Downton Cravings

ECH 18-19
Kentchurch Court, Herefordshire c. 14th century, w/ renovations throughout 17th, 18th, & 19th centuries

Monday mornings always have me waking up still thinking about the previous night’s episode of Downton Abbey. It is so easy to get lost in those characters, the time period, and in Highclere Castle. Throughout the week I find myself pining for Downton and its characters, and Sunday cannot come soon enough. However, I have found a solution for all the insatiable Downton fanatics, something to peruse and study throughout the week that helps keep the Downton cravings at bay.
ECH_frontcover

The English Country House. Written by James Peill with a foreward by the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes, this book has been wonderful to look at and to read, especially on Mondays when I realize I have to wait an entire week to go back to Downton. The book features photos and histories of ten country houses throughout Great Britain, all which are still privately owned. Available at Barnes & Noble here and Amazon.com here, this book provides a look into the world of the english country house like none I have ever seen.

ECH pg 75 top right
Milton, Cambridgeshire c. 16th century w/ renovations throughout the 17th & 18th centuries
ECH pg 66
Milton, Cambridgeshire c. 16th century w/ renovations throughout the 17th & 18th centuries
ECH pg 97
Badminton, Gloucestershire c. unclear most likely pre16th century w/ renovations throughout the 17th, 18th, & 19th centuries
ECH pg 74
Milton, Cambridgeshire c. 16th century w/ renovations throughout the 17th & 18th centuries
ECH pg 91
Badminton, Gloucestershire c. unclear most likely pre16th century w/ renovations throughout the 17th, 18th, & 19th centuries

 

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Cheap and Chic of the Week: Right on Target

Target
Threshold Tufted Bench – $89.99
Target 2
Threshold Iron Wire Table – $59.99
Target 3
Threshold Industrial Barstool with Wood Top – $129.99 (pair)
Target 4
Threshold Faux Shell Inlay Hexagonal Accent Table – $63

Over the weekend I ventured to Target to pick up some things completely unrelated to home decor or furnishing. However, not surprisingly I landed in the home decor section of Target, where I was completely blown away with what their Threshold line had to offer. I think that the tufted bench above is my favorite, but I have included some others. The prices on some of these items are so good, and the designs are timeless. These are four well priced pieces that you will never tire of. Click on the photo to be redirected to target.com.

Photos courtesy of Target

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Howard Slatkin’s Fifth Avenue Style

5AS pg 179I’m sure that most of you saw the article in T magazine this weekend about the new book Howard Slatkin’s Fifth Avenue Style. The book features pictures of Slatkin’s Fifth Avenue apartment, which he painstakingly renovated and decorated.
5AS pg 8The book features a number of beautiful table settings, and a truly fascinating section on the service rooms in the apartment. After last week’s posts on china cabinets and china rooms, as well as some of the service rooms at The Breakers in Newport, I’m sure you can understand that I was extremely interested in this particular section of Slatkin’s book.  5AS endpapers copySlatkin’s apartment features a silver cabinet, a flower room, and a candle room. Now I would never have thought about installing a candle room in an apartment, however, Slatkin’s brother and sister in law founded the candle company Nest – so it makes sense that he has an overabundance of candles to store.

Scan 1Here is the silver closet. Slatkin has lined every shelf of the closet with tarnish resistant fabric, which minimizes the need to polish before every use. Not only do I absolutely love the cabinet – but look at all his beautiful silver. ScanThe flower room. Slatkin believes that having a dedicated flower room is a “great convenience.” He enjoys being out of the way of the kitchen and having everything that he needs for arranging at his fingertips. On the inside door of the flower room, Slatkin has a board on which he posts pictures of past arrangements he has made that he felt were successful so that he can be inspired while he is arranging flowers. I think this is a great idea. Slatkin does this both with flower arrangements and table settings … I may have to follow his lead on that one.

Photos courtesy of The Vendome Press 

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