The dramatic characteristics of a Queen Anne Victorian

Victorian architecture has been a favorite style in the United States since the 1800s. The most popular style within this school is Queen Anne, which is often noted for its romantic features and whimsical styling, though it is actually a product of a very unromantic period in American history.

The industrial revolution had just taken off, and home construction became a much easier task than it had been in the past. Thanks to major advances in woodworking that came about from the use of machinery, middle-class America now had access to more ornamentation than ever. Since intricate borders and moldings became more affordable, they started showing up everywhere in the homes of the period.

Although there are Queen Anne homes made out of brick and stone in some parts of the country, most examples are wooden structures with an almost gingerbread-house aesthetic. Features of this design are steep roofs, large bay windows, towers, turrets and an abundance of intricately carved spindles.

In most cases, these houses are multiple storiesand feature beautifullydetailed central staircases.

In keeping true to the exterior detailing of these homes, the structures will often feature elaborate carved turned balusters and newel posts with imposing etchings throughout. Although it isn't uncommon to find a staircase painted in a dreamy pattern, many Queen Anne properties will let the carvings speak for themselves and instead use a dark wood that is richly stained to give the home a sense of drama.

These homes never run short on imagination and that is true in their staircases. In many instances, these structures will ribbon up the length ofand curve through the main core of the house. One very common characteristic is thin balusters that are spaced very tightly throughout the entire length of the handrail.