Inside the “While You Were Sleeping” House Today

The 1995 Sandra Bullock rom-com While You Were Sleeping is a favorite of mine, and the Callaghan family’s wonderful old home in the suburbs of Chicago was one of the first movie houses I featured on my blog back in 2008. When I heard it was on the market in La Grange, Illinois, I couldn’t wait to see how it looks today. They filmed inside the actual house, which makes it even more fun to compare the rooms then and now. Take a look!

The Callaghan Family’s Home in the Movie “While You Were Sleeping”

It sits on a corner lot, as you can see in the listing today:

A reader named Kristine contacted me after I wrote about the house in 2008, saying she was living in it when they filmed here: “We had to move out for most of the shooting and we were living down the street. Everyone was so nice. The snow was all fake and we were the only house on the block with it.”

There’s a reason the interiors look so real and lived-in: “They redid some of the interior for the movie but most of it is the same. All the interiors were actually my house too. None of them were sets. Shortly after the movie, my parents put an addition on the side of the house.” (Thanks, Kristine!)

The listing says:

Wonderful La Grange home designed by John Tilton (1898), located in the Historic District. Beautiful 4-bedroom home starred in the movie “While You Were Sleeping.” This charming residence beckons you to enjoy the large wraparound porch and sits on large lot 100 x 139.

Gracious foyer, high ceilings throughout, stunning molding detail, original pocket doors, hardwood floors, 2 fireplaces, large updated eat in kitchen with granite counter tops and stainless-steel appliances opens to family room. Finished 3rd floor, envy of many. Located close to award winning schools, commuter train and downtown area. Owner has original blueprints of home.

The movie was filmed on location inside this house, so I took screenshots to compare it then and now.

The same wallpaper remains in the entry:

The Dining Room Onscreen:

The Dining Room Today:

Lucy (Sandra Bullock) in the Living Room:

The Living Room Today:

In this shot you can see the beautiful old green-tiled fireplace behind her:

Matthew McConaughey was reportedly considered for the role of Jack, but they cast Bill Pullman instead.

Peter Gallagher played Peter Callaghan, which was a small but memorable role. He went on to become the patriarch of the Cohen family on “The O.C.” and is now Jane Fonda’s boyfriend on “Grace and Frankie.” (BTW, you can see what that fabulous beach house looks like in real life here.)

We didn’t get to see the second or third floors in the movie, so here’s our chance!

The house has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 3,853 square feet.

The third floor is finished. Note the movie memorabilia on the desk:

The working title for the film was “Coma Guy,” which cracks me up.

I also read that the first idea for the movie was to have a woman in the coma and a man pretending to be engaged to her, but they decided it seemed a little too “creepy” or stalkerish. They switched the genders and now it’s hard to imagine it any other way.

We didn’t see the kitchen in the movie, either:

I’m guessing this was part of the addition Kristine mentioned.

BTW, Peter’s swanky apartment was filmed in Chicago’s Lake Point Tower.

Spoiler alert: When we see his super sleek and modern place, we know Lucy doesn’t belong there. Or with him!

The house decorated for Christmas in the film:

It was built in 1898.

Lucy’s been longing for a family, and this house signals that she’s found it:

I’m amazed at how little it has changed in the 23 years since the movie was filmed there.

According to IMDb, “While You Were Sleeping made a giant splash at the box office, making more than $180 million in worldwide returns, the vast majority of which was pure profit, as the film was made for a surprisingly slim $17 million.”

Here’s a photo I found of the house when I wrote about it in ’08 (you can see more there):

Gorgeous! They’re asking $837,999, and boy, I’d buy it if I could. I see I’m not alone in loving it — it switched to “pending sale” while I was writing this. It was only on the market a few days, so that was fast! For more photos and information, check the listing held by Beverly Lannon of Coldwell Banker.

P.S. Visit my Houses Onscreen page to see more faves, including the one from Stepmom:

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by hookedonhouses via Home And Garden