What Makes A Victorian Home Stand Out?

What Makes A Victorian Home Stand Out

The UK is lucky to have many different examples of period properties. One of the most iconic, however, is the Victorian home, but do you know what features make it obvious that a house is from this period?

A recent article for Anglotopia highlighted some of the main defining features of Victorian properties, with entrance porchways and stained glass doorways among some of the external signs that a home is from this era.

Within a Victorian property, it’s often the high ceilings that people notice first. But you should also make sure you pay attention to the mouldings and other plasterwork on the ceilings and round the tops of the walls.

According to the news provider, “the quality of wall and ceiling ornamentation was directly related to the status of the house”.

That means grand homes would typically feature more ornate and elaborate moulding details, including intricate ceiling roses and ornate coving.

Another feature of Victorian properties is having a fireplace in every room. Even though most of these won’t be in use any longer, they can make a striking central feature to your decor.

It’s been more than a century since the Victorian era came to an end though, so if you purchase a property from this period now you may find that it’s worth spending money on restoring Victorian coving in London, as well as the other ceiling features.

In fact, research from Halifax last month found that renovating or restoring period features was one of the top ten most lucrative home improvement projects to undertake. It came in at number five in the list, adding an estimated £4,731 to the value of a property.

Expert Guide To Traditional Plaster Mouldings

Expert Guide To Traditional Plaster Mouldings

If you want to restore the period charm of your home, knowing and understanding which mouldings and plasterwork to choose to suit the era of the property is essential.

As well as adding to the aesthetic appeal of your home, they help to define the period styles and the status of homes, or even individual rooms. Most mouldings also have practical uses too.

Skirting protects the foot of the wall, and dado rails were originally installed to protect walls from the backs of chairs scraping the wall finishes, Mouldings around doorways, or architraves, also add protection and can turn a mundane opening into a welcoming entrance.

Coving or cornicing mirrors the skirting, and hides joints and cracks between the ceiling and the wall. Ceiling roses and domes tidy the area around the mounting of a light fitting and are generally quite large and circular, placed in the centre of the ceiling.

How to choose mouldings to suit your home

Mouldings can be as ornate or clean as you require, but the key to staying true to the period of your home is to create a balance in the proportions of the mouldings. Large imposing mouldings in a small room will look cluttered, but in a large room, there’s more free reign to be bolder.

It can be worth looking for any signs that might indicate where original mouldings might have been used, for example, finding patched nail holes or parallel lines of paint on the original plaster underneath wallpaper may indicate the position of dado rails.

Georgian

Georgian mouldings can vary considerably. A noticeable feature of this era would be cornices that project as far down a wall as they do across. Wall friezes were also a popular feature. The most ornate mouldings in a home are found in the areas seen by visitors, such as hallways and sitting rooms, as these were designed to impress. 

Victorian

From the 1850s ‘fibrous plaster’ (strengthened with hessian fibres) allowed for large, complex cornices to be cast in one piece prior to fitting. Also used were cheap, lightweight papier mâché ornamental mouldings. Cornice was very ornate, featuring flowers, fruit and vines. Ceiling roses were at their height during this period.

Post-WWI

World War I marked the end of decorative plasterwork in most homes, paving the way for starker, simpler lines, often with a simple cornice and perhaps a matching centrepiece.

Art Deco

Bold, chunky designs are typical of Art Deco, and decorative mouldings are no exception. Strong, stepped designs feature heavily in both skirting boards and cornicing, whilst sweeping yet solid curves were also popular. The materials may also reflect trends of the time, with polished black and white finishes being much sought after.

Materials for mouldings

In Victorian times fibrous plaster became the traditional material for producing mouldings, and it is still popular today for its superior appearance and texture. Plaster is perfect for mouldings, as it can be used for both mass-produced and bespoke designs, and can easily be resized and shaped in the production process.

If you need Victorian coving specialists in London, then get in touch today.

Cracks in Ceiling Plaster

Cracks in Ceiling Plaster

If you spot a crack in the wall or ceiling, it’s bound to cause concern. Maybe it’s a crack that’s just appeared in the old plaster, and you are worried about it signalling structural problems. Or perhaps it’s a hairline crack in new plaster, and could be a sign of poor workmanship.

There are many reasons for a crack to appear, and all of which require different solutions. Attempting to fix it yourself might be tempting to save money, but that could cost a lot more to fix if done incorrectly. A professional plasterwork specialist in London will get it done right the first time.

1. Wall and ceiling cracks

These cracks can run from the wall up to the ceiling and look deep, often found in the corners or above doors. These are the natural result of the house settling.

The majority of these cracks can be taped over and re-plastered back smooth. However, if the crack is fairly wide, it may require further investigation.

2. A discoloured crack

If you see a yellow-brown stain in a straight line across a ceiling, this could indicate a leak. Water may have penetrated a joint in a dry lining ceiling.

The first thing to do is find the source of the leak, otherwise the problem will remain. Once that’s fixed, the joint can be re-taped and plastered to match the ceiling.

3. Ceiling cracks in older properties

Older properties are constantly moving and shifting, either due to settling, or because of expansion or contraction due to temperature differences. This, in turn, can cause rigid plaster to crack in the ceilings.

Small cracks can be filled and repainted, but if the plaster is falling away, then it might require the old plaster to be removed completely, and re-done.

4. Horizontal crack where the ceiling meets the wall

As the temperature changes, the roof trusses tend to pull upwards, which creates tension in dry lining attached to trusses, which becomes the crack.

