What makes a house a Victorian?

In Great Britain and former British colonies, a Victorian house generally means any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria. During the Industrial Revolution, successive housing booms resulted in the building of many millions of Victorian houses which are now a defining feature of most British towns and cities.

What are 3 characteristics of Victorian design?

Characteristics of Victorian Architecture

• Steeply pitched roofs.
• Plain or colorfully painted brick.
• Ornate gables.
• Painted iron railings.
• Churchlike rooftop finials.
• Sliding sash and canted bay windows.
• Octagonal or round towers and turrets to draw the eye upward.
• Two to three stories.

How would you describe Victorian style?

Generally, most Victorian architecture can be described as dollhouse-like, with curlicue trims, bright colors, and asymmetrical designs. Most Victorian buildings were brick with large interior staircases and windows, balconies, fireplaces in every room, and porches.

What did houses look like in the Victorian era?

The houses were cheap, most had between two and four rooms – one or two rooms downstairs, and one or two rooms upstairs, but Victorian families were big with perhaps four or five children. There was no water, and no toilet. A whole street (sometimes more) would have to share a couple of toilets and a pump.

What rooms were in a rich Victorian house?

While a rich family might live in a large Beautiful house with several bedrooms, a large living room, a parlor and a dining room separate from the kitchen, poor children might have as little as one room for the family to live in.

Are Victorian houses expensive?

During the reign of Queen Victoria, Victorian houses were constructed in England (and later in the United States) between the years of 1837 up to 1901. Victorian houses are quite expensive, and because of their age, a thorough home inspection is an important consideration for anybody looking to acquire one.

Did Victorian houses have bathrooms?

In reality, bathrooms were not commonplace in the Victorian Era. The Victorians encased their baths and basins in wood to make them items of furniture. There were no mixer taps and showers were uncommon and certainly a separate shower enclosure did not exist.

Is a house built in 1900 Victorian?

Seemingly obviously, Victorian houses were built between 1837 and 1901, when Queen Victoria was on the throne. However some people, including the Victorian Society itself, take ‘Victorian Architecture’ to encompass Edwardian as well, which takes this time period up to 1910.

Whats the difference between Edwardian and Victorian?

What is the difference between Edwardian and Victorian Eras? Victorian era is said to have continued from 1837 to 1901 and lasted the reign of Queen Victoria whereas Edwardian era started in 1901 with his ascension to the throne and lasted till 1910 till his death.

Is a Victorian house a good investment?

Built to last: Victorian homes stand the test of time – and are a good investment, say experts. Victorian properties will never go out of fashion. At least that’s what the experts say — and one is minded to agree simply because there are so many of them. They won’t even consider any other property style.

How often did Victorians wash their hair?

In the Victorian and Edwardian era, it was recommended to wash the hair between thrice a week and once a month. Besides washing the hair, frequent hair brushing was used to keep the hair clean and healthy.

What kind of houses were popular in the Victorian era?

Italianate Lewis House in Upstate New York. During the 1840s when the Victorian era was just gearing up, Italianate style houses became the hot new trend. The style spread quickly across the United States via widely-published Victorian pattern books, many still available in reprints.

Which is the best book for Victorian house style?

The latest title in the successful and well established House Style series. This pocket source book is bursting with images of original and well restored Victorian features, making it the ideal handy reference for the home owner.

How did the Industrial Revolution affect Victorian homes?

The developers of Victorian homes were born during the Industrial Revolution. These designers embraced new materials and technologies to create houses like no one had ever seen before. Mass-production and mass-transit ( the railroad system) made ornamental architectural details and metal parts affordable.

How did the Victorian style spread to America?

The style spread quickly across the United States via widely-published Victorian pattern books, many still available in reprints. With low roofs, wide eaves, and ornamental brackets, Victorian Italianate houses are reminiscent of an Italian Renaissance villa. Some even sport a romantic cupola on the roof.