Downton Abbey: The Drawing Room [Get that look]

Over the last four weeks, I've been riveted to the tv set watching Downton Abbey on PBS. I wrote more about it on ::Silver Screen Surroundings::, but wanted to share some detail shots and shopping ideas for getting the look of the incredibly gorgeous drawing room.

The series is set in post Edwardian (1901-1910) England and begins in 1912. The series was shot at Highclere Castle in Newbury, which is part of Hampshire, England. Highclere, like many stately homes in England, is open to the public for events like weddings and for movie filming. It was previously used for the Hallmark Hall of Fame's The Secret Garden, the movie Eyes Wide Shut and reportedly Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. In those movies, the castle is used as a dark and foreboding place. However, in Downton Abbey, it's depicted as a warm and inviting family home. As a matter of fact, the series took full advantage of the existing decor, much of which is appropriate to 100 years ago. The images above are from Highclere Castle's website and shows a room that is substantially the same as the room shown in the movie. There are a few differences, such as the rug and lamps. Even the window treatments are the same.  As would have been in the case 100 years ago as it is today, homes of this type would feature beautiful furnishings from many different eras and nationalities. There is a mix of English, French and Italian furnishings which pulls together for an incredibly beautiful and feminine room.



In the scene above, Elizabeth McGovern (Cora, Countess of Grantham) and Hugh Bonneville (Robert, the Earl of Grantham) carry on a conversation. The set decorators have clevery incorporated some post Victorian era touches such as the fringed piano shawl and lampshades.

19th c. Louis XV gilded armchairs at 1st Dibs

Dame Maggie Smith (The Dowager Countess of Grantham) paying a call.

French 19th C Louis XV style commode at Jans Antiques

French Mahogany side table circa 1830 at Trianon Antiques

Antique 19th C French Aubusson at 1st Dibs

19th Century French needlepoint pillow at 1st Dibs

English Regency side table at 1st Dibs

The two Countesses have a meeting of the minds in the drawing room

The Dowager Countess feels blinded by the electrified chandelier.

French 20th century chandelier by Maison Bagues via Trianon Antiques

The youngest sister and budding feminist , Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay) models her new harem style outfit, much to the shock/surprise/amusement of her family.

Reaction montage courtesy of Vic of Jane Austen's World - an amazing resource for Janeites and fans of historical drama.

English Regency Tea table at 1st Dibs

Hugh Bonneville (Robert, Earl of Grantham) looking dapper by the fireplace (btw - he played the sad/silly banker friend of Hugh Grant in Notting Hill, amazing transformation!)

French Cassolette's circa 19th century via Trianon Antiques

Of course, the architecture, gilded millwork and silk damask wallpaper really is the icing on the top of this fantasy room.

Tea anyone?

If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please email me. Thanks!

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Sex and the City hits the big screen

My new Italian sandals and I (and a friend) went to see Sex and the City today. Loved it. Product placement and all.

I laughed, I cried and I certainly enjoyed the movie sets and locations.

Images by Craig Blankenhorn/New Line Cinema ©2008 New Line Cinema via Traditional Home

Traditional Home Magazine, July issue, has a nice article about the set decor, production designer Jeremy Conway and set decorator Lydia Marks. Click here to read more on my blog ::Silver Screen Surroundings::.



Did you see the movie and what did you think?

Visit the official SATC website here.

NEW BLOG! ::Silver Screen Surroundings::

By far, my most popular blog posts have been my "Get that Look" series where I have profiled beautiful movie interiors and how to break them down and get the look in your own home.
While I still intend to do these posts over here on ::Surroundings::, I have created a new home ::Silver Screen Surroundings:: where I will focus exclusively on movie set decor, including the set decorators and who they are inspiring.

In addition to my "Get That Look" posts, I'll include lots of still images for fun and links to many other online articles and images.

::Silver Screen Surroundings:: is still a work in progress - I'm still copying my existing posts over there and updating some of the links - a bloggers work is never done! But I invite you to hop on over and let me know what you think!

Now, all we need is the popcorn!

Get That Look! Semi-Custom Headboard Detail

The May 2008 House Beautiful featured this lovely bedroom with a really striking tufted and be-ribboned headboard. Upholstered headboards are hot, hot, hot right now; we're seeing them everywhere. Undoubtedly, the one featured in this photo is a custom piece. A custom built headboard with tufting and detailing such as this might range from $1,500 - $3,000.

