Design Pop: Victorian Style Inspiration for ‘Little Women’ Fans
If the new TV reboot of Louisa May Alcott’s classic has you inspired by the detailed 19th-century style, read on
Gwendolyn Purdom
May 15, 2018
Lover of architecture, history, dogs, the Chicago Cubs, crowded bookshelves, and homes with a story. Former editor at Preservation mag and Culturess.com.
Lover of architecture, history, dogs, the Chicago Cubs, crowded bookshelves, and... More
“Little Women” author Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts. Photo by Smart Destinations
The best stories transport us, and in the case of Louisa May Alcott’s celebrated 1868 novel, Little Women, readers find themselves surrounded by the formality and flourishes of the Victorian era. Fans of the book, or its many retellings, had a chance to return to Orchard House in all its historical glory Sunday night when the first episode of a new three-part adaptation premiered on PBS.
Although the fictional March family got by on modest means (and the occasional sale of Jo’s hair), the time period in which the action unfolds is one many associate with ornate architectural and design details that still wow building buffs today. In honor of the rich textures and old-fashioned fixtures the miniseries features, we enlisted two Houzz pros to help you take Victorian home style from the page and screen and make it work in your space — no horse and buggy required.
The best stories transport us, and in the case of Louisa May Alcott’s celebrated 1868 novel, Little Women, readers find themselves surrounded by the formality and flourishes of the Victorian era. Fans of the book, or its many retellings, had a chance to return to Orchard House in all its historical glory Sunday night when the first episode of a new three-part adaptation premiered on PBS.
Although the fictional March family got by on modest means (and the occasional sale of Jo’s hair), the time period in which the action unfolds is one many associate with ornate architectural and design details that still wow building buffs today. In honor of the rich textures and old-fashioned fixtures the miniseries features, we enlisted two Houzz pros to help you take Victorian home style from the page and screen and make it work in your space — no horse and buggy required.
Narrow windows and eclectic formal furnishings are often found in today’s versions of traditional Victorian decor.
What Is Victorian Style?
The Victorian era refers to the years when Great Britain’s Queen Victoria reigned, from 1837 to 1901. Architecture and decor trends varied widely within that period, but Anne De Wolf, co-owner and principal designer at design-build firm Arciform in Portland, Oregon, says that whether a house was a manor like Little Women’s sprawling Plumfield, where Aunt March lived, or a humble farmhouse like the one the rest of the family called home, verticality was a unifying element.
It was also a time when homeowners were eager to emulate the grandeur of European decor and give off a sophisticated air of worldliness, so ornamentation and eclectic, globally inspired motifs were big.
What Is Victorian Style?
The Victorian era refers to the years when Great Britain’s Queen Victoria reigned, from 1837 to 1901. Architecture and decor trends varied widely within that period, but Anne De Wolf, co-owner and principal designer at design-build firm Arciform in Portland, Oregon, says that whether a house was a manor like Little Women’s sprawling Plumfield, where Aunt March lived, or a humble farmhouse like the one the rest of the family called home, verticality was a unifying element.
It was also a time when homeowners were eager to emulate the grandeur of European decor and give off a sophisticated air of worldliness, so ornamentation and eclectic, globally inspired motifs were big.
Today, people remain drawn to the kind of narrow rectangular windows, high ceilings and architectural embellishments seen here, De Wolf says, though homeowners who are considering taking on a Victorian often want to bring modern comforts to these older homes.
White can be used to brighten Victorian-era interiors, while historic wood trim, like the kind shown here, is often preserved unpainted.
If You Already Live in a Victorian …
One way to brighten up a traditionally heavy Victorian framework is with lighter colors and more contemporary furnishings.
White interiors in old Victorian homes create “a beautiful juxtaposition with the Victorian ornateness,” De Wolf says. “It really just lets the architecture speak for itself by giving it a neutral color palette.”
Find out how to gently bring a Victorian into the 21st century
If You Already Live in a Victorian …
One way to brighten up a traditionally heavy Victorian framework is with lighter colors and more contemporary furnishings.
White interiors in old Victorian homes create “a beautiful juxtaposition with the Victorian ornateness,” De Wolf says. “It really just lets the architecture speak for itself by giving it a neutral color palette.”
Find out how to gently bring a Victorian into the 21st century
When working on Victorian-era homes, De Wolf says she has also gone the other way and leaned in to the busier traditional vibe, adding bold wallpaper, color and texture.
“You can be very eclectic in them because, again, in the Victorian era, it was very much about travel and experience and a little bit of glamour,” De Wolf says. “That’s the beauty with these houses — you can keep them really simple or you can really play on that [eccentricity].”
