VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE AND RENOVATING VICTORIAN HOMES
What do doll houses, fairy tale castles, spooked(haunted) houses and “gingerbread homes” all have in common? Yeah, you got it! They are the poster children for Victorian houses. Once upon a time, Victorian houses were the rave of the moment, and even till date, they still have that charming magnetism that we all adore.
Everything about Victorian houses screams class, comfort, luxury and aesthetics.They seem to have a lot of tales and history embedded in their picturesque structure.
If you’ve seen the opening credits of the movie “Full House”, you definitely are familiar with San Francisco’s “Painted Ladies”, perfect examples of Victorian houses.
So, just before we get right down to renovating Victorian houses, let’s take a quick tour on their history and evolution, shall we?
Victorian means different things to different people, as Victorian architecture was a compendium of various architectural styles and elements which flourished during the Victorian era, that is, when Queen Victoria of England reigned from 1837 to 1901.
The most famous of the architectural style of this era, however, are the Italianate and Queen Anne styles, which were technically revivals of earlier architectural styles with new unique elements incorporated.
The Italianate styled homes first became popular with their simple, rectangular-shaped structures with sloping or flat roofs that protrude quite far out from the exterior walls. Some of these homes feature a squared tower or cupola that rises out of the center of the house. The windows are tall, skinny and mostly rounded at the top. Cities like Cincinnati, Ohio, New Orleans’ Garden District and Brooklyn, New York have Italianate homes littered all over them.
The Queen Anne houses are actually what is most frequently referred to as Victorian houses in America today. Some of their features include two or three storied structures with steeply pitched roofs and large wrap-around porches. One major striking characteristic of Queen Anne houses, is the ornately adorned walls, painted in a variety of accent colors. San Francisco is home to the most populous Queen Anne styled homes. For Victorian houses, it’s a question of form over utility.
RENOVATING A VICTORIAN HOUSE
So, whether it is an Italianate home or a Queen Anne style, how do you go about renovating these gigantic, historical monuments?
First, I’d like to put out a caveat here. If you’ve just recently claimed the keys of a Victorian house, well, congratulations, but I must warn you: Victorian houses were not designed for modern-day life! So your fairy-tale fantasy and fascination about the castle-like homes may begin to wear off after a few months and you get exasperated and begin to crave some of the luxuries of modern buildings – like closets! – which unfortunately, are lacking in Victorian houses.
One of the issues you might encounter with your new Victorian style home, is damp. Unlike modern day housing, Victorian houses were not designed to be damp proof and ventilation issues are common in them. You may want to look out for damp issues in your renovation plan.
Another common problem almost all Victorian houses share is that of cracks and uneven wall plastering. Then come the issues of poor insulation and electrical issues. This answers why you should renovate your Victorian house to suit your taste and comfort while still preserving its historical allure.
So let’s get right down to the main thing: renovation.
Renovating a Victorian house isn’t much different from renovating a house from the 1930’s or even your average bungalow. However, it’s best to keep in mind that your house has historical details which you must try as much as possible to preserve.
Also, as you renovate, there’s a temptation to remove walls and enlarge small rooms because the floor plan for Victorian homes appear cluttered and convoluted, and you may try to create more open space. Don’t do that. Most of the walls of Victorian houses are intentional, as they are used to support the weight of the upper floors, and you definitely don’t want your upper floors sagging, do you?
These steps below will guide you in your renovation.
1. Draft your budget:
You certainly do not want to go bankrupt in the middle of your renovation. Ensure you do this as meticulously and in the most detailed way possible. Itemize all known costs for the renovation and set a comfortable contingency for unforeseen costs that may pop up as your renovation progresses.
2. Be clear on your layouts:
How do you intend to use the house? Are you extending the building or converting it? Will there be any structural changes? You must be precise on what kind of layouts you want as a whole. Decide on your plans for every floor because it helps you visualize the overall outlook for the house.
In this step, you should also make decisions on lighting and electrical plans, heating plans and furniture layout. To make the most of the internal space, it’s a wise idea to work with an interior designer, while for structural and the more technical external changes, an architect is the man for the job.
3. Think of creative designs:
Here, you need to think on the overall design and features you wish to add to the house. You could add storage, light and bright colors to the house. And since Victorian houses don’t have closet spaces, you could convert the area beneath the main stairway into a closet. You could install built-in bookcases and cabinets around doors and windows, making the most of what little open space the house caters for. Wardrobes and armoires could be used for additional storage
You may want to repurpose rooms in your Victorian house or even build an addition to your house if you think there is not room enough in the house for you. However, you should take caution to ensure that you leave the original house intact and your new addition is compatible with the architecture of the existing house, as well as in harmony with the materials and styling of the original structure. Ask for architectural advice here to avoid making your home look awkward after it’s all done.
4. Draw up a renovation plan:
You should decide on how each phase of renovation will go. Are you renovating the entire house at once or you’re going phase by phase? When you’re done planning, find a reputable contractor and draw up a plan together.
Having an orderly schedule for the renovation process can prove really helpful because knowing what comes next and preparing for it reduces the stress of building work by tons.
5. Source for the right items:
While this might seem to be the least tasking of the process, it is really herculean. Researching for suppliers and getting the right items for your renovation is largely underrated. It takes hours to get the right look for the right price, from internal doors to tiles to staircases.
If, however, you will be too busy to do this step yourself, you could hire an interior designer who knows the industry better and can trade discounts. It’s a win-win, yeah?
6. Renovate!
It’s finally time to pull all your ideas from your plan and mind into reality. As lovely as it is to watch your ideas come to live as your house transforms, it still could be very daunting, from combating the dust, to decision making, to the fears of things going wrong and even running out of finances. So, you must also prepare yourself for these things as you begin the renovation process.
Finally, remember to keep in mind to preserve the charm and historical details of your Victorian house. A Victorian house must not lose its appeal, and you should know that it would never be a modern house. Whenever possible, repair rather than replace: fix damaged doors, refinish old cabinets, patch up cracks. If a historical feature can’t be repaired, look for a similar item at an architectural salvage center or buy a new item that matches the old in design, color and other visual qualities.
With these steps, your Victorian house can be both serviceable for modern living, while retaining the charm and qualities that make them Victorian.