The Victorian Style in Design

Victorian- 1830-1919

Historical Overview:
 The Victorian Era is named after Queen Victoria of England and coincides with the introduction of the Inductrial Revolution. Queen Victoria was an enthusiastic amateur artist and decorator, personally designing her palace at Balmoral using light wood tones, pale blue and green accents and plenty of glass to let light in. Doesn't sound very Victorian? The Victorian style that is typically seen in interiors today is extremely detailed because of the preponderance of machine-made woodworking, dark and somber in color tones with heavy wood grains. Medieval motifs such as stylized floral patterns, filigree, lancet arched windows and leaded glass panes create the intricately detailed themes popular in Victorian interiors.


Cabinetry/Millwork: Heavy dark woods are typically used such as mahogany, blackened oak, walnut, satinwood or rosewood. Raised panel doors, multiple panel doors, heavily stacked moldings and hand-carved appliques or inlays would be inappropriate.

Hardware: Ornate polished brass, ceramic or marble inset with inlays are appropriate.

Countertops: Wood, marble, granite, and ceramic tiles. Consider 3"x6" running bond brick backsplash and wainscot materials.

Colors: Very dark, low intensity colors are used. Combination of olive green, black, burgundy and golden tones can easily be placed together-all in one room.

Surfaces:

• Floors: Patterned floors-in reproduction linoleum and vinyl , or marble, limestone or terazzo work for recreating this style.
• Walls: Exotic Oriental or historical themes on imported wallcoverings. Flocked silk damask and other heavy materials used as wallcoverings.
• Ceilings: Typically painted and continued down the wall to a molding that was used to hang pictures so the hardware did not damage the wall covering.

Accents: Heavy fabric window treatments, very intricately detailed furniture. Oriental-type carpets. Very elaborate curved cabinet styling. Beveled glass used in mullion doors.