“You can be very eclectic in them because, again, in the Victorian era, it was very much about travel and experience and a little bit of glamour,” De Wolf says. “That’s the beauty with these houses — you can keep them really simple or you can really play on that [eccentricity].”
This Victorian study in New Orleans has a traditional detailed, compartmentalized feel.
If You’re Considering Living in a Victorian …
Although having a house with so much authentic character can be enriching, the March family’s lifestyle and the home that supported it aren’t always conducive to the way people want to live today. Spence Kass, principal architect at Philadelphia’s Kass & Associates, says the Victorian projects he has worked on have typically involved opening up small formal rooms into roomier open living spaces, creating larger window and door frames, and generally scaling up features so they feel lighter and brighter.
If You’re Considering Living in a Victorian …
Although having a house with so much authentic character can be enriching, the March family’s lifestyle and the home that supported it aren’t always conducive to the way people want to live today. Spence Kass, principal architect at Philadelphia’s Kass & Associates, says the Victorian projects he has worked on have typically involved opening up small formal rooms into roomier open living spaces, creating larger window and door frames, and generally scaling up features so they feel lighter and brighter.
There are upsides to having a traditional, not-so-open-concept Victorian kitchen like the one shown here, though, De Wolf says. She has seen the design pendulum swing this way in recent years, as some clients recognize that keeping the mess and noise of the cooking space separate from the entertaining space could actually be a better fit for their lifestyle.
Houses from this time also were sometimes set up for servants, and Kass and De Wolf say spaces like butler’s pantries can often be used to carve out a larger kitchen or living room if that’s important to you.
Houses from this time also were sometimes set up for servants, and Kass and De Wolf say spaces like butler’s pantries can often be used to carve out a larger kitchen or living room if that’s important to you.
When renovating the 1874 George C. Thomas House, pictured, Kass and his team upgraded rudimentary back-of-the-house rooms like the kitchen and bathroom (which was typically tacked on to the back of a Victorian kitchen) to match the grander scale of the main living spaces — an overhaul potential Victorian homeowners might want to consider.
If You Want to Feel as Though You Live in a Victorian …
Even if you don’t live in a late-19th-century dream house, there’s plenty of design inspiration worth tapping from that architectural era. De Wolf suggests using period-influenced furniture (like this carved chaise) and lighting to add Victorian drama. She also would steer clear of the sort of slapped-on ornamentation like scrollwork that was popular in the 1980s, as it can appear flimsy.
Even if you don’t live in a late-19th-century dream house, there’s plenty of design inspiration worth tapping from that architectural era. De Wolf suggests using period-influenced furniture (like this carved chaise) and lighting to add Victorian drama. She also would steer clear of the sort of slapped-on ornamentation like scrollwork that was popular in the 1980s, as it can appear flimsy.
An antique piece like this dresser can give a room instant historic character.
An antiquing outing can yield a Victorian-style armchair that needs only some new upholstery to feel fresh, for example, or a mirror that can re-create the feel of those narrow Victorian windows.
See a Victorian updated with black trim, cabinets and doors
An antiquing outing can yield a Victorian-style armchair that needs only some new upholstery to feel fresh, for example, or a mirror that can re-create the feel of those narrow Victorian windows.
See a Victorian updated with black trim, cabinets and doors
Choosing wallpaper with rich colors and nature motifs is another way to emulate Victorian style.
Whatever time-honored touches you pick, making sure they reflect your unique spirit is only appropriate.
Boutique Printers Keep Historic Wallpapers Alive
Whatever time-honored touches you pick, making sure they reflect your unique spirit is only appropriate.
Boutique Printers Keep Historic Wallpapers Alive
Mixing traditional Victorian details, such as this mirror, with more modern touches, such as these chairs, creates a striking balance.
Historically, Victorian style was “very individualistic, and there’s a delight in texture and pattern and robust details,” Kass says. The essence of Victorian design is just as independent as Jo March herself.
Little Women on PBS concludes with two more episodes May 20.
More
10 Ways to Update a Victorian Living Room
Browse Victorian-style items for your living room
Historically, Victorian style was “very individualistic, and there’s a delight in texture and pattern and robust details,” Kass says. The essence of Victorian design is just as independent as Jo March herself.
Little Women on PBS concludes with two more episodes May 20.
More
10 Ways to Update a Victorian Living Room
Browse Victorian-style items for your living room
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I love black trim and this house has it in spades. With the warm wood, it is dynamite.
These photos are so nice. No Revere Gray. No Pottery Barn. Ahhh...
I love that wallpapered bathroom with the orange vanity. And the highboy in the other bath is a beautiful, unexpected touch! Wow!