House hunters looking for heritage properties full of character should take a look at Edwardian homes. Strictly speaking, Edwardian refers to an architectural period rather than the style of the house, and in many ways houses built during this era are similar to their Victorian counterparts, but far less ornate.
They’re usually spacious with bright rooms, and you might be lucky enough to find one with the original features intact.
Below we take a look at this historic home style in the United States.
What is an Edwardian house?
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Edwardian homes were built in San Francisco in the early 20th century, immediately following the Victorian era. This was at a time when well-to-do residents were growing weary of the heavy, ostentatious style of Victorian architecture and moving towards a more streamlined look.
Houses featured fewer exterior decorative features and were often lighter in color. There are amalgams between the two periods – the most famous being the ‘Painted Ladies’ in Alamo Square (above) which date from the mid-1890s but incorporate Edwardian features.
Are there variations in the architecture of this era?
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“The term ‘Edwardian era’ is commonly used, in the same way that ‘Victorian house style’ encapsulates Queen Anne, Italianate and Gothic Revival styles,” says Christina Dikas, senior architectural historian at the preservation firm. history and architecture Page & Turnbull.
“It is typically applied to classical typology in San Francisco. Although other house styles were also built across the United States during the 1901-1914 period, such as Craftsman bungalows (see above), Mission Revival style houses, and Shingle, these houses are not usually called Edwardian. Rather, they are referred to by their type or style.
Where do Edwardian houses come from?
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They are associated with the reign of King Edward VII in the United Kingdom, who succeeded to the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Victoria, and were mainly built between 1901 and 1914. Compared to the Victorian era, which has lasted from 1837 until 1901, this period was very short.
Above you can see typical Edwardian houses in North London.
Why are Edwardian houses so popular?
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“Many people enjoy the simpler, more classic details of Edwardian homes over those of more ornate periods, such as Victorian homes with their abundance of decorative embellishments,” says Christina Dikas.
They are also a manageable size. “Edwardian homes are typically between 1,500 and 3,000 square feet and are either single family dwellings or two to three unit buildings.
They reflect the prevalent cultural taste of the early 20th century – not only moving away from the ornamentation of the Victorian period, but from more modestly sized dwellings,” says Chris Lim, president of the luxury real estate company. Christie’s Real Estate (opens in a new tab).
“They were built at a time when gas and electricity were introduced and were painted in lighter colors and feature less complex ornamental designs than Victorian houses. Inside, stained glass windows, high ceilings and detailed woodwork are distinguishing features. There is a wide base of buyers buying Edwardian homes and the common thread is their appreciation of period detailing and classic offerings.
Such properties make wonderful renovation projects and are often upgraded to bring in more light. “Like many townhouses, these houses are very vertical. Sharing walls with neighbors on either side means light only enters the house from the front and back, so stairwells can be dark,” says interior designer Lauren Weiss of Lauren Weiss Home (opens in a new tab)owner of an Edwardian house built in 1911.
“We added a skylight that floods light through the center of the house and down through the stairs because without it it would be quite dark. We also installed a floor to ceiling steel framed window in the kitchen which floods it with south facing sunlight and is a really interesting juxtaposition alongside the traditional original architectural details.
Where can you find Edwardian houses?
They are found almost exclusively in San Francisco, California. “Most notably, they were built after the earthquake and fire of 1906, which included areas such as Mission, Cole Valley, Alamo Square and Pacific Heights. However, you can find these houses all over the city,” says Chris Lim. “There are more Edwardian homes in San Francisco than our famous Victorian homes.”
What to Look for in an Edwardian Home
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“The term refers to a type of building that usually has classical features such as cornices, block modillions, dentils and sometimes columns,” explains Christina Dikas. “The houses are simpler in design than Victorian buildings, but are similar in form to Victorian-era Italian buildings in San Francisco in terms of the incorporation of bay windows and flat roofs.”
According to Christina, Edwardian homes are spacious although they typically have compartmentalized rooms. “They usually feature stained glass, which began to be mass-produced around the time they were built. Built-in wardrobes are another feature, along with floor plans similar to San Francisco Italianate homes, including a front living room connected to the rear living room with pocket doors, a separate toilet room and bathroom. (some still exist that way), grilled coal fireplaces in the front living room, crown molding, picture rail and hardwood floors.
