I know a lot of people who just can’t wait for the U.S. season premiere of Downton Abbey tomorrow night. They’ve been itching for this day to come for almost a year, ever since the last episode aired here.
I have to admit, I’m not a regular Downton Abbey viewer. I respect the opinion of the people who tell me it’s marvelously written, acted, and directed, but I just haven’t had the time to get into it yet.
One thing about the show has struck me, though—the beautiful interior shots of Downton Abbey, most of which were filmed in the real-life Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England. Gorgeous hardwood floors are in rooms throughout that castle, and they catch the eye of a hardwood floor guy like me!
Not to take anything away from the quality of the show, but I think a lot of its appeal lies in the style it invokes—European gentility and refinement. The way the characters talk, behave, and dress invokes Old World culture. In the chaotic 21st century, that style appeals to people who are nostalgic for a classier, more mannered time.
It seems to me that the hardwood floors in the castle have that same appeal. I certainly know that at Ralph’s Hardwood Floors, we get many visitors to our showroom who are interested in a very stately, dignified look. And lately we’ve been getting more of them.
For example, we’ve seen a recent rise in the popularity of parquet floors, which have been a favorite of the European aristocratic class for centuries.
“Parquet” simply means that the floor is made up of geometric patterns. The most widely known example is herringbone, but the variations are endless.
There’s a parquet floor in the entranceway to Downton Abbey (i.e., Highclere Castle). It’s made of marble, but hardwood is great for parquet floors, as well. When installed by skilled artisans like we have at Ralph’s, hardwood parquet floors can look absolutely amazing—worthy of any European castle.
Parquet floors aren’t the only way homeowners can get a Downton Abbey look. Hardwood floors can be made to look elegant in many ways, such as using dark colors, closed grain patterns, glossy finishes, narrow boards, and exotic species. It’s not difficult—the inherent character of hardwoods make them ideal for creating a formal feel.
There’s a reason you see so many hardwood floors in Downton Abbey, as well as in so many homes being built today. Their classiness is timeless.
Photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highclere_Castle#mediaviewer/File:Highclere_Castle.jpg
