Modern Home Designs: chatsworth house

I should have mentioned in my last post about the Chatsworth House attic sale that my follow up would be about Deborah Mitford, The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. Without her guidance, Chatsworth House would not have become one of the finest English manor homes. She was instrumental in its restoration and created the Chatsworth Farm Shop and other products to keep the home running.

She also happens to the last living member of the famous Mitford family and even more famous Mitford sisters. It would take me a week to list all their husbands and adventures so I will refer you to The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family and The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters for further reading. The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire has also written many books on Chatworth House and this November her book, Wait for Me!: Memoirs will be released. Her sister Nancy Mitford's book Wigs on the Green is also being re-released tomorrow!

After her husband died and her son assumed the title of Duke of Devonshire, she assumed the title of the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. She is still very involved at Chatsworth and her famous chickens but a few years ago moved from Chatsworth House and into the Old Vickarage, a smaller cottage on the property. These photos from Simon Upton appeared along side the article in a May 2007 article in W magazine. Unfortunately, the article is not available online but I just saw that the September 2010 issue of The World of Interiors will feature an article about her leaving Chatsworth. The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire is now 90 years old but I somehow don't see her slowing down any time soon!

The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire

The pink of the living room reminds me of Hamish Bowles apartment.

Her famous Elvis memorabilia sits on the mantel.

The wall colors look straight out of Farrow & Ball.

I hope The World of Interiors article has more photos of her lovely new home.

Photos by Simon Upton

When I first heard about the upcoming Chatsworth House attic sale at Sotheby's a few weeks ago, my heart skipped a beat. I could only imagine the treasures that would be available for sale. At that time, not many photos were available and I'm very grateful to Sotheby's for sending them so I could share them with you.

As an American, English manor homes will always hold a glamorous allure to me. If you've ever watched Gosford Park, then you have an idea of not just what happens upstairs but the chaos that happens behind the scenes and downstairs. Those days are for the most part over and now the owners open the houses up to paying visitors so they can keep them in the family. When that doesn't quite pay the bills, they are sometimes forced to sell off treasures. Earl Spencer recently had a sale of items from Althorp House to pay for roof repairs. Castle Coole in Ireland was forced to clear it's attics after they were deemed a fire hazard. The most exciting things that most Americans have in their attics are broken Barbie's and old bicycles while the English usually have priceless paintings and antiques.

The Duke of Devonshire is selling off old artifacts and useless objects to clear space in rooms whose doors could barely open and to raise funds. It can cost upwards of £5 million just to keep a stately house and its grounds running per year. Chatsworth House is owned by the Chatsworth House Trust and the family pays rent to live in it. For further reading, I recoomend the fascinating article by Charles Spencer entitled Enemies of the Estate that ran in the January 2010 issue of Vanity Fair that is available online here.

You have probably already seen Chatsworth and not even known it. The house was the stand in for Pemberly in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice staring Keira Knightly. Ms. Knightly also played Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire in the 2008 film The Duchess which was also shot at Chatsworth where The Duchess actually lived after she married to the Duke of Devonshire. Movie shoots also help to pay the bills on stately manor homes as well.

Not only are there wonderful pieces of furniture, china, books, paintings and jewelry, up for sale at the auction but a car, carriages, and fireplace mantels. Many architectural salvage items from Devonshire House in London that were removed before it was demolished in the 1920's will also be for sale. Some of these were found in the old stable block and hadn't been touched for almost a century including pieces designed by William Kent. While I don't think I can afford much in this sale, I might register just in case. Drinking my tea out of a tea cup from Chatsworth House would definitely be chic! Happy Bidding!

Chatsworth Attic Sale

Derbyshire, England

Viewing October 1-4, 2010

Auction October 5-7, 2010

www.sothebys.com

www.chatsworth.org