Quote Of The Day By Anne Hathaway: 'The Heart Of The House'

When Anne Hathaway broke out on the silver screen, she stole our collective hearts. The award-winning actress (she has an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a British Academy Film Award on her shelf, just to name a few) got her start in 2001's "The Princess Diaries," and her career quickly took off. She has since portrayed a wide variety of characters in different genres, from fairy tales and rom-coms to thrillers and sweeping dramas, on screens big and small. She's also lit up the stage, taking on roles in "Carnival," "Grounded," and more.

Off-stage, Hathaway is just as active in supporting causes near and dear to her heart. Since 2016, she has served as United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for women and girls across the world. She is a known champion of shared parental leave, affordable childcare, and gender equality, as well as being an outspoken supporter for LGBTQ+ rights. Her charitable work doesn't end there: She's also a board member of The Lollipop Theatre Network, a nonprofit organization that brings the latest entertainment to hospitalized children.

At the core of her work, both onstage and off, lies something special, something that's impossible to turn away from: heart. And that's why Hathaway is today's quote of the day.

Hathaway's full quote is: "This room has been a long-held fantasy of ours — a place where the people we love can gather and our musician friends can play. It's the heart of the house." 

Hathaway said these words during a 2019 interview with Architectural Digest where she and her husband, Adam Shulman, opened the doors to their warm, welcoming home in California. The one room that Hathaway considers "the heart of the home" above all the others is the music room.

In an earlier life, the music room served as a dance hall for the local community. Together with interior designer Pamela Shamshiri, Hathaway brought it back to life with a piano, comfy seating, an eye-catching Yves Klein Monogold table, and last, but not least, a disco ball. It's the perfect space for the couple's friends and family to gather, unwind, and connect, which is perhaps the perfect representation of Hathaway's design methodology: heart-led connection.

For many of us, the kitchen represents the heart of the home. It can look like a scene straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie: Something is simmering on the stove while a classic plays softly on the radio, freshly baked bread cools on the counter, and a soft breeze blows through the open windows. We can't all achieve the Nancy Meyers aesthetic (more's the pity), but we can still create that warm, welcoming atmosphere that feels like a heartfelt hub, just like Hathaway does.

Start with the place where your people already congregate — maybe it's the living room, the backyard patio, or yes, the kitchen. Then use the same layering technique Shamshiri used in Hathaway's home. "We tried to maintain the sweetness that made the house so special while adding new layers of color, texture, and furnishings from different eras that reflect the evolution of the home over time and the warm, generous spirit of Annie and Adam," she told Architectural Digest. In other words, start slowly incorporating decor that spans the ages, along with decor that feels like you. Give that heirloom quilt a place of honor, or the statement table lamp that you couldn't resist picking up in the thrift store. Paint an accent wall with a pop of color that complements the armchair nearby.

Don't stop with decor; sound and smell are equally important in creating a welcoming hub. If you're musically inclined, move your instruments into this space, or add an old-fashioned radio or record player. Staggering a few strategically placed candles is a great way to keep your home smelling great and make the heart of your home come alive.

• "This is a place that balances the needs for isolation and community. When I have to concentrate intensely on a project, I can escape from the distractions of the outside world and find inspiration in the glorious mountains and the birds singing in the thicket. There's music inside and out." — from the 2019 Architectural Digest interview
• "Why would we work so hard if not to experience joy, if not to contribute to beauty or experience beauty?" — from a 2026 Elle interview
• "I would like to explore what's beyond the limits of what other people see for me. The thing that I've learned is the unknown can contain wonderful things, too, and if I find myself edging into fear and panic because I am a human being, I tell myself that. You don't know, so let's see what happens." — from a 2022 Elle interview
• "I don't live in what others think of me. I know my own mind and I am connected to my own feelings." — from a 2024 Vanity Fair interview
• "If I know that I'm working hard, I can live with who I am." — from a 2026 Harper's Bazaar interview