Shots From Downton Abbey

The Dower House

This is the house that Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham lives in.  The Dowager Lady Grantham mentions that the house was designed by Wren (Sir Christopher Wren, the man who rebuilt London after the Great Fire) for the 1st Earl of Grantham's sister. They mostly film scenes in the large drawing room of the house. It has beautiful paneled walls, rope & tassel wall sconces, marble fireplace, and dark oak floors.

Federal Style Architecture

Federal Style Design Profile - Click Here for More Info

Designing a Federal Style room? Kuiken Brothers Company INC is a small business with many locations in the NY/NJ area. I've order all the moldings in my houses from them, I love there millwork profiles. See their Federal Mouldings here.

I like to think of Federal architecture is an American adaptation of Georgian architecture. The Federal era came at the end of the Georgian era and is present in numerous buildings in the Northeast United States, particularly in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. where there are many historic 18th century buildings that have been well preserved.

"After the revolutionary war, inspired by English Architect Robert Adam, the federal style is much lighter and more delicate than the bold Georgian mouldings. Note the cavetto shapes and simple beads; this helps the mouldings to read as more refined in a room. This style would have been popular from the 1770's through the early 1800's and was often ornamented with decorations like urns, swags and busts. The room shown here uses a select few mouldings, but there are many additional profiles in theFederal Moulding section of our website to create a similar, yet custom look of your own." - Kuiken Brothers Company INC.

 Click here for the source of the pictures above.

Hedsor House

This weekend, I watched a movie that combined four of my great loves. My love of Dame Maggie Smith, my love of England, my love of Opera and classical music, and my love of great Georgian architecture. I'm referring to the movie Quartet. The main setting for this movie is the fictional Beecham house, which is filmed at the beautiful Hedsor House.

Once a Victorian house, it has since been renovated into Georgian style house. It was once the residence of Princess Augusta, the Dowager Princess of Wales. She was the wife of the heir apparent to the British throne, son of George II who died before his father, meaning that he never became king. Instead, their oldest son became the notorious King George III who is known as being the longest reigning monarch of England before being overtaken by Elizabeth II and his granddaughter Victoria, as well as for going mad for the last 10 years before his death (1810-1820) at which point his son became the Prince Regent. The park was frequently visited by Queen Victoria.

Library 

Bedroom

Stair Hall

Dining Room

Ballroom

Stair Hall

Ballroom

Centre Hall

"Budoir"

Drawing Room

Library

Centre Hall

Library

"Budoir"

Dining Room

Basement

Centre Hall

Reception Hall