When the second season of Downton Abbey premiered on PBS Sunday it delivered in its uniquely English Romantic way, giving us a high-brow period drama that feels wickedly low-brow. The social intrigue, period costumes, and those Edwardian interiors all make my heart swell. Here's a brief look at some key characters and room elements that could be inspired by them as we watch the story unfold during World War I.
Scenes at the fictional halls of Downton Abbey, an English country estate, were filmed at Highclere Castle. The imposing structure is a character of its own on the show that follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and the servants with whom they share close ties.
Most of us will be lucky enough to tour an Edwardian castle let alone live in one, but we can take cues from the designs of English country homes and their grounds. Soft lawn spaces, meandering walkways, and large trees accentuated by masses of annual flowers are all reminiscent of English country estates — perfect for a clandestine rendezvous away from prying eyes back at the main house.
Maggie Smith is smashing as Violet, the Countess of Gratham. She has invited many of her foes and allies for a proper English tea where she may discuss important family matters while dishing out the zingiest back-handed compliments I have ever heard.
Downton Abbey: Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham
Get ideas from the Countess for hosting an English afternoon tea in your own garden with layers of lacy tableware, a silver tea service, a rosy flower arrangement (with violets of course), and white wicker seating fluffed with plenty of needle point pillows. An empty bird cage hung from above is the final touch for setting the scene.
At the center of our period drama is the impossible love story of Lady Mary, the Earl's daughter, and Cousin Matthew, the presumptive heir to the estate. Things are not black and white with these two. There are many shades of gray to their relationship.
Wouldn't it have been so much simpler if things were black and white between Matthew and Mary? If they were, I see a bedroom like this representing these two in the modern era. Layers of sheer white fabric and luxurious linens enveloping a canopy bed, touches of black for the high drama that these two always invoke, with dashes of bright velvety yellow.
Lady Mary, along with her sisters Edith and Sybil, is an English Rose through and through. In Season 1 she was lovable, even when she had her moments of snobbery or shortsightedness. With her "marriageability" called into question and her unresolved feelings for Matthew this season, we will may see her soften and bloom. A vibrant mosaic mural of a rose close ups on a modern bathroom seem like the perfect décor for the Crawley sisters today.
Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham, and his American countess wife Cora have a loving and enduring marriage that is surprising and welcome to see for those times. The demands of the estate and uncertain times can put stress on their marriage, but you can be sure that they will make it through.
A sweet detail in the show is that Cora and Robert keep separate bedrooms for show, but spend most nights together in Cora's bedroom. Cora's bedroom is shown as super feminine, but if the Earl had a say, I'm sure he would like to see a few more masculine shades, such as darker wood tones and a black velvet headboard, among the pastels. Don't forget a brass wall mounted light fixture for reading on both sides of the bed.
The Earl and Matthew, his unexpected heir, develop a sincere fondness for each other. Intense conversations occur between just the two in the Earl's study or the library, a private and masculine space.
You can create your own grand library space without hundreds of leather-bound books. The wallpaper by English artist Deborah Bowness is a quick way to create the look. With rich wood tones and an antique Oriental rug, a serious and academic tone is imparted to any room.
Besides taking care of the estate and sorting through their social crises, there isn't much for the Crawley family to do. Hunting weekends with guests become major events at the house (and ways to move the plot forward). The showmanship involved in both performance and dress is top-notch.
A love of the equestrian life and country weekends can be expressed in your own home with small touches such as horse artwork, displaying a saddle, and making sure there is a casual charm to your space for guests and canine friends to relax.
Let's not forget the devoted staff toiling away downstairs. Mrs. Patmore the cook and her assistant Daisy are two of the more beloved characters due to their warm hearts, shown when they teach the privileged Lady Sybil to make a cup of tea and cook for herself.
The ample and large downstairs kitchen is model of efficiency. It has to be to support a house that has 200 bedrooms! Today's modern take on the country kitchen is simple and humble, with the best organization sensibility, quality wood finishes, cast iron hardware, and hardworking professional-grade appliances. Mrs. Patmore would be very happy in a kitchen such as this.
