What are the characteristics of a Victorian house?

While a Victorian house may not have all these characteristics, here are some of the features you find on Victorian house plans: Detailed and decorative exterior features include gingerbread trim, spindled railing, and bracketed posts Curved towers and turrets Front porches with gazebos and wide wraparound porches Steeply pitched roofs with irregular shapes, usually featuring a dominant front-facing gable Textured shingles Asymmetrical façades Decorated roof line and slates Bay and sash windows Stained glass Open floor plans Opulent and multiple fireplaces

Can you still build Victorian houses?

Yes, you can still build Victorian houses. As stated earlier on this page, Victorian technically refers to a period rather than a style, so any home built in the present day would be in the style of a Victorian house. However, most people use the term Victorian and Victorian style interchangeably, so your designer will understand if you ask to look at Victorian house plans.

What is the layout of a Victorian house?

Because they were built to impress, the layout of a Victorian house can be intricate and luxurious, with highly ornate interior staircases, cubbies, and various nooks and crannies. In addition, victorian house floor plans may include towers and turrets of different sizes and styles, which are often used as bedrooms, libraries, or studies. These unique architectural design elements give Victorian homes a "castle" feel and can often be two or three stories high, circular in nature, provide abundant interior light, and feature Old World charm. Bay and stained glass windows reflect the home's charm and character and commonly add interest and visual appeal to a highly decorative home. In addition, the large and spacious interior floor plans were designed for a new affordable lifestyle and punctuated with plenty of leisure time to entertain family and friends. While most Victorian homes are two or more stories with traditional layouts, you will often find modern Victorian house plans open with split bedroom plans or a main-level primary suite with secondary bedrooms located on the top floor. In addition, there are opportunities to build smaller Victorian house plans, as evidenced by our vast collection of designs, which can vary from one-story plans with 780 square feet to two and three-storied methods of more than 7,000 square feet.

How many bedrooms are in a Victorian house?

The number of bedrooms depends on the square footage of the Victorian house floor plan and the design of the house. A home must have no minimum or maximum number of rooms to qualify as a Victorian home.

Do Victorian houses have two living rooms?

Historically accurate Victorian homes have two living rooms, although they wouldn't have been called that when designed. Instead, depending on their use, they would have been called the parlor, drawing room, library, study, or even billiards room. Victorian etiquette required different rooms for different activities. Therefore, the parlor (or first living room) was used to entertain guests or for courtship, so both genders used this room. The library, study, or billiards room was typically (second living room) only reserved for men's activities.

How long can Victorian houses last?

Victorian houses can last up to 200 years, provided they are correctly maintained and repaired quickly before real damage is done to the home. Most true Victorian homes are between 100 to 180 years old now, and many still stand because their owners have ensured they take good care of them home.

How can you tell if a house is Victorian?

Here are some features to look for to tell if a house is Victorian: Bay windows Two-over-two-panel sash windows Stained glass windows Sash window horns High pitched roofs Ornate gable trim Decorative (typically red) brickwork

What is Folk Victorian style?

Folk Victorian-style homes differentiate themselves from other Victorian house plans by being much more straightforward in their design than the different subsets of Victorian styles.

Victorian House Plans | Modern to Gothic Floor Plan Design

Are you searching for a detailed, grand house plan that reflects your desire for beauty in everyday surroundings? Look no further than our collection of Victorian house plans. These designs represent a commitment to the history and features of the ever-popular... Read More

A Victorian home generally meant any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901) and coming on the heels of the Industrial Age (1750-1850). This revolutionary period saw fundamental changes in agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and the cultural structure of societies. Originating in England, this extraordinary period was all-encompassing and revolutionary for introducing a new and different "way of doing things."

While Victorian homes are routinely characterized as Victorian style, Victorian is not a style but more a period in history; however, this era included various subsets of home styles that included:

Second Empire Style
Gothic Revival Style
Queen Anne Style
Stick Eastlake Style
Folk Victorian Style
Italianate Style

Often, old Victorian house plans are situated on narrow property lots when the in-town property was at a premium in price and availability, which is undoubtedly still the case today. While you may find single-story plans today, most Victorian homes with luxurious floor plans are two- or three-story-high. Occasionally, a residential elevator is included to make traveling the multiple floors easily accessible.

These utterly charming homes, with their towers, turrets, and elaborate porches, reflect the beauty and aesthetic value of ornamentation and ostentatious detailing. Intricate embellishments, both on the exterior and interior, were, and continue to be, wonderfully fanciful and highly desired as design features on one of the most beloved home styles in America and the world.

The exteriors of these homes are asymmetrical with varying roof lines, feature distinct personalities, and are as unique and individualized as your imagination. Intricate and grand entrances were, and still are, highlighted on the home's exterior and may include elaborate staircases featuring bold and substantial wood trim or gorgeous ironwork. These classic homes typically have wraparound porches, many with attached gazebos, intricate decorations, and, perhaps, a crow's nest or widow's walk overhead. Grand color schemes are often featured on the exterior of Victorian homes. The ubiquitous gingerbread trim we commonly associate with Victorian home plans can still be seen on most homes' surfaces.

Although initially built in answer to mass production and the development of affordable and accessible design materials, Victorian homes have continued to capture homeowners' imagination with their unique, bold, and innovative design features.

Read Less