On a walk through a big city we can find houses in Edwardian, Georgian or Tudor style, among others. Many of them stick to the victorian architecture, an architecture with very characteristic features that today we teach you at Decoora how to distinguish.
Built during the reign of Queen Victoria, Victorian houses originally housed workers who moved from one city to another to work in factories. They were mass built houses, in which only the formal part was presented to the public and generally had 'rear projections', which housed the kitchen and pantry.
History and characteristics of Victorian houses
During the years 1837-1901, mass houses were built in many British cities to house the workers of the different factories. Those designed to house employees with greater responsibility generally presented with striking facades, front porches to define the main entrance, high ceilings, large sash windows and a rear projection that housed the kitchen, pantry and, traditionally, an outside toilet. The kitchen was then the territory of the servants and was rarely shown.
Middle-class families, for their part, generally lived in rows of semi-detached houses, often very narrow but well proportioned, thanks to its high ceilings and its depth. Most had two bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs and had shared bathrooms for each row of houses.
Although there are differences between one and the other, we also find common traits that will help us distinguish a Victorian house.
- They are narrow, of small surface.
- They have a front porch that defines the main entrance.
- Present high ceilings and moldings, the latter chords to the status of the house.
- Tiles Terracotta or geometric patterns are typical in porches and hallways.
- The tall and originally sash windows, attract attention on the facades.
- The rooms usually have hearth; back then the only heating medium.
- The most opulent present asymmetric roofs with turrets.
The original Victorian houses they did not have a garage; at that time people traveled on foot, on horseback, or by steam train. It was at the end of the Victorian era when cars began to be manufactured, so only those new constructions that have adopted this style are provided with this space.
The interior of Victorian houses: keys to decorate it
Today many of those Victorian houses have been renovated to adapt its interior to current needs. Enhancing the architectural peculiarities of these houses and preserving the greatest number of original details in their interior is usually one of the objectives of the interior design studios that work on them. Studios that often broaden and integrate the rear or rear projection to gain meters.
The height of the ceilings and the luminosity are two of the features to enhance in houses with this architecture. Also original details such as floors, moldings and fireplaces become keys to their decoration. Etas and other keys to take into account, we talk below:
- The luminosity. Polished surfaces, shiny materials, mirrors, and glass enhance the light from the large windows of Victorian homes. Next to these, sofas, rocking chairs or sets of green plants are usually placed in order to draw attention to this feature.
- High ceilings and pendant lamps. Pendant lamps reinforce the idea that the ceiling is high. Even more so when we draw attention to it through elaborate moldings, such as those that can be seen in the photos, which inevitably manage to direct our gaze upwards. Another way to increase the height of the different rooms is to "cover" the windows with curtains from the ceiling to sleep. Be careful, however, if the room is very narrow, since at the same time you enhance the height you would be enhancing this characteristic.
- chimneys. Fireplaces have great decorative power and Victorian houses have one in almost every room. Placing a mirror or a large painting on it is usually a way to enhance it. If we want it to stand out from the rest of the room, we can also paint or decorate it with materials that create a color contrast between it and the walls.
- Upholstered. In Victorian times the use of certain textures was very important; silks, velvets and damasks were commonly used in upholstery and curtains. Today it is common to find upholstered chairs with motifs that remind us of that time along with pieces of modern furniture. Another way to draw attention to upholstered items is to use plain yet vibrant colors that fit perfectly in a modern décor.
- Wooden furniture and libraries. Even in recently renovated houses, wooden furniture tends to take center stage. Mixing modern pieces with vintage pieces, acquired in flea markets and antique shops is the current trend.
In addition to these elements, there are many other recurring elements that take advantage of the most outstanding characteristics of this architecture. It is quite common to find offices for breakfast next to the windows or groups of plants that take advantage of the light that they let through.
Victorian houses have, above all, a lot of personality due to their architectural details; personality that we can enhance if we choose the right decoration.