorite ‘home loving’ movies and wanted to share it with you. Have you ever seen the movie, “Chapter Two”, with Marsha Mason and James Caan? I think his home is a brownstone or something… super nice… you’d love it, and her one bedroom apartment is the most cozy floorplan I’ve ever seen… I think you will also like it as well. I so love the way it’s decorated and arranged. This is another of those movies that I have watched so many times, and stopped constantly to figure out the floorplan and arrangement. Love this movie. If you haven’t seen it, please look for it… Jame’s Caan’s split level home is so lovely…. you’ll like it, I promise.

Laurie, thanks for telling me about it! I haven’t seen it but will definitely look for it. I check to see if it’s on Netflix.

Awwwwwww, I love, love, love this apartment.

Greetings from Minnesota! This was the first “movie house tour” I’ve been on, and I’m hooked. It makes the movie all the more sweeter to me now that I know more about Kathleen via her apartment and bookstore. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into preparing the tour for us and look forward to seeing more. Merry Christmas!

Thanks, Vicki! So glad you enjoyed it. I’ve done quite a few here at BNOTP and you can find links to all of them on this page: http://betweennapsontheporch.net/movie-house-tours/ It really is fun to see the things we miss during the movie, it all goes by so quickly sometimes.

I watched “You’ve Got Mail” this morning, Sunday, December 22nd…for the umpteenth time and cried and laughed and laughed and cried again! Love everything about this movie. And I would so enjoy going to work everyday at “The Shop Around the Corner” — “…a lone reed, standing tall, waving boldly in the corrupt sands of commerce” in that magical shop.

Katrinka, I know…I felt the same way. That movie makes you want to open up a sweet bookstore just like The Shop Around the Corner! Such a wonderfully romantic ending to that movie, too. I love it and have to pull it back out to watch it every so often. Love that quote! Another one of my faves that I use alllll the time is when Tom Hanks (in talking about his girlfriend) says something like, “She would make coffee nervous.” lol I have so much energy sometimes I say that about myself.

We first saw “You’ve Got Mail” at the movie theatre; couldn’t wait for the DVD to come out so we could add it to our 100+ DVD collection. Pull this one out at least a couple times a year. Now I want to watch it with an eye toward all of the apartment’s detailing. What a wonderful surprise one day when I just happened on “The Shop Around The Corner” on TV and thought, “This is the pre-cursor to ‘You’ve Got Mail’.” Jimmy Stewart is my all-time favorite movie star (even watch his westerns & I’m not a fan of westerns). Also loved “Chapter Two” That movie has a line I often quote: (when James Caan is asking Marcia Mason out) she says, “You mean get dressed in grown up clothes and everything?’ Another “oldie” you should watch is “Madame X.” It’s rarely shown on TV; and I had to wait years for it to come out on DVD. Ever feel like you just need a good cry? That’s when I pull out Madame X. Thank you again for another enlightening & entertaining Movie House Tour!

Do you know the name and artist of this poster in Kathleen Kelly’s apartment?

I LOVE this apartment. Having lived in Chicago for 27 years, I know how charming these old buildings can be. Since I’ve seen this movie at least 100 times, I have a perfect visual in my mind. What I find amazing tho is that there is only ONE closet (which is sometimes standard in older buildings). It is the one behind the front door – so I like to imagine that this is a deep, long closet, the kind where you pack up winter and put out summer – or “visa versa”. Thanks for your post……….

Interesting that closet space was so limited. One would have to get creative and hopefully that closet is a long one. An armoire and a couple of chests would definitely come in handy…maybe even a cedar chest at the foot of the bed.

There is nothing I can add to what has already been said about this perfect post and movie! Just one question..What would Joe and Kathleen’s place look like now, since we know there had to be a fairytale wedding and most definitely a happily-eve-after! Thanks for making my day!

What is the location of the scene with them crossing paths? I can’t find this spot in New York.

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Welcome to the porch! Thanks so much for stopping in. You’ll find posts on DIY projects, decorating, gardening, home tours, just about anything I think you’ll enjoy reading when you stop in. I am honored you’ve taken a few minutes out of your day to visit! XO Susan

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