Exploring Architecture: Discover the Secrets of Edwardian Homes
Airy and light, turn-of-the-century Edwardian architecture simultaneously embraced classic styles and welcomed modernity
Luisa Rollenhagen
18 November 2014
Houzz Contributor. I am a passionate traveler, writer, reader, and debater. My previous haunts have included Buenos Aires, Berlin, New York, and now London. All of these places have introduced me to varied and unique styles of architecture, design, and a certain cultural standard of living, all of which I try to include in my daily work.
I've studied English Literature and Journalism at NYU in New York, and am now continuing to burrow myself into books at Kings College London. I have a socially unfortunate obsession with literature, film, and the newest shiny gadgets. I will nerd out over vintage typewriters and 3-D printers.
Houzz Contributor. I am a passionate traveler, writer, reader, and debater. My previous... More
This series looks at the key architectural styles of British housing stock. From distinctive features to archetypal layouts, discover the elements that give our homes their period character and style.
As the Victorian era drew to a close with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the short but influential reign of King Edward VII marked the beginning of a new era in English architecture, style and society. ‘In the Edwardian era, everything opened up,’ explains Michael Parinchy of Pro Build 360. The beginning of the 20th century also introduced the widespread use of gas and later electricity in most households, changing the way interiors were lit.
Architects, building planners and residents alike were eager to get out of the smoky Victorian industrial cities, leading to the rise of the suburbs. However, Edwardian style also borrowed freely from the eras that preceded it, incorporating neo-Georgian window details and neo-classical decorative touches that we now identify with Art Nouveau and the Arts and Craft movement. Lighter colours and clear lines are typical of an Edwardian home, displaying a decorative shift after the perceived darkness of the Victorian period. ‘You don’t really get a sense of that dark, overtly fussy Victorian style,’ says Rebecca Hayes of Rebecca Hayes Interiors.
As an emerging middle class began to claim its place in English society, rooms for servants became less common in new Edwardian homes. Instead, they were designed with larger halls and living rooms, and an emphasis on air and light dominated. ‘If I walk into a property and it feels very light and airy and sort of open, I’m going to guess it’s Edwardian,’ Michael says.
Below are some of the key features of Edwardian homes.
History at a Glance
What Edwardian architecture, a building style that flourished during the reign of King Edward VII
When 1901-1918
Characteristics Larger spaces and lighter colours than during the Victorian era, a revival of Georgian elements, Art Nouveau details
Professional advice from:
Michael Parinchy of Pro Build 360
Rebecca Hayes of Rebecca Hayes Interiors
As the Victorian era drew to a close with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the short but influential reign of King Edward VII marked the beginning of a new era in English architecture, style and society. ‘In the Edwardian era, everything opened up,’ explains Michael Parinchy of Pro Build 360. The beginning of the 20th century also introduced the widespread use of gas and later electricity in most households, changing the way interiors were lit.
Architects, building planners and residents alike were eager to get out of the smoky Victorian industrial cities, leading to the rise of the suburbs. However, Edwardian style also borrowed freely from the eras that preceded it, incorporating neo-Georgian window details and neo-classical decorative touches that we now identify with Art Nouveau and the Arts and Craft movement. Lighter colours and clear lines are typical of an Edwardian home, displaying a decorative shift after the perceived darkness of the Victorian period. ‘You don’t really get a sense of that dark, overtly fussy Victorian style,’ says Rebecca Hayes of Rebecca Hayes Interiors.
As an emerging middle class began to claim its place in English society, rooms for servants became less common in new Edwardian homes. Instead, they were designed with larger halls and living rooms, and an emphasis on air and light dominated. ‘If I walk into a property and it feels very light and airy and sort of open, I’m going to guess it’s Edwardian,’ Michael says.
Below are some of the key features of Edwardian homes.
History at a Glance
What Edwardian architecture, a building style that flourished during the reign of King Edward VII
When 1901-1918
Characteristics Larger spaces and lighter colours than during the Victorian era, a revival of Georgian elements, Art Nouveau details
Professional advice from:
Michael Parinchy of Pro Build 360
Rebecca Hayes of Rebecca Hayes Interiors
Diverse exterior styles
Red bricks were a prevalent choice for exteriors in Edwardian architecture. However, Edwardian homes would also sometimes feature pebbledash or roughcast walls, a rough plaster exterior created by mixing cement or lime with sand, small pebbles, or gravel. Because this feature has fallen out of fashion, modern renovations tend to smooth them over. Reinforced concrete frames also became commonplace during this era.
