May 6, 2011

ARCHITECTURE CORNER: Folk Victorian

By: RE/MAX Complete

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Come back on Monday to see what we are giving away!


**  Architecture Corner Series **

We are going to start a series called Architecture Corner.   Here we will discuss different styles of homes as far as architecture.


Today's we are going to talk about Folk Victorian.


The Victorian Era encompasses the period between 1837 and 1901 when Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain.  During this period a number of architectural styles were born which fell under the heading "Victorian."   Some of the ones you've probably heard of are the Queen Anne, Second Empire and Gothic Revival.  But the one most commonly found in the United States is the Folk Victorian.

Folk Victorians were built by and for regular folks.   The rich would hire architects who would design elaborate (and expensive!) mansions in one of the other popular Victorian styles.   The non-rich also liked the idea of living in a stylish home, but not being able to afford architects, regular folks would design their homes themselves.   What sure helped was the industrial revolution.  Pre-fabricated building materials became readily available, so anyone could trek down to the local lumberyard and pick some decorative woodwork to incorporate into their new house.   The resulting home would often be a hodge-podge of different styles; certainly less professional, but by no means less charming.

A typical Folk Victorian home is almost always built out of wood, typically with a symmetrical facade and a hipped or gable roof.   The most common decorative elements were gingerbread trim (flat and pre-cut), intricate brackets under the eaves, lattice porch skirts and fancy spindle work.   They are less complex and less ornate than other Victorian styles, and are generally smaller too.   They very seldom have a tower, balconies or projecting window bays.
The popularity of most Victorian styles fizzled out in the early 1900's.  But the stylish yet no-nonsense Folk Victorians continued to be built well into the 1940's.


Here are some homes that are
Currently For Sale
in all Victorian Styles throughout Utah












For a full list of all Victorian style homes
that are currently for sale in Utah



Enjoy the Weekend!


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