Last week a blogger friend of mine (Kate F!) casually mentioned she was reading The Remains of the Day on a rainy afternoon. What?! Way to be an awesome, collected and cool grownup. Rainy afternoons I can normally be found carrying armloads of groceries in paper bags home without an umbrella or chasing after missed buses, again with an umbrella. I am not a grownup and Kate clearly is.
But that doesn’t stop me from loving The Remains of the Day, a real true grownup movie (and book) if ever there was one. Subtle, sweetly playful and lonely; it’s neither a sweeping romance nor a spellbinding drama but manages to be both in it’s own thoughtful, measured way.
Taking place in the years just before and after world war two in an English rural estate, the story follows that of Stevens the butler and the head housekeeper, Miss Kenton. I’ve always been a sucker for the whole upstairs/downstairs dynamic and Remains of the Day doesn’t disappoint. The servant’s quarters are warm and homey and the house itself is the peak of dignified British country style. Beautiful floral textiles upstairs and down!
[image above, clockwise from top left: maple mirror $649,silver coffee set $128, chinoiserie wallpaper panels, teal throw $45, lamp $175, grandfather clock $183, votive holder $49, sofa $3498, dinner bell $6]
Aside from the undeniable fact that Darlington manor is a countryside dream come true, the interiors are a really inspiring combination of feminine prints and strong, bold furniture. The movie packs a wallop, you’re going along, minding your own business and while you weren’t paying attention, it’s quietly torn your heart out. It’s almost enough to make a girl want to shout from the rooftops if she’s been secretly pining away for someone. But hey, if you don’t, make sure you have an amazing English estate to nurse your lonely heart in.
[image above, clockwise from top left: scalloped mirror $98,swing arm wall lamp $129, Schumacher “hot house” fabric, four-poster bed $7675, vintage bakelite telephone $95, fireplace mantel $312, slipper chair $284]
42 Comments
Oh WOW, this is so clever – you have the most gorgeous site here and I had to stop by to leave this comment for you – and to say hello of course ! Your posts are creative and original and you have interesting pictures. It’s all perfect ! Thank you for sharing your site and best wishes….
I want to live inside that book I love it so much. Great choice!
oh how i loved that movie. apparently the author of that story has a new novel out which is supposed to be really good.
Thanks for the shout-out, Amy! I had never read “Remains of the Day” and finally caved to nagging from my husband. Like you said about the movie, there’s so much that is subtly amusing and then WHAM, your heart is broken and you haven’t even noticed it happening (which is the point, I guess). Now I need to watch the film–how lovely is Emma Thompson there, BTW??
Great segment.
Would love to see the same for The Time Traveler’s Wife. Amazing house.
I am soooo in love with the new “Living In” posts. So far, none of them have really been my style, but I just love the movie stills paired with available items. Yay DS!!
I add my voice to everyone else who has said they love this column. A couple of years ago Elle Decor ran an article on the top 20 movies for interiors…a list I am currently working my way through on DVD via Netflix. I must say that your movie choices so far are putting the bulk of their list to shame. Thanks for putting some fun into Tuesdays!
I absolutely adore living in & applaud you for your great taste in films (I too am a big sucker for Little Women, and Annie Hall…well that just goes without saying). Have you guys thought about adding a food component to Living In, featuring dishes/meals cooked in film?
I love that ya’ll show the interiors from movies! So many times I watch movies and love the interiors! I love the furniture featured!
Love this!! It’s my favourite so far! These are great ideas!
That is one of my very favorite movies! I am a huge Emma fan!
I am seriously considering buying that chair. It would look great in my living room. Btw, you should consider “The Secret Garden” or “Rachel Getting Married” for your “living in” series.
This is such a great post. I bought The Remains of the Day to read on an overseas flight home a couple years ago, but read it cover to cover the night before my trip! I had to buy a new book for the flight. The novel and movie both are spectacular, and I love that you posted about this, Grace!
i really, really love this column. it’s one of the highlights of my week! and, since others are suggesting films, i’ll put my two cents in and suggest one of my all-time favorites, “in the mood for love” by wong kar wai: http://www.wkw-inthemoodforlove.com/eng/homepg/homepg.asp. achingly, jaw-droppingly gorgeous! thanks for all the inspiration amy!!!
“Living in” food is brilliant! The Remains of the Day is just screaming for a yorkshire pudding!
I too love the “living in” posts! I saw this movie just once when I was young — can’t remember the plot at all, but that house stuck with me, especially the blue of that parlor in the second screenshot.
