Chic Delights: William Ashley China

Last Saturday, I attended the Downton Abbey Day at William Ashley China on Bloor Street in Toronto. It was a day spent with the experts on fine china following on the theme of the famous British TV Show, Downton Abbey. The store presented the type of China, silver, culinary items the Crawleys used during their Afternoon Tea and during their formal dinners. They also presented the cooking wares used by the downstairs staff in the Crawleys' kitchen. All around were pictures of the Crawleys and their downstairs household staff. There was also a presentation by the Spadina Museum on Downtown Abbey Fashion Style from the 1920s. During the event, the fun thing was that we were served free tea using their famous China teacups from the store together with sweets. All of the guests freely mingled and listened to their presentations while we drank tea and ate the sweets. Too bad, we didn't meet Matthew Crawley or Lady Mary but we all glimpsed their lifestyle through the China, Dinnerware and Silver that they used during their meals at the Castle. As you know, their lives and drama revolved around their meals whether upstairs or downstairs in the Castle. The day was completed by the display of vehicles that the Crawleys use to travel around town. I am excited for the next Episode to begin!

Mr. Carson, the Butler, welcomed us to the Event.

We saw huge silver candelabras, champagne goblets, and the Imari China which was one of the China famously used by the late Queen Mother Elizabeth.

Old Imari China, favourite of the late Queen Mother Elizabeth.

Planning to join the Crawleys for dinner soon?

Photos of Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Lady Sybil.

More family photos of the Crawleys including the late Matthew Crawley with Lady Mary and their newborn son.

Photo of the downstairs Kitchen staff.

This Spode Blue and White Collection was the Grand Prize for the contest in-store.

Tea set that is perfect for Afternoon Tea at the Castle.

There was live music in-Store.

Ladies and gentlemen came in their own stylish hats.

We drank tea in William Ashley's variety of China tea cups.

The Crawleys' Car Collection.

Happy Queen Victoria Long Weekend here in Canada!

Bird cages from William Ashley's Christmas window.

Since this Christmas I kept seeing Birdcages used as chic decorations in store windows and for the home. The Birdcages from the William Ashley store in the picture above looked so magical on their Christmas window. They decorated their store window with golden Birdcages filled with the birds and owl China figurines hand crafted from the Royal Crown Derby. Then this month, while stopping by at one of my favourite stores here in Toronto, I saw this huge birdcage from Pottery Barn used as a curio cabinet for the Living Room to display your plants, books, photo frames and other knick knacks that you can fill it with. I thought the Birdcage was so chic and functional at the same time to display your items inside the house instead of using a traditional glass cabinet. Here are some style inspirations using the Birdcage inside the home. What do you think?