Victorian Gingerbread Architecture

In the second installment of gingerbread houses I thought it would be fun to learn about the term gingerbread used with Victorian architecture.  Victorian styled houses are generally described as styles built between 1860-1900.  Victorian gingerbread is a term given to Queen Anne "spindled" style. This architectural style is defined as having delicate turned porch posts and lacy ornamental spindles.  Here is a few examples of the ornate details. 

             I love the round window above and the spindles that make a drape effect on the right upper window. I am showing a few pink houses because I am joining in on my first blog party named Pink Saturday hosted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

                      I love porches and these are just awesome to me.

I  love the windows on the house below and how the house is situated on the corner.

So far I have shown only pink gingerbread style houses, but there are many other colors used in this type of architecture. In fact if you use three or more contrasting colors on the outside of this style house it would qualify as a "Painted Lady." The other requirements to be considered a painted lady is that it must display a balance and harmonious blend of architecture and color. The colors must bring out the decorative embellishments of the house. As many as eleven colors have been used on one house.

Above is an authentic painted lady located in Illinois. 

In the picture above you can see how the intricate embellishments are painted. It is interesting to me that the movable part of the window is painted a different color than the window frame.

 

Hope you enjoyed this post. I would love to hear from you and make new friends in my new venture in blogging. Seasons Greetings to all.