Grander country houses would also sometimes feature half-timbered exteriors, which are created by using timber frames for external and internal walls, with the spaces inbetween filled with brick or plaster. ‘The half-timbered exteriors are an influence from the Tudor period and make a home look older,’ says Michael Parinchy. Edwardian mock-Tudor styles were popular for larger country homes.
Red bricks were a prevalent choice for exteriors in Edwardian architecture. However, Edwardian homes would also sometimes feature pebbledash or roughcast walls, a rough plaster exterior created by mixing cement or lime with sand, small pebbles, or gravel. Because this feature has fallen out of fashion, modern renovations tend to smooth them over. Reinforced concrete frames also became commonplace during this era.
Grander country houses would also sometimes feature half-timbered exteriors, which are created by using timber frames for external and internal walls, with the spaces inbetween filled with brick or plaster. ‘The half-timbered exteriors are an influence from the Tudor period and make a home look older,’ says Michael Parinchy. Edwardian mock-Tudor styles were popular for larger country homes.
Panelled doors with Art Nouveau glass
‘The front doors of Edwardian homes are always really interesting,’ Michael Parinchy says.
Rebecca Hayes identifies ‘Masonic doors [wooden doors with carvings above, either in stone or wood, usually with masonic imagery or symbols] and stained glass’ as Edwardian features.
The stained glass would be in an Art Nouveau style, and would be set into the wooden panelled door, and often on the side panels, too.
An elegantly carved wooded porch is also a common sight in Edwardian architecture.
Discover more beautiful front doors.
‘The front doors of Edwardian homes are always really interesting,’ Michael Parinchy says.
Rebecca Hayes identifies ‘Masonic doors [wooden doors with carvings above, either in stone or wood, usually with masonic imagery or symbols] and stained glass’ as Edwardian features.
The stained glass would be in an Art Nouveau style, and would be set into the wooden panelled door, and often on the side panels, too.
An elegantly carved wooded porch is also a common sight in Edwardian architecture.
Discover more beautiful front doors.
Art Nouveau details in general
Front doors weren’t the only features that had Art Nouveau details. Other furniture and accessories, such as lamps and sofas like these, also embraced the modern, ornamental style popularised in the early 20th century. ‘The curved shape of the furniture of that period is reflective of Art Nouveau style,’ explains Rebecca Hayes.
Front doors weren’t the only features that had Art Nouveau details. Other furniture and accessories, such as lamps and sofas like these, also embraced the modern, ornamental style popularised in the early 20th century. ‘The curved shape of the furniture of that period is reflective of Art Nouveau style,’ explains Rebecca Hayes.
Decorative fireplaces
Some fireplaces in Edwardian homes had distinctive Art Nouveau details too. This one features elegantly curved sides with a slight whiplash design carved into the wood.
Discover the right fireplace for your home
Some fireplaces in Edwardian homes had distinctive Art Nouveau details too. This one features elegantly curved sides with a slight whiplash design carved into the wood.
Discover the right fireplace for your home
Polished wooden floors and Persian rugs
Dark, polished wooden floors became widespread in Edwardian homes. ‘Homeowners would have left the floors bare,’ Michael Parinchy says. Today’s floorboards rarely compare to the ones installed during the Edwardian era. ‘They were of an amazing quality,’ Michael says. In order to soften the look, luxurious Persian rugs would be laid in halls and living rooms.
Explore 10 things a rug can do for you
Dark, polished wooden floors became widespread in Edwardian homes. ‘Homeowners would have left the floors bare,’ Michael Parinchy says. Today’s floorboards rarely compare to the ones installed during the Edwardian era. ‘They were of an amazing quality,’ Michael says. In order to soften the look, luxurious Persian rugs would be laid in halls and living rooms.
Explore 10 things a rug can do for you
Floral wallpaper and light walls
Art Nouveau, which embraced floral designs and motifs, would also come to influence wallpaper designs in Edwardian homes, although they would feature more muted patterns, such as the soft florals in this bedroom.
As homes moved away from industrialised centres, Edwardians could afford to decorate their walls in a simple, light and understated style. ‘Walls could be painted white because they weren’t going to get dirty from sooty air,’ explains Michael Parinchy. The advent of electric lighting in homes also saw a decline in the use of candles, thus diminishing the amount of smoke walls would generally be exposed to.
Art Nouveau, which embraced floral designs and motifs, would also come to influence wallpaper designs in Edwardian homes, although they would feature more muted patterns, such as the soft florals in this bedroom.
