9 different types of victorian style houses
Victorian-style houses are still in demand today, especially among wealthy landowners who wish to recreate a piece of historical elegance in their homes. By adhering to age-old parallels and authentic interior design, you can achieve a result that appeals both to the owner and passersby.
Victorian-style houses also increase property value, especially when recreated with attention to the smallest details. Today, you will learn more about this style and how to achieve the perfect balance between comfort and historical identity when creating architectural solutions.
The Charm and Elegance of Victorian Style Houses
Types of Victorian homes can transform the perception of everyday life and even allow you to feel like a representative of a particular social class.
Do you think this style is exclusive to noble architectural designs? Not at all — there are types of Victorian styles that are quite affordable to build but no less charming than the estates of wealthy citizens.
The 9 Different Types of Victorian Style Houses
Victorian house architecture can reflect various eras and styles, featuring fundamentally different structural and decorative elements, color schemes, and other distinctions. Here are nine varieties of this architectural style that are most commonly found in modern building projects:
- Gothic Revival.
- Italianate.
- Second Empire.
- Queen Anne.
- Stick-Eastlake.
- Shingle Style.
- Richardsonian Romanesque.
- Folk Victorian.
- Victorian Vernacular.
Each has its own unique features, although common traits can sometimes be found among several styles. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival homes trace their roots to the 18th–19th centuries, combining elements of Gothic and Classicism, although in modern interpretations, they may even blend with modernism.
The characteristic features of this style include:
- Religious decorative elements, such as crosses.
- Columns and porches with overhangs.
- Sharp roof shapes with patterns and ornaments.
- Massive, ornate doors and window frames.
- A combination of brick and large wooden structures.
For interior decoration, ApartmentGuide’s Autumn Color Schemes to Try in Your Home This Season can be a fitting choice. Check out the blog article here! However, you can also stick to the authentic style by using «vintage» furniture, tableware, and other decor.
The Lake-Peterson House, a Gothic Revival home in Rockford, Illinois
Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer
Italianate
Admit it, you also crave the romance that Italianate Victorian homes create. This style flourished in the 19th century, although its roots go back to the 16th century, during the Renaissance. Its characteristic features include:
- A cornice with brackets.
- Decorative overlays.
- Pediment windows and doors.
- Towers.
- Flat or low-pitched roofs.
Typically, this style favors light tones or slightly contrasting palettes in interior decoration. Many of these homes still feature terraces, perfect for relaxing with a glass of wine, admiring the sunset over vineyards.
Photo: Pam Spaulding
Second Empire
The Second Empire Victorian style, originating from 19th-century Napoleonic France, is also familiar by the characteristic features of various architectural types, all combined in one building. Cathedrals and opera houses best exemplify this style, though it also found its place in residential homes.
Key elements that distinguish this style include:
- Terraces with decorative supports.
- Exterior cornices with overhangs.
- Flat roofs that can also serve as room walls.
- Porches with columns.
- Artistic carvings on individual structural elements.
The architectural style is optimal for modern construction, as it successfully combines classic and modern materials.
The Spry Mansion has been a part of Plymouth since 1867. 15 Gaylord Ave, Plymouth, PA, United States, Pennsylvania
Queen Anne
The Queen Anne Victorian style can be described as a blend of several architectural types, skillfully combined into a single structure. It was popular from the late 16th century through the mid-20th century, thanks to its vibrant design, which symbolized the peak of Britain during that era.
Key features of this style include:
- Raised foundation and steps leading to the terrace or porch.
- Contrasting decoration of windows and doors.
- Emphasis on building corners.
- Towers and other decorative elements.
- Extensive carvings, including on the brick façade.
Even today, this architectural style looks grand and continues to catch people’s attention.
The Kalteyer House, 1890 Romanesque in San Antonio, Texas. Photo: sweethousedreams.blogspot.com
Stick-Eastlake
Another Victorian type house from the 19th century. The main features of this architectural style are detailing of every element of both the exterior and interior. At the same time, the decoration should be easy to maintain and modernize if necessary. This architectural style also partially influenced the furniture industry of that time, leading to changes in the interiors of similar buildings.
The features of this type of Victorian house include:
- Precise geometry of all elements.
- Extensive use of wood in the construction.
- Linear ornaments and perforations.
- Carvings on the façade elements.
- Symmetry in patterns.
This style is now widely used, particularly in the construction of cottages and country homes.
Photo: Ian Berke Real Estate
Shingle Style
The Shingle style Victorian embodies the evolving trends of the 19th century. Instead of intricate patterns and complex geometry, it uses simple forms that emphasize the importance of interior space and downplay the need for exterior grandeur.
The key features of this type of architecture include:
- The massiveness of the buildings, often resembling miniature fortresses.
- Strong stone and brick masonry, highlighting the structure’s solidity.
- Simple geometry of the walls, rooms, and roof.
- An antique effect, artificially achieved through special treatment of cladding materials.
- Heavy roofing, further emphasizing the building’s reliability.
Despite its apparent simplicity, this style looks quite impressive and remains in demand today.
Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Massachusetts by Stanford White, 1885-1886. Jackie Craven
Richardsonian Romanesque
Some Victorian style houses, such as Richardsonian Romanesque, encompass a significant portion of history. This architectural style, popular in the 19th century, traces its roots back to the 11th –12th centuries and combines Southern French, Spanish, and Italian Romanesque styles.
Massive stone structures with religious decorative elements and contrasting design solutions still look dramatic and stylish today.
A Romanesque revival house in Albany. Photo courtesy of Zillow.
Folk Victorian
Folk Victorian architecture is a style primarily used in rural areas, known for its simplicity and visual appeal. It originated in the 19th century and remains popular due to the pleasant visual style and simplicity of building materials.
Image credit: iStock
Victorian Vernacular
Another small Victorian home from the 19th century. It somewhat resembles Folk Victorian but features more decorative elements and embellishments. It is also a common style for suburban and rural homes.
534 East Jones Street. Photo: Jim Lamb
Common Features of Victorian Style Houses
Small Victorian houses, massive stone structures, complex geometry, and simple forms, cornices, supports, and overhangs – all these elements are characteristic of the Victorian style and its various branches. Even today, when constructing buildings or other structures of this architectural type, engineers and designers strive to adhere to its features and infuse vintage touches into every element.
Conclusion: The Legacy of Victorian Architecture
Small Victorian-style homes, like monumental buildings in the Gothic style, can be a great real estate investment. They remain relevant today and are in demand on the consumer market, making it logical to continue creating such architectural solutions.
Have a concept for small Victorian style houses and want to understand what your future house will look like? Simply use the services of GENENSE studio. Provide us with a description or sketch, and receive a quality architectural 3D visualization. We’ll help bring your dreams to life and give you a glimpse of the result before construction begins!
FAQ
Victorian home styles can be divided into at least nine types, including Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Stick-Eastlake, Shingle Style, Richardsonian Romanesque, Folk Victorian, and Victorian Vernacular.
Victorian house styles, particularly Gothic, have some unique features, such as sharp and pointed decorative elements, religious-themed ornaments, and dark-colored cladding materials.
Italianate Victorian house styles are distinguished by their façade materials and structural features, such as heavy columns, cornices, and ornate decorative carvings.
Queen Anne Victorian homes stand out with contrasting window and roof decorations, the presence of decorative towers, and other lavish decorative elements.
Victorian-style houses share common traits – relatively simple materials and a vintage feel, even by the standards of their peak period. Essential elements of such buildings include terraces and porches, columns, and usually carved cornices with perforations.
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