When we are attempting to replace period woodwork it can often be a nervous exercise, not only because there is a fear of damaging delicate, vintage features, but also given the range of styles available and the opportunity to choose incorrectly. Mixing design periods when trying to refurbish a period home faithfully and accurately, is a huge faux pas, but is easily done. However you choose to restore a period home, the golden rule is to ensure consistency in terms of style and therefore design period.
The Georgian and Victorian design periods were perhaps the most influential in terms of what we now call ‘traditional’ or ‘classic’ design. But to a casual observer it can be difficult to tell the two apart, and therefore it can be easy to mix them up and commit the ultimate sin of jumbling Victorian skirting boards with Georgian architrave. So here are some key details and characteristics to help avoid any problems when choosing period mouldings.
The Georgian and Victorian design periods
In assessing the two design periods, it is worth first examining how they differ in terms of an overall property. The Georgian design period ran from 1714 to 1830 and the reigns of the House of Hanover, in other words from the reign of George l to George lV. Property at this time was characterised by three or four storey townhouses, and properties which were based on symmetry and balance. By this we mean that houses had a central front door with windows either side. The period had a refined character and properties typically had sash windows and a rendered exterior.
The Victorian design period spanned the monarchy of Queen Victoria, from 1831 to 1901. This period was more about properties with coloured brick exteriors, and houses with high pitched roofs and stained glass windows. Houses often had a porch, but could have a front door at the side of the house rather than the front.
Period woodwork from the Georgian and Victorian periods
In terms of spotting the difference between internal woodwork from the Georgian and Victorian periods, we can apply much the same design principles in terms of techniques and characteristics. Georgian architecture took a lot of decorative vocabulary that was derived from ancient Rome and Greece. As well as symmetrical design, this meant a lot of flat surfaces and fewer ornate curves. This can be seen in our range of Georgian mouldings, where there are cleaner lines and classic proportions in the profiles, and where skirting boards, architrave and wall and ceiling mouldings were more balanced.
In contrast, Victorian design was heavily influenced by the advent of the Industrial Revolution and took advantage of mass-production rather than handmade craftsmanship. This meant design features were readily available and less expensive, because they were machine made. Stylistically this meant fewer symmetrical lines, and more daring, intricate and bold styles. Victorian homes had high ceilings, even if the rooms were no more spacious overall than Georgian properties, but these higher ceilings with vast bay windows enabled highly decorative and more eclectic mouldings designs. The more ornate examples in our range of Victorian mouldings show Gothic revival influences for more elaborate tastes.
Find your style with Period Mouldings
Whatever design period your home comes from, we can help you find your style and replace period mouldings with faithful reproductions which recreate the splendour and appeal of a genuine period home as it was meant to be. So check out our range of period designs and contact our team at Period Mouldings today for expert advice on matching period design features to your period home.