Last Updated on April 2, 2023 by lindseymahoney
Have you ever noticed that Victorian homes can look wildly different from each other? That’s because “Victorian” actually refers to a time period and not one specific style of home. There were many architectural styles that became popular in the United States when Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain (1837-1901).
Each of these styles draws inspiration from European architecture and is showcased in homes built in America during this time period. During this period, new machines were invented to mass-produce building materials and furniture.
The ornate details on the homes of the wealthy were now accessible to more people and they filled their homes with these intricate details.
The Historic Old West End in Toledo is one of my favorite neighborhoods to walk through and admire old, historic homes. You can find every type of Victorian-style home within a few blocks from each other and each one has a unique story.
Today, I am sharing five popular Victorian architectural designs and their key identifiable features. These include Gothic Revival, Queen Ann, Folk Victorian, Italianate, and Second Empire styles.
I totally geek out when it comes to learning about history and even started listening to a podcast about Queen Victoria. This useful guide is sure to earn you some points at your next trivia night!
Five Popular Victorian Style Homes
1 | Gothic Revival Style
Gothic Revival Key Features
- Pointed arches
- Stained glass windows
- Steeply pitched gables
- Quatrefoil and clover shaped windows
- Battlements & shaped parapets
Gothic Revival homes often have castle-like features. The style draws inspiration from architecture during Medieval times. This style was most popular between 1840-1880 and is popular with many churches and cathedrals.
The Barber House located in the historic Old West End Toledo neighborhood is a mix of Gothic and Colonial revival styles.
2 | Italianate Renaissance Style
Italianate Key Features
- Deep overhangs with ornamental brackets
- 2-3 story homes
- Made of brick or clapboard
- Low pitched roof
- Tall narrow windows (often arched above)
- Porch with decorative columns
The Italianate style is one of the most popular Victorian styles of the era. This style drew its inspiration from villas in Italy and became popular in the US after the Civil War. You can find this style on commercial buildings on many Main Streets of historic downtown areas in the Midwest.
My friends purchased this historic Italianate home that was close to being demolished and completely restored it!
This home has many of the key features, like the deep overhangs and ornamental brackets, for instance. They were nice enough to let me write up two blog posts filled with details on the exterior restoration and interior renovation of their historic home.
Toledo, Ohio is home to many historic homes that are affordable to purchase. This old Italianate home was listed for $6,000 and included many original features inside the property. It required many repairs and updates, but it included one-of-a-kind features that can’t be found in homes built today.
3 | Queen Ann Style
This historic home in Toledo’s Old West End is a mix of Queen Ann style and Colonial Revival.
Queen Ann Key Features
- Asymmetrical & eclectic ornamental detail
- Steep pitches & irregularly shaped roof
- Patterned roof shingles
- Multiple gables and dormers, sometimes towers or turrets
- Differing wall textures
- Typically built with wood (not brick)
- Wrap around porches
The Queen Ann style was popularized by the architect Norman Shaw in the 1880s. This style is what most people think of when they imagine a Victorian home. The Queen Ann style also inspired the Arts & Crafts style movement that came later in the early 1900s.
Another beautiful Queen Ann-style home (get the full tour here) in Toledo’s historic Old West End. My cousins own this home and there are just as many incredible details inside the home as there are on the outside.
Here is another beautiful, historic home located in Perrysburg, Ohio. I had the pleasure of selling this property and it was snatched up quickly!
The painted Ladies in San Francisco are probably the most recognizable Queen Ann-style homes in America.
4 | Second Empire/Mansard Style
Second Empire Key Features
- Mansard Roof
- Patterned shingle roof
- Dormers in the roof for light on top floor
- Pavilion one story porches
- Tower (sometimes)
- Quoins
The Second Empire style draws its architectural inspiration from France. Also called “General Grant Style” as it gained popularity after the Civil War. in the 1860s-70s. Similar to the Italianate style, the Second Empire style sometimes includes a tower.
Second Empire style homes are always the easiest for me to identify because of the mansard roof.
5 | Folk Victorian Style
Folk Victorian Key Features
- Modest detailing
- Affordable to the masses
- Symmetrical design (typically)
- No towers or turrets
- Ornate detail primarily on the porch
Folk Victorian-style homes are like if Queen Ann and a farmhouse had a baby.
From 1870-1900 you saw the folk-style homes popping up all over the United States. This style includes ornate detailing on the exterior similar to Queen Ann.
The difference between Queen Ann and folk style came from the interior design. The interior of Folk Victorian homes was built for function and as a result, more modest in detail.
There are many different architectural types of historic homes, but Victorians will always be some of my favorites! What is your favorite type of historic home?