The Beautiful Victorian Home

The Beautiful Victorian Home

Architecture doesn’t merely add beauty and interest to its surroundings; it also provides beholders with a window into the past. A home’s design speaks volumes about the lifestyles of those for whom it was built. Just as contemporary style homes speak to our desire to lead informal, convenient lives, Victorian homes have a story to share about their former owners.

Carol Calamari, Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty, discusses the history and traits of these beautiful homes from yesteryear.

Carol says, “The Victorian era was a time of rapid change. Technologies were advancing, and the middle class was growing larger and wealthier. Victorians built their homes to reflect the new world and show off their new affluence.”  So, what are Victorian homes actually like? Learn about the history and features of Victorian houses and see if purchasing one is right for you.

What Is A Victorian Home?

A Victorian home is not a single style of architecture so much as it’s a representation of a specific era. Homes built between 1840 and 1900 are called Victorian and while they’re known for their colorful, ornate facades, there’s a broad range in architectural features present in each of the different types of houses that comprise the Victorian style. These styles include Gothic Revival, Italianate, Romanesque, Queen Anne, Second Empire, and Eastlake.

Why Are They Called Victorian Houses?

Victorian houses were very much a product of their time. Although they were named after Queen Victoria, their intricate and romantic architecture can be directly attributed to the burgeoning Industrial Revolution, which brought with it a love for using the latest materials and technologies to build homes unique to that time period.  Mass production, steam-driven sawmills, and new transportation methods gave architects and builders a sense of design freedom they had never experienced.

Unfortunately, this over-the-top style quickly fell from favor with the emergence of the Arts and Crafts movement of the early 20th century. Arts and Crafts stalwarts preached simplicity in design and hand craftsmanship.

Characteristics of a Queen Anne Victorian

One of the most recognizable or popular Victorian style is the Queen Anne. The Queen Anne style has an asymmetrical overall shape that includes a steeply pitched irregular roof that often has multiple intersecting gables.

The houses have a lot of decorative detailing, such as classical columns, elaborate brackets, half-timbering, patterned shingles, spandrel panels, spectacular chimneys and vergeboard (decorative wood edging).

Queen Anne homes were highly individual, with no two the same. Common characteristics of Victorian houses include:

·         A variety of colors and textures used throughout the entire house

·         Porches (frequently wrap-around) and balconies with decorative trim (called spindlework)

·         Octagonal or circular towers or turrets

·         Large, projecting bay windows that were often highly decorative

·         Entry doors with a large glass panel in the upper part of the door

·         Exteriors were typically wood, but also often included patterned brick or stone, clapboard, slate, stucco and terra cotta panels

Carol adds, “If you are toying with the idea of purchasing a Victorian home, you should be aware of the history and characteristics of this beloved architectural style. Committing to a Victorian means you will be part of the romance and history of a by-gone era.”

And Carol would know the significance of these style homes. Carol is an active member of the Rutherford Historic Preservation Committee since January 2018 and has partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is certified for her educational outreach, centering on the preservation and restoration of historic properties.  Having achieved this designation makes her familiar with architecture that spans more than three centuries of history, highlighting both high-style and vernacular buildings ranging from stately Federal mansions and handsome Italianate row houses to modest Queen Anne cottages as well as bungalows. For more information on these style homes, contact Carol Calamari, at 201.939.7500.