Design*Sponge » Blog Archive » living in: harold and maude

This one goes out to all the lovers out there… and the rest of us, too. One of the funniest, sweetest and most quirky romances around, Harold and Maude defies convention. Rarely does a movie so preoccupied with death honestly show the true nature of love and life. And Ruth Gordon is amazing. Who doesn’t want to grow up to be such a free spirit?

[image above, clockwise from top left: daisy umbrella $32,gloria’s garden rug $348, yellow raincoat $18, burberry scarf $155, shovel $13, teapot $75, fruiteria lamp $298, acacia wood stool $220, buttercup hook $12]

Maude’s oddball railroad car is a dream of a dream, complete with smell-o-rama machine and is a perfect foil for Harold’s hearse driving, arm hacking ways. Total opposites on the outside, Maude’s geriatric grooviness and Harold’s death obsession prove that love is in what you feel, not what you see. As they say, if you want to sing out, sing out. -amy m.

[image above, clockwise from top left: model 1966 cadillac hearse $110,banjo $709, shag pillow $98, side table $128, meat cleaver $39, tie $68, laboratory vases $14]

amy merrick, living in

I love this series! And I love that this movie was included.

Are we allowed to suggest? I think Pedro Almodovar’s Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown) has the most stunning aesthetics! Not to mention it’s one of the quirkiest movies ever.

A wonderful film choice. This film stays with me for 2 reasons…first, because it is simply a great movie. Second, and it may sound strange, but the mausoleum at the cemetery that the young couple visited is Holy Cross which is where my parents are buried. I always think of them when I see this movie.

I so love this movie! One year I showed it for my birthday and I have never heard the end of the harold and maude stories about how this movie is sick and wrong on so many levels. Glad to see someone else sees it for what it truly is, a story about life and love.

The Living In series is such a treat. I love all the movies you’ve picked so far. There are so many great movies that work for this…loved Edward Scissor Hands and Little Women. Where’s Chocolat? :)

I suspect that fur-collared blazer is a one-off. But so fab.

I am really enjoying this series too. It prompted me to watch Days of Heaven (so beautiful) and the Audrey Hepburn one (sorry, brain fade). My suggestion to add to the list would be Diva. :)

Great movie. Y’know, I never thought to wonder how Maude, who didn’t spend her days on anything like a day job, came to acquire all that cool stuff. Maybe she did time as an accountant before finally retiring to do the free-spirit thing. :)

this post just elicited about 22 “ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod”s and a lot of gasping and squealing.

THANK YOU!
(i would also love it if you did a living in “Love Story.” the hats alone… sigh)

So awesome. These “living in” posts always make me want to run out and rent the movie. And that lamp is all kinds of gorgeous. :)

Just don’t do something like Clockwork Orange. No one needs to find the accessories in that film. Eh-hem.

A very very very good movie…

I first saw this when I was about 7, and I loved it..

such a modern movie for its time, its just great.

and that beautiful hearse…it makes me want to own one..and his coat is oh so fashionable right now.

I watched this movie for the first time recently and immediately thought it would make for a great Living In.

This is my favourite D*S feature! When it disappeared for two weeks I was so worried it wouldn’t come back. It combines two of my favourite things ever: movies and decorating.

I’d like to join the ranks of people clamoring for a Wes Anderson movie Living In. Kind of obvious, but the set design of his films is always magical.

Thanks for including this classic! Hands down, one of my favorite movies growing up, especially because it was shot in and around my town. I still refer to the church, when I drive by, as the “H & M Church”.

This movie was a huge part of my life and my friends’ lives. It’s a quintessential Northen Cal movie.

You guys rock for including it in your fabulous series. Keep ‘em coming…

The photo you have of Harold & Maude on the scooter was filmed near my house (Dumbarton Bridge in Newark CA!) more years ago than I care to admit. My friends and I walked over to watch the filming.

Thanks for a good memory.

Love this series and have loved the movie since I saw it at the time of its release when I was just out of college. This is a bit off topic but none of the commenters seem to realize that Maude is a Holocaust survivor and that this is one of the best anti-war films ever. Yes, a quirky love story but really more about accepting others and ending war.

How fun. I’ve loved this movie for longer than I care to remember! This post makes me want to rent it and enjoy it all over again. Everyone should sport a whimsical umbrella to funerals in honor of Maude.

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