It’s little wonder Indian Summers has been dubbed television’s new Downton Abbey. The houses and clubs in the new Channel 4 drama are as much a part of the show as Downton itself, aka Highclere Castle.
But, instead of Downton’s buttoned-up Edwardian decor, the homes in Indian Summers are about coolly elegant British colonial style. Interiors feature inviting textures, carved dark wood furniture and light, airy spaces, creating a look which manages to be both homely and sophisticated. Here, we show you how to get the Days of the Raj look for your own home.
Campaign furniture
Because viceroys and their families would move from place to place, often transporting much of their household, the sort of campaign furniture used by travelling armies was popular. Designed to easily fold away for transportation, it was not only practical, but looked stunning too.
Get the look with canvas desks and drawers, leather-style trunks and side tables with criss-cross legs. Modern reproductions will emulate the look, but not necessarily the fold-away function. Or you could trawl antique shops and sites for original pieces.
Traditional shutters
Possibly the one item of decor most associated with the time of British rule in India is the traditional shutter, thrown open in the morning to let in as much early, glorious Indian sunshine as possible and closed when the tropical heat became too much to bear. Shutters were either painted in pale whites and pastel shades or left with the natural look provided by local woods. If you don’t want to invest in shutters for your windows, you could get a similar feel by using upcycled furniture or screens made from reclaimed shutters.
Eclectic accessories
Globe-trotting Brits would have picked up pieces for their homes everywhere they travelled, providing instant talking points for party guests. Make a point of choosing something you love each time you take a far-flung trip, adding trinkets and artwork to pieces of colonial-style furniture. Globe bookends or vintage-style maps add an instant well-travelled vibe to your home.
Rattan
While rattan furniture may now be thought of as the preserve of conservatories, in the colonial days, it mixed comfortably with other materials to create interesting textural contrasts against more solid, dark wooden pieces. Try rattan dining chairs, combined with a solid wood table or rattan coffee tables or headboards, bringing in additional woven textures like jute or sisal with rugs and accessories.
Bell jar lighting
Ceilings tended to be high in British colonial homes, so lights were hung low to provide enough illumination for reading or to add atmosphere to seating areas for after-dinner drinks. Hang three or four bell jar lights in a row where you have a long, narrow space to emulate the feel of an Indian veranda.
With a few key pieces, you can make your home fit for Julie Walters, Indian Summers’ matriarch.
Pictured: Santa Fe Shutters Launch New Range.