Although Cindi Osborn struggles to pin down exactly what makes a
private home the perfect setting for photo shoots, she knows a winner
when she sees one. “It has to have that elusive quality of ‘just
rightness,’” she says.
Osborn, a onetime art historian and
gallery owner, started Mint Locations after working for her husband, a
freelance creative director and commercial video producer. She couldn’t
find anyone else who specialized in locations that were private homes,
so, she says, “I decided to make that my niche.”
Osborn, who splits her time
between the San Francisco Bay Area and Sun Valley, Idaho, got her big
break by matching a retailer’s creatives with a Piedmont, California,
home as the backdrop for their newly redesigned wares. “At the time the
house was owned by a Chinese rock star — she was like the Madonna of
China — and she was away a lot. The company shot there for an entire
year,” says Osborn. The house, done in a grand chateau style with modern
touches, launched both the retailer’s new look and Osborn’s company,
which currently has a portfolio of 240 homes.
Osborn dipped into
that pool and shares some ideas here about what makes them great
locations. Not only will you find eye candy, but you might even find a
styling idea you’d like to try.
1. Bluewater Ranch, Bolinas, California
Who has shot here: Car companies, clothing retailers
Why it works: “There is a
beautiful soul to this place,” says Osborn. On the day of our
interview, a major clothing retailer was photographing apparel on 40
cartwheeling, capering children. “I guarantee they are up there having a
great time,” Osborn says. “It is a beautiful spot.”
The house was remodeled by the
owner, a film industry veteran who uses it as an escape from the
pressures of Hollywood. “She used beautiful rustic wood, and it has a
patina and a character you can’t find just anywhere,” Osborn says.
“The owner really let the spirit
of the old place come through, and people respond to that,” she says.
“The authenticity of this place makes it just right.”
Why creative directors and stylists love it: Wide-plank
floors, salvaged-wood paneling and a highly textured ceiling give this
location a rustic chic aura. Creative directors “are looking for a place
where the design and the architecture are alive in a house,” says
Osborn. “A great home communicates something — and that’s usually an
alchemy of beauty and a sense of place.”
Design takeaways: We
have all seen recycled wood used in interiors, but most people use old
wood that has been cleaned, sanded or even remilled. This homeowner
recycled wood without stripping it of its character and patina. “She
also patched holes in the original floor with tin scraps,” adds Osborn,
further dissecting the charm factor. “A neighbor gave her paintings of
the original homestead, and she peppered them around the place.”
2. Casa Acanto, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Why it works: “There’s a wonderful sense of place here,” says Osborn. “You know immediately it’s Mexico.”
Osborn says the house is owned
by a pair of interior designers. When she saw it, she called the
homeowners and found them open to the idea of renting their house for
photo shoots.
Unique details make this home
noteworthy. Like the other homes Osborn represents, this is not a
wallflower dwelling. It’s a house with a bold personality. “When it
comes to locations, it helps to have a strong, clear point of view,” she
says.
The designers remodeled the Mexican abode with an eye toward displaying the patterns of Mexican textiles.
Why creative directors and stylists love it: Nothing says
hacienda like terra-cotta tile floors,
blue and white tiles
on the wall and metal accents. Besides being beautiful, this home is
spacious and has many different settings. “It’s like agreeing to work
with a human supermodel,” says Osborn. “Sure, he or she looks good, but
are they willing to travel? And are they easy to work with?”
When
it comes to brick and mortar “models,” space, parking and accessibility
are key considerations. “Can the home accommodate a shoot of 20 or even
40 people? Is there parking for them? How close is the nearest airport?
These are all things that are considered,” says Osborn.
Design takeaways: “As
long as the patterns are great, you can mix as many as you want for
great results,” says Osborn. “The look is layered and sophisticated,
versus a matching, coordinated, overdecorated look.”
3. Prospector House, Sun Valley, Idaho
Why it works: “Views
count, and this house has incredible views,” says Osborn, who
discovered it after attending a holiday party there. “But it can’t just
be about the views — this house also has great modern architecture that
takes advantage of the setting.”
Why creative directors and stylists love it: Rugged
mountains surrounding a sleek house? It’s like a classic mountaineer in
an Armani suit: manly and classy rolled into one package. Most of the
homes used for shoots are the personal expression of a creative person,
or the result of a successful partnership between an involved homeowner
and great architect and/or interior designer. “Those kinds of
expressions are original and hard to duplicate,” she says.
Design takeaways: The
organic material mix (steel, wood and stone) makes the home blend
seamlessly into the landscape. “These same materials are also used
beautifully inside the house,” she says. “They leverage the location of
the home and underscore its strength and stability.”
