Nancy Lancaster

This book tells the story of Nancy Lancaster, an American who married into British society and invented the 20th Century English country house style.  She began decorating English country houses in the 1920s and in 1948 she bought Colefax and Fowler, the famous interior design business.  This book tells how she bought American comfort and practicality to grand English homes, like Downton, bringing them up to date.  Her aunt was Nancy Astor and her clients came largely from her own social connections.  She had a big impact on the taste of people like the Crawleys of Downton.

Downton Abbey Books