I love these posts and this is my favorite so far. Those chinoiserie panels are gorgeous!
Thank you for the “Remains” aesthetic. I loved the movie and I love seeing it in film frames even better!
how can you go wrong with anthony hopkins and emma thompson?? i love this film…it sucks you in completely and makes me want to be broody, mysterious and speak with an english accent for the rest of the day.
I am so in love with this feature. I would love to see you recreate The Royal Tenenbaums (or any Wes Anderson movie, really). Amelie would also be swell!
The movie is perfect but trust me guys, the book? Even better. One of my all-time favs. Go read it!
I have a totally technical question… How do you pull stills from the movies to include in your website? I am working on a master’s thesis about movie interiors and I need help with that one aspect. Thanks!
Mmm, I love The Remains of the Day – both movie and book. Random suggestion for a very current ‘Living in’ post (and for drooling over film apartments): 500 Days of Summer. The two apartments are so glorious. So is every set in that film. They really did a lovely job with the aesthetic of it all.
eeeek… i heart this column soooo much. It has become, by far my favorite column, i think it may have even surpassed the sneak peeks. Remains of the Day is a great choice, such a lovely film with such cozy interiors. I would like to second the calls for a Wes Anderson film and “In the Mood for Love”. Also, what about an Almodovar, perhaps his latest- Volver?
My family teases me for watching movies for design purposes, sometimes taking notes. I feel thoroughly vindicated.
There is no better way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon, preferably in Fall, curled up on the couch watching this movie. You’ve captured the spirit of Darlington Hall perfectly. I’ve never thought about reading the book before, but I am definitely going to now.
i’ve been enjoying your “living in” column so much that i now find myself watching movies for the design elements. Just saw Funny Face and spent the entire time trying to pick out decor/dress elements. Now all i need is a Parisian cafe and this http://tinyurl.com/mrzo48
I LOVE this look. If only that wallpaper didn’t cost $10,000!
I havent seen this movie in ages! What a good one…
too bad None of the furnishings would look good in a modern apartment..
I suppose the tufted chair and the tea set would be lovely…
I want to move to a historic home so bad so I can have older antique/mid century pieces..
Now I must watch this movie again!
the most beautiful book (and movie) ever! thank you for choosing it :)
Fantastic! I love love love the wallpapers. Isn’t Emma dreamy?
I love these articles, always look forward to them and you never let me down.
Ohhhh, you should consider doing a Frida “living in” post.
i LOVE that movie! and Howards End also. I watch them every few years and my husband always asks the same question at the end of each “what the hell was that about?” and my answer is always . . . “LOVE!!”
oh, and I love the knitwear!!!
As a former set decorator and props designer (for theatre) I LOVE this column. Here are some movies I’d love to see covered:
Desk Set
The Fountainhead
Charade
Dial M for Murder
Bob and Ted and Carol and Alice (the 70′s version)
ALSO how about my three favorite TV shows from the olden days:
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Bob Newhart Show
The Avengers (so MOD)
Thanks and keep up the great work!
I just saw this movie last week! How fun that you happened to do a post on it right now. It was such a sweet and sad movie. Very deep and moving.
what an awesome book and movie! i love love love this idea. ideas for other great themes:
A River Runs Through It
Legends of the Fall
How to Make an American Quilt
great for that clean country/mountain home simplicity
This is a great series, but please don’t ever do “Living in Mad Max” or “Living in Eyes Wide Shut”. Promise?
I love the “living in” feature, and you’ve done some really fantastic movies. Thanks!
In honor of Patrick Swayze, maybe you could do a Living in Dirty Dancing?
and the matching vintage dress!… http://cgi.ebay.com/Chic-Vintage-30s-40s-Black-Crepe-Rayon-Dolman-Dress_W0QQitemZ300348394782QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_CSA_WC_Dresses?hash=item45ee28cd1e&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14
This is so much fun! How about doing a series on Pedro Almodovar’s movies. He always has such wonderful sets.
Also, have you thought about getting the set designers/ stylists from these movies to contribute on these posts…perhaps they could discuss their thought process on pulling the look together. Or compare sets from different films they have worked on…
what a great way to show style- by movie! I have always wondered about where you can get things in movies- how great is that! Thxs for thinking of it and doing it this way
Great post! I love this movie! It made me think of another movie you HAVE to do this for – ‘Howards End’ starring the same actors by the same director.
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