Meghan: Victorian décor can be many things and one of them is confusing. So today I am at the Eckhart House in Wheeling West Virginia to talk to interior designer Gretchen Figaretti to learn all about Victorian Decor.
I am hitting the road, searching for answers in finding great design. It is a quest for beauty, function and of course inspiration.
The first thing she thought me was how to choose furniture.
Gretchen: Actually anything that is Victorian in style or pre-Victorian works. Strictly Victorian furniture, Victorian reproduction furniture or Victorian furniture is fine if you do not care about comfort.
Meghan: But most people do, so Gretchen recommends testing Victorian reproduction furniture pieces before you buy or choosing newer pieces that are similar in style to those used by the Victorians. Otherwise, you may end up with a pretty room you would never use.
After talking about furniture Gretchen moved on to discus the accessories to use when looking for Victorian décor.
Gretchen: Anything that feels that good, that feels old, it feels vintage if you want to stay strictly Victorian, anything that is 19th century or older.
Meghan: Decorative lamps, stained glass mirrors are all great accessories and use lots of them. The Victorians definitely were not minimalist. They like to show off incurring numerous items and patterns into a room, is one way to capture the Victorian look.
I like to image these to be somewhat remained, someone decorative because that was very Victorian.
Gretchen: Right and of life stuff, a lot of items together just kind of set me to.
Meghan: While decorating the main part of your home with a Victorian style maybe easy the kitchen is a bit trickier. Victorian kitchens were not as sophisticated as the ones we use today. As a result, there is not much to go by when decorating a Victorian style kitchen.
But Gretchen suggests using architectural details typical of the Victorian period as a staring point.
Gretchen: So the way, I went about doing this kitchen, designing the kitchen I looked at the Victorian elements that were in the room. The corner blocks with flowers, the bead board, the divided windows and I incorporated those elements into the cabinets.
Meghan: Oh yes, you did and the bead board.
Gretchen: I had the bead board the flowered—
Meghan: Handles. It is all in this kitchen.
Gretchen: Right, now if you do not have a Victorian house and you want to have a Victorian kitchen, I would just depend upon the accessories.
Meghan: And do not forget color, the colors you use in your kitchen and other rooms in your home can greatly add to the Victorian field.
Gretchen: Certain colors where preferred in Victoriana, burgundy is what I used in this room was a very popular color.
Meghan: Yes it is what I always think of when I think of Victorian. Defining colors typical of the Victorian era, Gretchen suggests looking at reproduction wallpapers and fabrics for inspiration. And also look for patterns, the Victorian use numerous patterns whether on wallpaper, lincersta, fire places, rugs or fret work, pattern was everywhere.
And when you combine all the aspects of Victorian décor together you will have a beautifully decorated Victorian inspired home. That is perfect for showing off. After all that is what the Victorians like to do.
For extra information about where I have been and what I have learned visit my website www.askthedecorator.com.
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