Victoriana was stylized as modern in the 19th century. The latest and newest interiors were influenced by the manufacture of ample materials used in profusion without any aesthetic considerations. Ornament was almost entirely produced by the turning-lathe. Balusters, spindles, wooden grilles, and dwarf columns were used in profusion without any consideration given to order. Layered mixed designs were used on all vertical and horizontal surfaces. Wall composition and orderly furniture arrangement were disregarded.
Excessive use of unrelated patterned surfaces on walls, floors, and upholstery were common. Walls were covered with wallpaper of poor design, painted stencil patterns, or real or paper-mâché imitation Spanish leather. Windows were dressed with heavy draperies, swags, valances, and jabots, enriched with heavy fringes. The machine, manufacturing furniture, accessories, wallpaper and accessories, all highly profitable products dominated the industry.
Drawing room in Robert Edis London house circa 1870
According to Peter Thornton’s book 1984 “Authentic Decor” this image depicts the profusion common in Victoriana. The ceiling had stenciled decoration. The deep frieze at the top of the wall was painted by an artist. Gas-piping beneath the frieze was used as a picture-rail. Walls were papered with William Morris’ designs in a pomegranate pattern. The cabinet was ebonized (stained in a black finish) and had painted heads representing the season. Curtains covering the shelves were common. Floors were covered with patterned rugs. Victoria and Albert Museum, London
These images show layers and layers and layers in design profusion of confusion. Even the most elegant interiors were smothered in mixtures of patterns, designs and color. Every corner, every window, every door had some kind of finish, not necessarily designed to work together.
The Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk, Connecticut built circa 1870’s had the same fate as the Robert Edis house. In its elegance the Drawing room walls, ceiling, floor, all surfaces and windows were covered with fabrics, furniture, accessories and mirrors to double your view. Take a real tour. See Victoriana for yourself.
Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum Drawing room circa 1870
Victoriana ended when it was realized quality of design had gone lost. New ideas of simplicity became easier to live with. And handmade furnishings became important again as they are today. If not for the history of Victoriana we would not understand the importance of uncluttered, organized, well-designed spaces.
Steampunk is designed to be tongue-in-cheek Victoriana.
Victoriana house remodeled to stylize Steampunk
You can have some fun, see Steampunk and roam through this house at www.modvic.com.
Enjoy. If you want to get some Steampunk, call the vendor. The contact information is below.
Don’t forget to leave your comments, questions and challenges. My question to you, what have you always wanted to know in interior design and didn’t have anyone to ask?
Bruce Rosenbaum
President
ModVic, LLC
SteamPuffin
36 Pleasant Street
Sharon, MA 02067
781-784-0250
bruce@modvic.com
www.modvic.com
Very well done post! Beautiful. And I love the lnks. That house in MA looks pretty cool. Do they do real tours?
Hey Katy, thanks ! Good question. I am not sure if they do real tours, but Bruce is very amiable. Send an email to the address i provided. Mention where you found him, he’ll respond pretty quick.
Katy – if you tour that house – take me with you!
Gail – great posts! I can’t wait to read what you have in store for us next.
Hi Casey, thanks. I want to go on the tour too!
Me too!
Love this post, Gail! Especially love the links. I’ll have put both of these places (the Lockwood Mathews and Steampunk houses) on my to-visit list. As for decorating: My living room (north facing) has natural mahogany woodwork circa 1955 (it’s a reddish/coppery color, with some yellow undertones). I have a quite nice working fireplace with gray (variegated shades) stacked stone surround with a mahogany mantle. I have greyish-blue furniture, that is relatively neutral in color and unfortunately not going to be replaced anytime soon. We don’t want to paint the woodwork. Right now the ceilingis white, three walls are white with a very slight grey undertone, and the fireplace wall is painted a steel blue. I have red floral throwpillows and valances for color. The room has a very cool feeling, and I’d like to repaint it in a color that will warm it up. But the gray furniture and fireplace have me stumped as to what warmer color would look good. Any suggestions? I’m handy with a sewing machine and can make new pillows and window treatments, so a suggestion for accent color(s) would also be appreciated. My other question is whether, when I do repaint, the cast iron baseboard radiators that line part of the room should be painted the same color as the walls, or a contrasting color to look more like woodwork? I’ve tried it both ways in other rooms, and I’m just not sure. Thanks!
