Queen Anne home design, which is one of many offshoots of Victorian style, was most popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The advent of mass-production allowed for creation of fancy trims and woodwork at a reasonable price.
Queen Annes are multi-story, sometimes rising as large as two, three, or even four stories tall.
They’re usually irregular in shape, with wraparound porches, turrets, and a variety of architectural details.
Queen Anne Exterior Design Features:
- A steep-pitched roof
- A variety of exterior materials, including decorative shingles, masonry, or half timber.
- Multiple window styles
- A variety of ornate architectural elements, including turrets (round or square in shape), colonnades, bays and overhangs
- Front entrance may be central or offset
Queen Anne Interior Decor Features:
- Common interior architectural details:
- Crown molding
- Chair rails
- Linoleum, slate and wood are the most common flooring options
- Laminate, granite, and soapstone countertops are most common in the kitchen
- Cabinets are usually raised, square panels which are either stained or painted. Cherry, oak and maple are common materials
Queen Anne Decorating Suggestions:
- Unusually shaped rooms don’t necessary lend themselves to formal furniture arrangement, so consider clumping pieces by activity. For example, you might clump a set of armchairs in a corner for reading or visiting.
- Integrate traditional Victorian elements like doilies, antique light fixtures, and Victorian style furniture, or go for more of a shabby chic effect and mix true antiques with distressed pieces to create a more casual piecemeal look.
- Many retailers carry a Victorian line to help you select colors that work with the home. One popular color scheme is blue, mulberry red, and cream.
- Some decorating schemes that work particularly well with Queen Anne design include:
- Victorian decor
- English country style
I like your commentary about Qeene Anne homes..I have an1895 home which we are now painting and wonder what you think about the third color. Our upper shingles are dark brown the rest of the body of the home is cream and the third color we are contemplating trimming is sage green. However the shade of green lighter or darker has been the subject for many days…any advice? the style of the home has corbels, no frills like gingerbread but does have an interesting round curve with round windows that seems to be the interesting part of the home’
Thanks for the comment and question! I personally appreciate the drama associated with this style of home – they really make a statement! I would use the paint color that makes the most dramatic contrast, which in my mind’s eye is the lighter green. I would love to see a picture!