Edwardian house style: how to spot the period features of the era (2024)

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Edwardian house style: how to spot the period features of the era? ›

Although the Edwardian period lasted just nine years from 1901 to 1910, the architectural style is considered to have continued to around 1920, ten years after Edward VII's death. As servants' quarters were no longer required, the small attic rooms and cellars of the Victorian era gave way to large elegant rooms.

Although the Edwardian period lasted just nine years from 1901 to 1910, the architectural style is considered to have continued to around 1920, ten years after Edward VII's death. As servants' quarters were no longer required, the small attic rooms and cellars of the Victorian era gave way to large elegant rooms.

Typical details of Edwardian Baroque architecture include extensive rustication, usually more extreme at ground level, often running into and exaggerating the voussoirs of arched openings (derived from French models); domed corner rooftop pavilions and a central taller tower-like element creating a lively rooftop ...

You can identify Edwardian properties by their beautiful red brickwork, mock-Tudor cladding & timbers, wooden framed porches, spacious hallways, ample & bright rooms, grand parquet wood flooring, geometric floor tiles and simple internal decorative features.

Edwardian colour scheme

Floral designs with natural colours such as primrose, lilac and green and dusky blues, yellows and greys, all became popular. Statement wallpapers also gained significance in this time, designed especially to make rooms feel bigger, airier and lighter.

Design. Edwardian houses tend to be tall and thin and were built along relatively straight streets whereas 1920s and 30s houses which share much in common with them were usually wider with hipped roofs and are found along winding lanes, crescents and cul-de-sacs.

Period features refer to the original fixtures of a property that remain in place today. Period features often include: Ornate fireplaces. Decorative wood or tiled flooring.

Edwardian homes tend to be shorter than equivalent Victorian residences, partly because the middle classes who lived in these homes had less of a need for servants, unlike the Georgian the Victorian generations before them. Gone were the cellars and the second floors, but in came larger halls and spacious gardens.

Fashion of Edwardian Era

Women still wore corsets and long skirts. Men still wore suits. A complete wardrobe included hats and gloves and, for women, often an umbrella. Edwardian fashion was opulent and formal, with expensive fabrics and trimmings.

Despite its brief pre-eminence, the period is characterised by its own unique architectural style, fashion, and lifestyle. Art Nouveau had a particularly strong influence. Artists were influenced by the development of the automobile and electricity, and a greater awareness of human rights.

What defines Edwardian style? ›

Edwardian houses are similar to Victorian homes—which came slightly before—in some ways but are overall less ornate and more airy in design. They have a history of being seen as homes for the wealthy and are therefore considered to be grand and ideal for entertaining.

Although many typical Edwardian paint colours included creams and ochres like Vanilla and Little Rascal, strong blues were also used to create bold stencilled patterns, with lead white joinery. Blue shades like Dorothy are ideally paired with White Clay for a characterful, fresh feeling in bedrooms and kitchens.

The Edwardian era (1901-1915) and Art Deco era (1920-1930s) share many of the same early 20^th century visual characteristics. Yet, separated by the First World War, the two eras have distinct jewelry styles whose differences can range from subtle to quite notable.

Edwardian furniture tends to be more free-spirited, rejecting the restraint of the previous Victorian period as a result of Edward VII's love of fashion and the arts. Colours also changed as the style moved away from the darker shades of Victorian furniture toward lighter colours that created a less imposing look.

The Edwardian era (1901-1910), was different in morals, having a more relaxed standard in its code of conduct, compared to Victorian society, which was very conservative. During this period, Britain saw a boom in technology. Telephones became common throughout homes, increasing the rate of communication between people.

Cape Town City Hall is a classic example of Edwardian architecture situated in the Cape Town city center, it was built in 1905. The Cape Town City Hall was constructed using honey-colored limestone imported from Bath in England.

So, unlike the smaller, darker Victorian homes, Edwardian houses were more squat, wider and roomy, with bigger hallways and more windows. It's common for an Edwardian property to have a front garden and be set back from the pavement, as there was an ever-increasing desire for privacy at that time.

The Edwardian era (1901-1914) is the last period in British history to be named after the monarch who reigned over it. Although Edward VII reigned from 1901 to 1910 to be succeeded by George V, the Edwardian period is generally considered to have ended at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

Victorian era is said to have continued from 1837 to 1901 and lasted the reign of Queen Victoria whereas Edwardian era started in 1901 with his ascension to the throne and lasted till 1910 till his death. Victorian era is believed to be more conservative than Edwardian era.

The Queen Anne style, popular in American from 1880 to 1910, evolved out of the Colonial Revival style; the two styles were fashionable at the same time. The Queen Anne style was imported by English architects who were inspired by the half-timbered walls and patterned masonry of Medieval and Jacobean style-buildings.