4. London Calling, San Francisco
Who has shot here: Technology companies
Why it works: “This
home belongs to a really creative interior designer, and she has a
wonderful personality,” says Osborn. “Her spirit absolutely comes
through in these rooms. I named it London Calling because she relocated
here from London, and I think it has a European feeling.”
Why creative directors and stylists love it: This
Victorian is like that eccentric British cousin you always wanted.
Stark white walls and furniture look doubly fresh with vividly hued
modern art and colorful throw pillows. An eclectic attitude means that a
hanging
acrylic bubble chair,
a classic wooden bench and modern gray upholstered dining chairs can
comfortably live under one roof (and, in this room, around one table).
There’s also a wealth of fun details — such as this elevated fireplace
that puts the flames at eye level when guests take a seat at the table.
“There
is a kind of collective consciousness among creative people across the
country. They don’t do what’s popular; they do a new thing or a unique
thing — and that’s what many advertisers are looking for,” says Osborn.
“To me this kind of house — all white with bold splashes of color — is
what a lot of people will be looking to next.”
“It’s much more desirable to
have many of the background pieces already there,” says Osborn. “Rarely
does a company remove every last thing for a photo shoot.”
Design takeaways: “The
owner has kids, but she doesn’t sacrifice style for functionality,”
says Osborn. “I love the clever use of a bright green, cheerful oilcloth
on the kitchen stools.”
It’s just one example of what Osborn calls “colorful decor that paints the all-white rooms.”
5. Jardin du Buis, Pottersville, New Jersey
Who has shot here: High-end fashion brands. This also has been the setting for several weddings.
Why it works: “This is one of those fantasy landscapes — it’s textured, layered and dreamy,” says Osborn.
Why creative directors and stylists love it: Stone
walls, strictly manicured formal gardens and classic furniture with a
modern twist make this Downton Abbey’s more approachable American
cousin.
When Osborn says it’s important for a home to have a
sense of place, sometimes that can mean another place. “This home feels
very European; it could be made to look like many different parts of the
world,” she says.
“Walking around this property, you feel like you are on the grounds of an old rambling European estate,” says Osborn.
What you can learn from it: “Formal
gardens can be intimate or grand — but they always make statements,”
says Osborn. “The owner is a celebrated landscape architect. Here, in
New Jersey, she’s lovingly re-created European gardens.”
6. Owl’s Nest, Lake Tahoe, California
Who has shot here: Orbitz, Eddie Bauer
Why it works: “It’s the
quintessential lake house,” says Osborn. “This home is located in
Northern California, but it could be anywhere — including upstate New
York or Lake Michigan.”
Why creative directors and stylists love it: The house has a great personality and many clever touches (for example, the
coffee table with a built-in globe). Rustic timber and stone offset by white walls make this more hip lake house than fusty lodge.
Design takeaways: “To
eliminate a heavy feeling, lighten the finishes and use pops of color
and bright fabrics,” says Osborn. “It will make the space feel more
modern without losing the integrity of a
classic home.”
7. Wilkes Warehouse, San Francisco
Why it works: “In
this business it is not always necessary to have a big house,” says
Osborn. “This is a loft that belongs to a fascinating young couple. They
did it themselves, and it looks as interesting as the people who live
here.”
Why creative directors and stylists love it: Each
piece in this loft is cool — from the cushion-topped black metal coffee
tables to the light blue surfboard leaning between the bookshelves, to
the extra-
long dining table.
“This is a house where everyone would come for a great dinner party or
to hang out at the end of the evening,” says Osborn. “Who wouldn’t want
to sit around the table or linger in the kitchen for a last drink?”
Design takeaways: “This
loft was originally white, and the blocky spaces made it all seem
clinical,” says Osborn. “The dark walls now give the space a sexy
nightclub feel. Using the same paint throughout the home helps connect
the cube-like spaces.”
What’s in It for Homeowners“There
are many reasons people open their house,” Osborn says. “Some people
are proud of their homes. Some feel a sense of stewardship, that it’s
their responsibility to share the home. But of course, money is part of
it too.”
People can make thousands of dollars a year renting their homes for photo shoots, but i
t
does come at a cost. “I’m really up-front with my clients about it,”
Osborn says. “If you are uncomfortable with being out of your house for
several days, the thought of many people in your house or your things
being moved, this is not for you. Although we have people onsite to
protect your belongings and your interests, it is a disruption. On the
other hand, I have some clients who are able to pay their property taxes
on what they make from photo shoots. No matter how they feel about it, I
advise my clients to vacate the premises while a photo shoot is in
progress.”Regardless of their reasons for renting,
homeowners who create beautiful homes and allow them to be used in
photos seen around the world are perhaps unwittingly influencing the way
we decorate our homes. Maybe that’s ultimately the reason creative
directors choose these kinds of properties — they pick the homes where
we’d like to live.
