The Queen Anne architectural style holds a special place in the hearts of many. With its whimsical designs and intricate details, it has become an iconic representation of late Victorian-era homes. Let's embark on a journey to explore the unique characteristics and enduring appeal of the Queen Anne style.
The Rise of Queen Anne
Illustration of a Queen Anne. (Image: Rob Leanna)
Originating from England, the Queen Anne movement found its way to the United States in the late 19th century. Inspired by the Aesthetic and Arts & Crafts reformers, this architectural style flourished alongside the growing interest in more vernacular and nostalgic designs. Patterns, advertisements, and the expansion of railroads allowed Queen Anne houses to be built across the nation.
The Queen Anne style became known as "the first national style" due to its prevalence in the United States. Its popularity can be attributed to the captivating combination of wood frame construction and affordable, machine-turned, and -sawn ornamentation. These houses were often described as capacious, comfortable, and full of character, truly embodying the essence of an "old house with nooks and crannies."
Embracing Eclectic Exteriors
Polychromy calls attention to a sunburst, a quatrefoil, irregular shingles, brackets, and sawtooth ornament. (Image: Gross & Daley)
Queen Anne houses boast robust yet lighthearted exteriors that immediately capture your attention. From sprawling facades to towers, verandahs, and fancy-butt shingles, these houses exude a sense of playfulness and grandeur. Even smaller cottage-like examples are recognizable by their colored-glass windows and intricate gingerbread details.
While the Northeast had fewer Queen Anne examples due to its dense population, the style flourished in the South, West Coast, and resurgent areas of the New South. These regions showcased the most dazzling and fanciful interpretations of Queen Anne architecture, ranging from tower houses to row houses.
Tracing the Roots of Queen Anne
The English Queen Anne movement of the mid-19th century owed its inspiration to notable architect Richard Norman Shaw. Shaw, a Gothicist, drew from the reign of "good Queen Anne" (1702-1714) and emphasized workmanship and vernacular architecture. Although his designs did not directly replicate Queen Anne motifs, they instead harkened back to the late Tudor-Gothic, Elizabethan, and Jacobean periods.
As the Queen Anne style blossomed in America, it underwent its own transformation. What was once a simple brick house in the 17th century evolved into elaborate and ornate Victorian structures. The explosion of turned ornamentation led to the spindlework interpretation, known as Eastlake, named after the influential English tastemaker and furniture designer. By the 1890s, Free Classic adaptations were widespread, incorporating classical columns, Palladian windows, and pedimented entries—clear signs of the Colonial Revival movement beginning to take shape.
The Interiors: A Delightful Fusion
Modest in size but not attitude: a Houston Queen Anne cottage with a Steamboat Gothic porch. (Image: Janet Lenzen)
Step inside a Queen Anne home and be prepared to be charmed by its eclectic interiors. These houses perfectly embodied the reform movements of the 1870s and 1880s by departing from the heavily adorned and opulent interiors of previous decades. Influences from the Aesthetic Movement, Anglo-Japanese styles, and early English Arts & Crafts can be seen in the color schemes, wallpapers, rugs, and overall design choices.
The tripartite wall treatment of frieze/fill/dado became popular during this time. Creative finishes such as wood wainscoting, combined with wallpaper, cloth, paint, and stencils, brought life to the walls. Ornamentation and decoration were often stylized or abstracted, emphasizing flat surfaces rather than three-dimensional elements.
The entry hall, with its exquisite paneling, fireplace, and built-ins, demanded special attention. Embossed Lincrusta-Walton wallcovering, damask, velour, and exotic patterns—Japanese or Moorish by way of England—all added a touch of elegance. The dining room, often adorned with mahogany or cherry furniture, became a focal point for entertaining. Inexpensive decorations like plants were used to add a touch of natural beauty to these captivating spaces.
Hallmarks of Queen Anne Homes
The Queen Anne architectural style can be identified by several distinctive features:
- Irregular massing: These houses break free from classical symmetry, incorporating bays, porches, extra gables, balconies, and turrets. Roofs and footprints often exhibit complex configurations.
- Texture: Bold and decorated surfaces transition from stone or clapboard to shingles, often with fancy-cut butts. Belt courses, brackets, and balustrades add further visual interest.
- Multi-light windows: Known as the Queen Anne window, these windows feature small, square lights surrounding a clear center light. Transoms and unique muntin patterns are not uncommon.
- Wood trim: Elaborately sawn, chamfered, carved, lathe-turned, and applied wood motifs can be found on porches, gables, cornices, and other architectural elements.
- Tower or turret: While not present in every Queen Anne house, many feature a corner tower or a faceted or round turret. These elements create hidden nooks and crannies within the home.
- Verandah: The capacious porch, a hallmark of American Victorian architecture, often wraps around the front of the house or encloses a porte-cochere. Even smaller houses feature a front porch or entry portico.
Embracing the Queen Anne Style
Related to Gothic Revival, Shingle, and Free Classic styles, the American Queen Anne movement encompassed a wide range of architectural designs. It is important to note that not every Queen Anne house is a towering structure. The style's influence can be seen in various forms and sizes, each with its own unique charm.
Furnishing the Queen Anne Home
The dining room in a formal Queen Anne brick house was restored and decorated by David Scott Parker. Aesthetic and Anglo-Japanese motifs embellish woodwork, tile, and ceiling. (Image: Robert Benson)
The Queen Anne style not only influenced architectural design but also revolutionized the world of interior decoration. Departing from the heavy and lavish approach of High Victorian decorating, Queen Anne homes embraced a more balanced and artistic approach.
Rooms were thoughtfully furnished, with tastemakers mocking the excessive and ornate decor of the 1860s. The Queen Anne house favored Art as the essential decoration, including paintings, prints, pottery, embroidery, hand-made tiles, and art furniture. Art wallpapers and painted embellishments also played a significant role in creating a visually stunning living space.
In terms of furniture, a mix of styles could be found in a Queen Anne home. American "Revolutionary" furniture regained its popularity, complemented by rush and cane chairs, wicker, rattan, and bamboo pieces. The Eastlake style, featuring incised and stylized ornamentation, gained immense popularity during this period. The Colonial Revival movement also made its mark, incorporating neoclassical styles such as Louis XVI, Hepplewhite, and Sheraton.
Expanding Your Knowledge with Queen Anne Books
To further explore the captivating world of the Queen Anne architectural style, here are some recommended books:
- The Queen Anne House: America's Victorian Vernacular by Janet Foster (Abrams, 2008): This book showcases 21 houses that draw inspiration from Queen Anne, Shingle, and early Tudor Revival styles, providing endless inspiration.
- Sweetness and Light: The Queen Anne Movement 1860-1900 by Mark Girouard (reprint 1984, Yale Univ. Press): This highly recommended book offers an in-depth exploration of the Queen Anne movement, providing valuable insights into the style's origins and development.
- Creating the Artful Home: The Aesthetic Movement by Karen Zukowski (Gibbs Smith, 2006): Dive into history while finding a creative approach to home-making through the lens of the Aesthetic Movement.
- William Morris: Décor and Design by Elizabeth Wilhide (Pavilion Books, 1997): Explore the iconic work of William Morris and his influence on interior design, featuring beautifully decorated rooms and contemporary interpretations.
So, whether you're an architecture enthusiast or simply captivated by the charm of Queen Anne homes, embrace the unique allure of this architectural style and let it inspire your own living space.