As homes moved away from industrialised centres, Edwardians could afford to decorate their walls in a simple, light and understated style. ‘Walls could be painted white because they weren’t going to get dirty from sooty air,’ explains Michael Parinchy. The advent of electric lighting in homes also saw a decline in the use of candles, thus diminishing the amount of smoke walls would generally be exposed to.
Neo-Georgian influences
Multi-paned sash windows, popularised in Georgian architecture, made a comeback in Edwardian homes. ‘It was all about the big spaces and getting natural light in,’ Michael Parinchy explains, which is why big sash windows and big patio doors that let in plenty of natural light became popular.
Many Edwardian homes also featured multi-paned leaded windows.
Multi-paned sash windows, popularised in Georgian architecture, made a comeback in Edwardian homes. ‘It was all about the big spaces and getting natural light in,’ Michael Parinchy explains, which is why big sash windows and big patio doors that let in plenty of natural light became popular.
Many Edwardian homes also featured multi-paned leaded windows.
Bay windows and pilasters are also a throwback to the Georgian era. But bays were given a twist. ‘Square bay windows as opposed to round ones became more characteristic of this period,’ says Rebecca Hayes.
Bigger rooms and higher ceilings meant these styles had the space they needed to truly stand out. ‘Lightened wallpapers and natural light allowed these features to be properly shown off,’ adds Michael Parinchy.
Bigger rooms and higher ceilings meant these styles had the space they needed to truly stand out. ‘Lightened wallpapers and natural light allowed these features to be properly shown off,’ adds Michael Parinchy.
Wicker furniture
As international travel increased, styles from across the globe would come to influence English decorating. Wicker and bamboo furniture also became popular choices for an increasingly cosmopolitan society.
As international travel increased, styles from across the globe would come to influence English decorating. Wicker and bamboo furniture also became popular choices for an increasingly cosmopolitan society.
Furniture with a history
Edwardian homes would generally include furniture reminiscent of past styles, particularly baroque and rococo.
Wing chairs, like this one, were quite popular, and generally upholstered in paler colours.
Like a traditional home office or library? Check out more in our photo section.
Edwardian homes would generally include furniture reminiscent of past styles, particularly baroque and rococo.
Wing chairs, like this one, were quite popular, and generally upholstered in paler colours.
Like a traditional home office or library? Check out more in our photo section.
Electric lighting
The increasingly widespread availability of electric lighting in the majority of English households allowed lamps to become more ornate as well as practical, and brought even more light into spacious Edwardian rooms.
Frilled and fringed lampshades would not be an uncommon sight. Tiffany lamps and elegant sculptures on the lamp bases also reflect Edwardian style.
The increasingly widespread availability of electric lighting in the majority of English households allowed lamps to become more ornate as well as practical, and brought even more light into spacious Edwardian rooms.
Frilled and fringed lampshades would not be an uncommon sight. Tiffany lamps and elegant sculptures on the lamp bases also reflect Edwardian style.
Edwardian homes today
Many people renovating Edwardian homes today take full advantage of the style’s penchant for light, airy spaces, and will often enhance this aspect of the building by adding skylights, additional windows or open extensions.
The ground floors of Edwardian homes lend themselves well to vaulted roofs, because of ‘the impressive high ceilings’, says Michael Parinchy. ‘Because they usually have much steeper pitches to their roofs, they also lend themselves well to loft conversions.’
The Edwardians left a strong legacy: their desire to have brighter and airier spaces without losing distinctive details is a trait that has carried through to contemporary design.
TELL US…
Do you live in an Edwardian home? What are your favourite features? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Many people renovating Edwardian homes today take full advantage of the style’s penchant for light, airy spaces, and will often enhance this aspect of the building by adding skylights, additional windows or open extensions.
The ground floors of Edwardian homes lend themselves well to vaulted roofs, because of ‘the impressive high ceilings’, says Michael Parinchy. ‘Because they usually have much steeper pitches to their roofs, they also lend themselves well to loft conversions.’
The Edwardians left a strong legacy: their desire to have brighter and airier spaces without losing distinctive details is a trait that has carried through to contemporary design.
TELL US…
Do you live in an Edwardian home? What are your favourite features? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Edwardian is my favorite era, long overlooked in my opinion. More please.
It has beautiful parquet flooring throughout the ground floor and did have quarry tiles in the kitchen and wooden ornate tall fireplaces near to the ceiling. Whilst the cornices are plain, they are wide in width and moulded with a curve. Still very attractive, albeit it lacks the detail of the Victorian era.
I have just come across this article and I love it! Thank you for summarising the Edwardian features like this, it's so helpful to understand which the history of the those architectural features in my home. Absolutely adore the Edwardian characteristics <3