Interiors of Victorian Houses

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Interiors of Victorian Houses
By Anya Schalekamp and Brenda Lenneman
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The Hubbard House The Parlor

• A lot of the fabrics in the parlor were imported
  from Italy. In fact, they spent 24,000 just
  alone on fabrics in this room.
• Large windows with curtains covering them were
  considered a status symbol. On the top of this
  window was a small stained glass window, but back
  then it would have been covered to symbolize
  wealth.

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More of the Parlor

• Another example of showing status was having a
  worn out Persian Rug in your home. It symbolized
  status because theyre very expensive and showed
  signs of being wealthy over a long period of
  time.
• In the center of the room there is a light
  fixture, and placed underneath usually is a table
  with two small chairs facing opposite directions.
  This is common in most Victorian Houses.

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The Fireplace

• Many marble fireplaces in Victorian homes came
  from plantations in the South after the Civil
  War.
• Many times there are fireplaces located
  throughout the house, mainly used for heating in
  the winter months. Fireplaces like these made the
  room stand out and added character to make it
  much more elegant.

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The Library

• The library in many Victorian houses was used as
  the recreation room.
• The yellow chair in the corner was often referred
  to as the mans chair. This is because of the
  large arm rests and when reclined it is very
  spacious.
• Many Victorian homes had curtains made of Velvet
  inclosing the rooms from the cold.

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Tiffany Shade

• The Tiffany Shade was placed above the dining
  table in the dining room, and is valued at about
  55,000.
• It was placed about 2 feet above the table, so
  that when sitting at the table people would not
  have a glare in their face while having a
  conversation. Children and adults both could sit
  at the table comfortably as a result of the way
  the lamp was placed.
• The hot water heater located by the window helped
  keep humidity out of the room in the warm summer
  months.
• Often times underneath the table, was a buzzer
  for the lady of the house to tap when she needed
  the servants assistance.

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The Kitchen

• Leading to the kitchen were usually cabinets
  filled with the families best china. One cabinet
  held the families good china, while the other
  held the normal china. Only one was usually
  locked and the only person who held the key for
  it was the lady of the house.
• The large oven served many purposes in Victorian
  houses. Food was baked in it, water was warmed on
  it and it heated the room.
• On the other side of this room, was a small
  cupboard that in different drawers held the flour
  and sugar.

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Guest Suite

• Sleigh beds were very common in Victorian homes.
• This room was very spacious and had its own
  bathroom and fireplace. To help the elderly, the
  bed was most often placed next to the bathroom.
• The wallpaper in this room was handmade and many
  times imported from different countries.

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The Bulter House

• One of the first things someone would notice when
  they walk into a Victorian house is the
  Stairwell. Most stairwells led to the master
  bedrooms and guest rooms.
• Light Fixtures and windows often line the
  Stairwells giving them a soft, elegant glow while
  entering.
• Upon entering most Victorian houses, there is a
  piano located next to the Stairwell. Pianos are
  often made of Indian Rosewood.

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The Parlor

• In this parlor, like most other parlors it has a
  large Persian rug covering the floor. Since many
  Victorian houses had hard wood floors, Persian
  rugs were very common.
• There is also a fireplace on the other side of
  the wall. Many fireplaces had photographs or
  paintings on top of the mantel.

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The Clements Suite

• This room is a good example of a romantic
  Victorian Suite. This Oak Curved Victorian bed
  shows much style and that the bedding is very
  elegant. Lace covering the head of the bed was
  very common back then, it gave the room more of a
  romantic feeling.
• The whirlpool in the corner adds to the romance
  of this room.

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The Butler Suite

• In this room, the Iron Canopy bed is in the
  center of the room to draw attention to the
  elegance it gives off. As you can see this is
  the main focus of the room, as it is placed under
  the light fixture.
• A Fireplace is also located in this room, along
  with its own personal bathroom.
• The long, yellow curtains flow well with the
  white fabric placed over the bed.

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Conclusion

• In conclusion, many Victorian houses symbolize
  great wealth and elegance. Fireplaces and worn
  out Persian rugs symbolize status in these homes.
  Many Victorian homes also have a big grand
  stairwell when you walk in, leading to the
  bedrooms upstairs. Victorian homes represent an
  era of romance and style.

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• Works Cited www.butlerhouse.com 25 November 2002