Susannah thanks for asking.
You have wonderful rich textures in your space. You can use them to your advantage.
The wood, stone, mahogany mantel and woodwork trim all absorb light. The furniture, window treatments and pillows also absorb light. You want to select colors and finishes for light reflection in opposition to the cool north light.
A ceiling painted super white is great for light reflection. Your fireplace stone, although mostly grayish, still has underlying warm and cool tones both and can work with any color. The earthy tones will pull out the ones in the stone. For a great pick-me-up and warmth I suggest the following.
I like Benjamin Moore paints because of the durability and ease of maintenance over the years. http://store.benjaminmoore.com/storefront/color-samples/paint-color-samples-1-pint/prodPRM01A.html. Also Google Benjamin Moore paint colors. Waterbase is the norm these days. Here we go…
Ceiling: Super white
Three walls: Benjamin Moore 969 in Eggshell finish
Fireplace wall: Aura made by Benjamin Moore in a peach color ”Serendipity” AF-205 (or similar in their other line) in Eggshell finish.
For your pillows, window treatments and accessories bring in some of the peach wall color, green and a touch of yellow. How about art? Choose art you love, not by the right colors for the space. Frame them to complement the art and the room. Art adds warmth to any space.
Cast iron radiators: Paint an undercoat made for metal/cast iron radiators and finish with the color of the wall paint. If there is any rust, be sure to scrap and clean it away before painting.
Lamps add light, color and texture. Size them so the bottom of the lampshade is just below or at your eye level when sitting. A functional lamp is 24-30” tall and can take a 100W bulb. The encapsulated bulbs are practical. Check them out. Recessed lighting or track works in any space if you like the type.
Check out the colors in Starbuck stores and how they use them. Fascinating.
Have some fun!!! • Color Matters – Travels – Mexico
http://www.colormatters.com/travel/mexico/mexico1.html – Cached
Explore how color affects emotions, appetite, vision, sexuality, design, art, businss, marketing, and trends. Learn about color theories in art, nature, science and …
Susannah, how’s my writing?
Make that ceiling super white a flat finish.
Susannah, the color 969 is off white.
Gail, thank you for the tips! I love that peach color you suggested. That will look beautiful with the woodwork, stone, and hardwood floors. I’m going to look for paint samples this week to try them out. As for your writing, you’re doing a great job! I am learning so much from your blog.
Paula, thanks for the comeback. Your home sounds wonderful, charming and warm. You have the original floor boards, but the knotty pine walls absorb all the light. Adding the tin in the living room will not give reflective light. The tin is not especially a material that will add light. It will just give another surface. The old knotty pine has most likely yellowed. You might think about pickling the wood if you love the texture or stripping and refinish with a waterbase polyurethane. For the ceiling, I would sheetrock, keep it clean and smooth, and paint it a super white by Benjamin Moore in a flat finish. That will brighten the room considerably. Do your recessed lighting. Look for cans that will accept the new types of bulbs saving you big bucks. Be sure to get white cans, not alzak, or silver, or anything other than white with white trim. Halo has some good recessed lighting and not too expensive. If you work with a lighting store, ask them to help you lay out the lighting. Directing the light to bounce off the walls is usually better than just putting lights in the center of the room. Keep it simple.
HI Gail,
As always I am so proud of all your wonderful accomplishments. You are truly a woman of the renaissance and outstanding in all the things you take on to do. I just read you are writing a book which got its inspiration from a painting. I want to read it when finished.
Hope the family is well. We are good.
Kisses,
Marilyn
Hey there Marilyn, thank you for the lovely comments. The book is exciting, i am enjoying the journey. It will be some time before it gets done. Kisses back, Gail
Fascinating, Gail. I love the way you put that together. Well organized and informative but not over cluttered with detail–very anti-victoriana. LOL
Question: 1840’s farm house. Many generations of upgrades with some original characteristics. The living room has lovely old original wide floor boards, but was renovated in 1980’s with knotty pine walls. We need to put in a new ceiling once my husband finishes plumbing the back room, what do you suggest for a ceiling? We’ve discussed tin with a brass finish and recessed lighting. The room is rather dark and woody feeling and my husband thought tin might give it the antique feel and add reflective light. Love to hear your thoughts.