Get to know the “grand old ladies” of architectureVictorian houses.
These structures are beautiful, with colorful details and trim.
San Francisco has its painted ladies.
Credit: Mike Jensen
Other communities boast collections of Gothic Revivalor Italianate homes.
Here are some of the features that set Victorian houses apart.
MostVictorian-style housesyou see today feature steeply pitched roofs, two to three stories, and elaborate decorative elements.
Credit: Krista Droop
Italianate Victorian houses like thisbrick homewere modeled afterItalian Renaissancevillas.
Dual porches stacked on top of each other are not uncommon.
This Victorian house accentuates its features with acolorful exterior paint combinationand curved woodwork of all shapes and sizes.
Credit: Pam Spaulding
Narrow Victorian Homes
Many Victorian homes were built in cities during times of explosive population growth.
That oftenmeant small lot sizes, so homeowners looked up instead of out to gain square footage.
In some cases, homes were only a room or two wide.
Credit: Jay Wilde
Victorian-Style Windows
The asymmetrical facades of many Victorian houses feature avariety of window types.
Common stylesinclude bay, stained glass, and leaded glass.
Many windows have additional features inside the house, such as ornate trim orbuilt-in window benches.
Credit: James Carriere
Victorian Wraparound Porches
Extending living space outsideisn’t a 21st-century idea.
Victorian houses had practical exterior “rooms,” oftenin the form of wraparound porches.
These features offer a chance to extend decorative details from the rest of the facade.
Credit: Doug Stremel
This Victorian-style house carries intricate railings and columns onto the porch.
Turrets and towers, for example, add an asymmetricalflourish to the curbside view.
Crow’s nests and diminutive balconies are other classic features of ornate Victorian-style houses.
Credit: Colleen Duffley
A four-sided mansard roof punctuated by dormer windows is a signature of the style.
Tall, narrow windows and elaborate trim are classic Second Empire features.
Victorian House Design
Victorian homes are often notable for complex paintwork as well as stickwork.
Credit: John Bessler
Victorian-Style Decorative Elements
Standout decorative extras are hallmarks of Victorian houses.
Types of Victorian houses include Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Second Empire, and Italianate.
Victorian House Paint Colors
A distinguishing characteristic of many Victorian-style homes is their interesting color combinations.
Credit: Michael Snell
Typically, Victorianhouse paint colorsrely on no fewer than three shades of paint.
Their unique design often includes anentry that’s not centeredand two halves that don’t match.
That asymmetry enables designers to create varied rooflines for even more visual interest.
Victorian-Style Farmhouse
Victorian elements can also add interest to other house styles.
Many builders and designers have blended the simpler elements offarmhouse-inspired spaceswith a touch of Victorian style.
The highly elaborate designs typically showcase a variety of exterior colors and materials.
Credit: Kevin Miyazaki
Grand Victorian-Style Entryways
Turrets were sometimes used as more than interior spaces.
Some Victorian homes also used these design elements to carve out unique entryways.
Here, a circular space creates asmall seating areaand a charming roofline to delineate the front door.
Credit: Todd Zawistowski
This throw in of home often had wooden trimwork with plain carvings and scrolls.
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