893C, Woodlands Drive 50

VICTORIAN STYLE AND ITS KEY CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

The Victorian interior design draws its roots from the Industrial Revolution which had a dramatic impact on design during the era, increasing the prosperity of the middle class and allowing them to improve and upgrade the decor of their homes. Many chose to use architecture and furnishings that had previously only been available to the aristocracy and the upper class. In these homes, the owners crammed as many pieces of furniture, fabrics, and accessories as possible into a room, due to both an attempt to showcase new cultural interests, prosperity, and status, as well as the fashionable belief that bareness in a room was a sure sign of poor taste.

Victorian style in the early stages of its development was in the form of bulky interior with a mass of bizarre patterns and ornaments. Furniture had a pretty massive look and lots of carved ornaments also. But over time, this style has become different with a sense of proportion. Though the echoes of the old motifs can still be found. Victorian style is perfectly combined with elements of the Rococo, which is characterised by pastel colours, furniture with curved, carved headboards. Here you can find the Gothic in the form of massive metal chandeliers, metal cabinet knobs.

The design of Victorian style is, among other, built on a combination of walls, ceilings in pastel colours (cream, pale yellow, light green, etc.) with the warm tones of the parquet and furniture typical for the classic style.

Interior of the kitchen in a Victorian style determines, first of all, the presence of a massive table in the centre of the room. Kitchen lighting provides a massive chandelier and several additional lamps. And of course, the walls and the furniture should be of soft, quiet tones. Fewer textiles on the windows.

COLOURS:

Victorian interior design colours are warm and subdued, and include soft colours on grey or cream backgrounds, deep rich walnut and mahogany browns, black, and shades of teal, plum, aubergine, must ardy yellows and golds, burgundy, rust, blue, green (think sage and olive, not mint) and “dusty” hues like “ashes of roses” and a subdued shade of lavender.

FABRICS:

Choose from a wide variety of period reproduction and vintage fabrics and trims from printed floral chintzes and toiles to silk damasks and velvets.

PATTERNS:

Complex patterns often cover every surface of a Victorian home. From multiple wallpapers to luxurious fabrics and Oriental rugs, Victorian interior design uses patterns lavishly throughout the home. Patterns range from flora and fauna to geometric patterns, stripes, damasks, and more.Patterns: Complex patterns often cover every surface of a Victorian home. From multiple wallpapers to luxurious fabrics and Oriental rugs, Victorian interior design uses patterns lavishly throughout the home. Patterns range from flora and fauna to geometric patterns, stripes, damasks, and more.

FURNITURES:

Furniture is typically opulent. Excess can often be considered synonymous with Victorian interior design. Furniture and accessories should be elaborate and range from delicate to massive. Extravagantly ornate decorations, china, lace, stained glass, flowers, busts, souvenirs, framed paintings or prints, multi-layered window treatments, richly patterned fabrics, and accessories galore should be used liberally throughout the house. Restraint is not part of Victorian interior design.

OTHER FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENTS:

High quality, reliability and high cost of interior items;
Presence of the old classical subjects in the interior;
respectability, sense of proportion in all the interior details;
The interior of each room is made in a single style, but most often it is the execution of interior items in several styles;
Colour of furniture ranges from burgundy to different shades of brown tones that are made of precious wood accompanied by high-end genuine leather;
Heavy drapes, made from the finest quality of curtain fabrics, always in harmony with tulle lace curtains.

THOUGHTS FROM OUR INTERIOR DESIGNER:

I was super stoked and excited. Enthusiastic would be the right word! For this particular project, I had always been an avid lover of all things Victorian ever since I’ve started my career as an Interior Designer, about a decade ago. 9 years to be precise – haha!

The moment I met up with my potential client Firdaus Khan, we dived straight into the core design aspects and as I received his input on what was on his mind – I was ecstatic! So, from there I gave my suggestions and proposed a couple of designs – right off my head at that point in time from the given floor plan of their home. To my surprise, they had no obligations whatsoever and was given the look of what I feel was their approval. And I was right about my gut as we did not have any revisions for my initial proposed ideas.

The clients gave me their utmost trust – because they mentioned that they themselves had traveled to Europe in their time and was so in awe of the Victorian concepts that they chanced upon during their time there. So I presumed that they knew whatever I had proposed to them, was the real deal and was in sync with the Victorian theme.

SO COULD YOU SHARE WITH US WHY VICTORIAN?:

From my past experience, having been in this industry for 9 years, the Victorian theme is a tough one, scarce and not many people are willing to give this style a shot. Given its elegant and classy look, I guess it’s primarily due to the paramount of hard work/homework one has got to do before jumping into this particular style. As it may seem pretty easy to achieve at first glance, however in actual fact – it is really the opposite. I’ve completed at least 7 other Victorian themed homes and it’s safe to say that I have sufficient knowledge and considerable well-versed with this style on Interior Decor.

WHAT WAS THE PROCESS LIKE?:

The entire process is somewhat or rather a little bit tedious due to its nature. Victorian style has an insane amount of intricate details. Which is why I mentioned that it is a little more laborious than the usual. All that fine craftsmanship is painstakingly done slow and steady.

WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES THAT YOU FACED? (IF ANY):

Mainly from the styling of all the home accessories and synchronization of decors. Every little single detail has to be in sync with the Victorian theme – that was my best advice I gave to my clients as I aided them along the way and lucky for me, they were open to ideas and was never once difficult about things! I’m blessed.