If you’re one of the 270 million worldwide Netflix subscribers you’re sure to have seen the launch of Bridgerton Season 3 last month. The popularity of period dramas like "Bridgerton" and "Downton Abbey" has captivated audiences worldwide, offering a glimpse into the opulent lifestyles of historical aristocratic families. While these shows may be set in different eras, audiences have fallen in love with both shows and the (somewhat dramatised) sneak-peek they give us into the world of luxury British homes in times gone by.

But is the grandeur, etiquette, and presence of a household staff still relevant for a modern audience? Well, interestingly, many elements of household staff roles depicted in these series remain similar in today's luxury homes. This blog will explore the parallels between the household staff of Regency-era England and modern luxury private service staff, highlighting how some roles are still highly sought after even now.

Household Staff in Bridgerton: Who Was Hired in a Regency-Era Luxury Home?

In "Bridgerton," several household staff roles are featured, reflecting the jobs typical of Regency-era English aristocratic households. Some of these regency job titles include:

Housekeeper: Oversees the household's day-to-day operations, including managing other domestic staff. Think of how Mrs Varley manages the Featherington household in Bridgerton
Lady's Maid: Attends to the personal needs of the lady of the house, including dressing, hairstyling, and other personal tasks. Each of the main female characters in Bridgerton have someone who attends to them and helps them dress etc.
Butler: Manages the male staff and is responsible for the household's wine cellar, silverware, and sometimes even the overall management of the house. Mr Carson is the Crawley’s family butler in Downton Abbey.
Valet: Personal attendant to the man of the house, responsible for his wardrobe, personal grooming, and other needs. In Downton, the Lord Grantham’s valet, Mr Bates became a hugely popular character.
Cook: Prepares meals for the household, often managing a kitchen staff. In Downton Abby, Mrs Patmore was the cook who felt like she ran the whole household - much to the disagreement of some of the other household staff!
Footman: Assists the butler and performs various duties, such as serving meals and attending to guests.
Governess: Educates and supervises the children of the household.
Maid: General cleaning and maintenance of the household, with specific roles such as chambermaids (bedrooms) or parlormaids (living areas).
Coachman: Drives the family's carriages and takes care of the horses. A very important role for getting people from society event to society event, and of course for getting Lady Whistledown to the printers!
Gardener: Maintains the grounds and gardens of the estate.

These roles reflect the extremely-structured hierarchy and division of labor typical of large, affluent households during that period, particularly in Britain.

Hiring Household Staff for Modern Luxury Homes: How Have the Roles Evolved?

In contemporary luxury homes, many of these roles have evolved but still retain their core responsibilities. Here's a look at how some of these traditional roles translate to modern-day luxury private service staff:

House Manager: Similar to the housekeeper in "Bridgerton," a house manager oversees the entire household's daily operations. This role includes managing staff, coordinating events, and ensuring the home runs smoothly. Learn more about the role of a house manager.
Personal Assistant/Lady's Maid: While the title might differ, personal assistants in modern luxury homes often fulfill similar duties to a lady's maid, attending to the personal needs of their employer, including managing schedules, personal shopping, and travel arrangements. Other roles like personal shopper and personal stylist also exist in a modern-day setting.
Butler: The role of the butler is one of the roles that remains the most unchanged, focusing on overseeing household staff, managing wine cellars, and ensuring high standards of service. There is a tradition and sense of prestige that comes when hiring a butler for your luxury home even now. Read more about what a butler does.
Valet: Modern valets do still exist and attend to the personal needs of their employers, including wardrobe management and personal grooming, though their responsibilities may extend to managing luxury cars instead of horses and carriages.
Private Chef: The role of the cook has evolved into the private chef, who prepares gourmet meals tailored to the family's preferences, often with expertise in various cuisines and dietary requirements. Explore the difference between a private chef and a personal chef here.
Housekeeper/Maid: Modern housekeepers and maids continue to be responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of luxury homes, often specializing in specific areas, much like their historical counterparts. You can learn more about the role of a housekeeper and whether you should hire one in this blog.
Nanny: Taking the place of the governess, modern nannies provide childcare and educational support, adapting to the family’s specific needs and often possessing professional qualifications in childcare. Whilst hiring a governess is still a possibility, hiring a nanny is more commonplace. Find out more about the differences between hiring a nanny or hiring a governess here.
Chauffeur: The coachman's role has evolved into that of a chauffeur, responsible for driving the family and maintaining the household's vehicles.
Groundskeeper: Hiring a groundskeeper or gardener is essential for many luxury homeowners. These roles are extremely similar to what they would have been previously and see staff responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of gardens and outdoor spaces.
Property Manager: A property manager sits higher than a groundskeeper or gardener in the hierarchy of modern-day luxury home private staff and is responsible for co-ordinating all of the work to the exterior of the property. A property manager is like a house manager for the exterior of a luxury home.
Estate Manager: An estate manager oversees the broader management of large properties or multiple properties and would typically sit above all of the other roles mentioned above. They would be responsible for management of staff, as well as properties and could be considered similar to a “Chief of Staff” type role in a luxury home.

What’s the Benefit of Hiring Household Staff for Modern Luxury Homes

Just as during the Regency-era, there is an enduring appeal of having a well-structured household staff even now. Some of the key benefits of hiring household staff for your luxury home include:

Personalized Service

Much like the aristocrats of Regency-era England, high-net-worth families value personalized service. Having dedicated staff allows for a tailored approach to managing the household, ensuring that every need and preference is met with precision.

Efficiency and Expertise

Professional household staff bring a level of expertise and efficiency that enhances the quality of life for their employers. Whether it’s maintaining a meticulously organized home, preparing exquisite meals, or providing top-notch childcare, the specialized skills of private service staff ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Time Management

One of the most significant benefits of having a household staff is the time it frees up for the family. By delegating routine tasks and responsibilities, homeowners can focus on their careers, personal interests, and family time, much like their historical counterparts.

Discretion and Trust

In both historical and modern contexts, discretion and trust are paramount in the employer-staff relationship. Luxury private service staff are expected to maintain confidentiality and provide a high level of trust, ensuring the privacy and security of the household.

The Role of Household Staff Recruitment Agencies

Just as aristocratic families would carefully select their household staff, modern luxury homes often rely on professional household staff recruitment agencies to find the right candidates. These agencies specialize in luxury private service staff and domestic staff recruitment, ensuring that candidates are thoroughly vetted and possess the necessary skills and experience.

At My Household Managed, we understand the unique needs of luxury homes and offer a comprehensive recruitment process to match families with the perfect household staff. From house managers to personal assistants, our candidates are chosen for their professionalism, expertise, and ability to provide the highest level of service.

While the world of "Bridgerton" and "Downton Abbey" may seem far removed from contemporary life, the roles and responsibilities of household staff remain relevant in many of today's luxury homes across the world. The personalized service and professional expertise that defined historical household staff continue to be valued by modern high-net-worth families.

Are you a high-net-worth family looking to hire your very own Mrs Varley or Mr Carson?

At My Household Managed, we work closely with our clients to match them with high-calibre, experienced, professional candidates across a range of roles including house manager, nanny, chauffeur, estate manager or property manager. If you’re considering hiring a household employee, inquire with us today.

Or, are you looking for the next steps in your private household staff career as a nanny, family assistant, house manager or housekeeper?

We work with clients in Chicago, Miami, Palm Beach and surrounding areas to place the best candidates in a range of roles. If you want to work with experts in household recruitment, apply at My Household Managed.