The only show that rocks the country more than the Great British Bake Off is soon to be
back on our screens. The new series of everybody’s favourite period drama, Downton Abbey, starts on September 21st
and promises to be as action packed and thrilling as ever (apparently Lord
Grantham blows his nose TWICE this series!)
One of the reasons that the show is so phenomenally
successful is the feelings of nostalgia it stimulates even in viewers who were
born many decades after the program’s setting. Aside from the charming
mannerisms, the beautiful clothing, and seemingly straightforward way of life,
many people admire the glamorous decor portrayed in the drama.
While the beauty of a place such as the fictional Downton
Abbey would have at the time been reserved for manor houses, these days you can
easily replicate the stunning aesthetics in any home. With the Farrow & Ball range creating your
very own Edwardian, Downton-inspired home has never been easier. Here are our
tips on how to do it:
Curtains
A simple way to add a sense of grandeur to an otherwise ordinary
room is to decorate it with very tall, heavy curtains. It does not matter if
your home does not have particularly large windows; using oversized curtains
will give the illusion that the window and the room itself is a lot larger than
it actually is. Choose a rich, velvet material in a deep red or purple to instantly
make a room look and feel expensive.
Crockery
Edwardian crockery looks beautiful and can be incorporated into a room either as decoration or as items that you will use day to day. This style of crockery tends to be very detailed with lots of colour and patterns, it can be mixed and matched – any modern chintzy crockery would be ideal.
Edwardian crockery looks beautiful and can be incorporated into a room either as decoration or as items that you will use day to day. This style of crockery tends to be very detailed with lots of colour and patterns, it can be mixed and matched – any modern chintzy crockery would be ideal.
Lighting
One of the most obvious symbols that represent the wealth of
an aristocratic family such as the Crawleys is of course the fabulous
chandelier lighting. Through the series we have seen the family evolve from
traditional candlelight to using the modern invention of electricity (to the
horror of the Dowager Violet Crawley who initially could not stand the bright
glare of light bulbs!) Adding a modern chandelier to the centre of the room
instantly screams Downton.
Ornate Furniture
As demonstrated in the picture above Downton Abbey tends to
use furniture which is made of dark, solid wood. The close details of the furniture
is important – the brass plating attached and the carefully crafted shaping of
the legs for example. If you are keen on emulating Downton furniture then
invest in a writing desk - writing letters is one of Lord Grantham’s many
exhausting chores – and an impressive book case.
Walls
Probably the most significant way to perform a Downton
makeover is by decorating the walls. At Kent Blaxill our Farrow & Ball
wallpapers offer the perfect styles for your Downton theme. Depending on your
individual taste, you might choose to decorate all of the walls with wallpaper
(nobody painted their walls at this time obviously) or you might choose to have
one feature wall covered in traditional wallpaper while you can paint the rest
of the room to match.
In Downton Abbey many of the walls are covered with mint
green wallpaper similar to the
geometric tesella paper (top left) which is a bright, attractive wallpaper that
features a simple pattern. This
wallpaper’s delicate colour tones mean that it is not too overpowering to be
featured across all of the walls, but you might want to add it to one wall and
match it with a neutral creamy colour such as the 2005
All White paint or its similar variations.
Watching Downton you may also have noticed that lots of the
rooms feature wallpaper with delicate, detailed patterns like those on our Silvergate
Farrow and Ball wallpapers range. These designs are based on early 19th
Century English damask ones so are another style that would be suitable for
your new room.
If you would like to find more inspiration for your Downton
creation, visit the Kent Blaxill website where can find hundreds of paints and
wallpapers to choose from.