But, how do you get that look if custom isn't in your budget? How about buying a ready made piece such as the standard tufted headboard above and add trim? From ribbon to sparkling bling to feather pom-poms - the sky is the limit! Depending on the headboard construction and the trim, you could either sew the detail in, or glue it. A great way to create a custom look for less!

Materials

Headboard: Rhonda Button Tufted Headboard at JCPenney. $279 - $429 plus tx and shipping
Trims: MJ Trim trim - estimated $100-$200

Total estimated cost: $450 - $700

Get That Look! Somethings' Gotta Give extras

::Surroundings:: reader and Something's Gotta Give décor fan Laura S. emailed with lots of new information about the artwork and finishes for this popular movie set.

Laura also provided the following information on some of the artwork:

The painting over the fireplace is a reproduction of “Rockaway Beach” by Edward Henry Potthast by Film Art LA.

Here's an image of the Potthast painting:


Painting over the distressed kitchen sideboard is “French Money” by Larry Rivers; a reproduction by Film Art LA.

photo by Bob Marshak/Columbia Tristar

The lighthouse is R Kenton Nelson.

This additional information came from the Set Decorator's Society.

All the frames throughout the house are from Jewel Box.

Laura also provided the information that she believes, and I concur, that the fabric on the dining room chairs is Lee Jofa's "Bordeaux Toile".

Laura was lucky enough to score some yardage at a fabric store at a great price, but it's very hard to find at retail. My guess is that the yardage she found was probably a return that was deeply discounted to sell off. Otherwise, the fabric is only available "to the trade" and retails for $148.00 per yard. If you would like to order the fabric at a discount off the retail price, I can help! Click here for more information.

Thanks Laura!

Pride & Prejudice: Decorating the Bennet's house

I've been thoroughly enjoying the PBS/Masterpiece series of Jane Austen's classic novels, especially Pride & Prejudice, which is currently airing on Sundays at 9:00. Even though I own the DVD set, I'm still watching it on television. Since I own the dvd, I figured it would be fun to pull out some images of the different styles of decorating to be found in these Regency England interiors. There are three distinct levels of society profiled in Pride and Prejudice.

The first we see is the Bennet's family home. As those who know the story are aware, the Bennets are a family of seven - Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, a gentleman and his silly wife. They have five daughters, all of whom are in want of wealthy husbands due to the fact that Mr. Bennet's property will be "entailed" away from his family after his death - leaving them quite poor and without their home. Hence the need for the daughters to all marry as well as possible.

My blogging friend Ms. Place, Jane Austen expert par excellence, has done a post on the income levels of the various characters' and putting their income in today's dollars. Check it out here on Jane Austen's World. Mr. Bennets' annual income (for his family of seven) was £2,000, which is £67.9k in todays currency ($132k US). In his time, this was a comfortable income and it affords the family a nice, if not luxurious, lifestyle that includes a large house and small staff. Their country home is filled with quality furnishings and accessories that are beautiful, but standard and practical. One notices in the set decor that there is a prevalence of slipcovers and tablecloths, which may indicate the need to hide the well worn nature of their furnishings.





Just for fun, I did a little window shopping at 1st Dibs and pulled out the following English Regency antiques that one might have found in a home such as the Bennet's.

Queen Anne style side chairs at Adams & Comer

Mahogany dining table at Florian Papp

Side tables at English Country Antiques

18thC/19C Secretary at Parc Monceau Antiques

King George III mahogany chair back settee at Carnegie Hill Antiques

Queen Ann card table at Carnegie Hill Antiques

Silver tea service at Belvedere Antiques

Scroll window seat at Timothy Corrigan Antiques

Inlaid mahagony Pembroke table ca. 1810 at William Word Fine Antiques

Satinwood Writing Slope at Drum & Company



According to Jane Austen Today, upon Mr. Bennet's death, Mrs. Bennet's entire "marriage portion" would have been £5,000 which would have had to support her and her daughters for the rest of their lives, or until the daughters married. Clearly, this would have devastated their lives.

On the next level of wealth, we have the Bingley's - a brother, sister, and a married sister and her husband. A young single man, Mr. Bingley's annual income was £4,000 a year, or double that of Mr. Bennet. This made Mr. Bingley a very eligible bachelor, whom Mrs. Bennet sets her sites on when he leases the local mansion, Netherfield Park.


Click here to read my post on the Bennet House.
Click here to read my post on Netherfield Park.
Click here to read my next post on Pemberley.


Pride and Prejudice is currently airing on PBS, Sundays at 9:00PM.