Decorating Tips From Downton Abbey

As Curbed said in a burst of enthusiasm "T-58 hours until the new season".
A lot of English folks just don't get the American fascination.
From Houzz:

Mind your manors with these 10 decorating tips from the PBS series, returning on January 5
All eyes will be on PBS January 5 when the network launches the fourth season of Downton Abbey. I’ll be watching, too. Not just to see what impish shenanigans the hapless Lady Edith and perpetually constipated O’Brien try to pull, but for the valuable decorating lessons.

Make no mistake: The Crawleys live slightly better than the rest of us, although they still cling to their one telephone and for some reason refuse to get that driveway paved. But all things considered, that little pile of Yorkshire pudding they call home is pretty nifty, and chock-full of decorating ideas that we can all apply to our own homes. To wit:

1. A good host is always prepared for unexpected dinner guests. Be sure to keep 70 or 80 spare chairs tucked in a closet, in case friends drop in — or you’re forced to turn your house into a convalescent home on short notice.

6. A library makes a lovely addition to any home. Be sure to fill the shelves with books, lest your guests think you never read. Seven or eight thousand volumes should do the trick.
And no, old copies of National Geographic do not count.

9. A house feels blah without a little decoration around the entry. Think how much more welcoming this would look with a pot of geraniums on the stoop or a little jockey statue to greet the guests.

Previously:
Downton Abbey Economics
Downton Abbey Comes to New York City