The simple solution to this is using coving, which is a moulding applied to the angle between the wall and ceiling. This is what coving was created for, and provides an elegant cover-up.

Worried about cracks in ceiling plaster, or wanting Victorian coving for your London period home? Then get in touch today.

Vintage Interior Fixtures ‘Can Create A Unique Home’

Vintage Interior Fixtures ‘Can Create A Unique Home’

Most homeowners want their property to stand out from the rest, but knowing how to achieve this can be difficult, especially if you are short on time and are not blessed with a particularly imaginative or creative mind.

However, the key to making your home truly unique is to incorporate some vintage fixtures and fittings in it, from Victorian coving in London to old-fashioned pieces of furniture.   

Interior design author Keeley Harris believes that every property can be jazzed up by featuring items from the 1920s to the 1970s, as long as they pick the “good design and stand-out style from each of these decades”, instead of choosing the unattractive pieces.

“Your home should be where your heart is; somewhere to invite your friends and family to enjoy life’s milestones. Opting for vintage can create a look as unique as you; so not just a functional space, your home can, and should, reflect your tastes and style perfectly,” Ms Harris told Yorkshire Life.

The Style Me Vintage writer, who also runs an interiors store Discover Vintage in Garforth, said the Art Deco period (1920s-30s) and Mid-century Modern era (1950s-60s) are the most popular.

When it comes to properties, Georgian houses are the most popular, according to a survey by Anglian Home Improvements. The residences, dating between 1714 and 1830, are distinctive with their tall ceilings, three or four storeys, sash windows, and central front door.

They are followed in popularity by Victorian properties (1830 – 1901), which typically have a narrow hallway, stained glass windows, bay windows, fireplaces, coloured brickwork, and a front door to the side of the façade.

The UK's Last Traditional Craftsmen.

The UK's Last Traditional Craftsmen

In 2017, the Heritage Crafts Association published a list of ‘Endangered Crafts’, which identified a heritage craft as “a practice which employs manual dexterity and skill and an understanding of traditional materials, design and techniques, and which has been practised for two or more successive generations”.

To highlight some of the people who keep these traditional crafts alive, The Goodlife Centre announced the first-ever Endangered & Rare Crafts weekend in central London. There will be eight heritage workshops celebrating crafts that are either endangered or taught by tutors with rare-to-find skills. It will take place at their studios in Bankside near Tate Modern from on 25-26 April 2020.

England's traditional crafts are in danger of disappearing, according to the few people still practising them. Clog makers, basket weavers and woodturners have practised their skills for generations but the modern world increasingly has few needs for traditional master craftsmen. Can the skills be passed on to the next generation before it is too late?

If they were to disappear, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to recreate the unique skills behind these centuries-old forms of craftsmanship. As makers of Victorian coving made in London with traditional methods, it’s important to preserve these parts of our artisan history.

Whereas some old trades have fewer uses now, such as swilling, or oak basket making, a skill native to the area around Coniston, in Cumbria, some have had some revival. The rise of microbreweries using traditional techniques has also renewed interest in traditional barrel making, reviving the employment of the UK's few remaining coopers.

Let’s hope these skills and others can be passed on to a new generation, and not be lost and forgotten. If you’re looking for traditional plastering and coving for your Victorian home, then get in touch today.

What Features Make A Property A Period Home?

What Features Make A Property A Period Home?

On the whole, the architecture of England is a mix of different styles, ranging from the stucco-fronted Georgian homes to the ultra modern developments and complexes present in every city. But what are the features that denote your home as being a period property? Victorian coving throughout your home could be a clue, so here’s a guide to other features

With UK house price growth undergoing a 14-month high, it could be beneficial to know how to best market your home, should you be considering selling.

The Georgian period spans from 1714 until 1830, with Late Georgian styles from 1830 to 1837. Properties built in this period were built to be spacious and comfortable, with grand proportions that emphasised a heightened sense of space and light.

It was typical during this era for the first two storeys to be occupied by the owner and their family, while the staff and servants lived on the upper two floors. This is why the rooms in the top storeys are usually smaller, having smaller windows and lower ceilings, in contrast to the elegance of the family home below.

Georgian properties typically had a noticeable feature, the appearance of a bricked up window, which was due to the window tax between 1696 and 1851. The window tax was the equivalent of income tax - the more windows a property had, the greater wealth of the owner.

The window was bricked up as a tax avoidance strategy, reducing the rate of tax that needed to be paid. After the end of the window tax, rather than reinstate the window, many owners decided to leave them as they were.

The style was very much based around symmetry, with the houses appearing rather plain, with simple facades. They were built with brick and stone, later with stucco, and sash windows were a constant feature.

The homes were typically three or four storeys, render painted cream or white on the ground floor during earlier period properties. They had a symmetrical flat appearance, with a balanced layout in the interior, and were often build around garden squares, as most did not have a garden of their own.

Cities such as Glasgow and Manchester have architecture with much stronger links to the Victorian period, to reflect the industrial boom during the reign of Queen Victoria. The gothic revival between 1837 and 1901 meant that homes built around then had a more asymmetric design, with pointed arches and elaborate patterns.

The majority of homes built before the Victorian period were owned by the gentry, or at least wealthy landowners, whereas wealth in the Victorian era was spread across society in the wake of the Industrial Revolution and houses became less grand and more accessible.

This meant that it was necessary to build more homes, which is why the Victorian period is characterised by rows of terraced housing on narrow streets.

Homes from both these eras were constructed for during quality and charm, and the enduring appeal of them is testament to this.

If you’re looking for Victorian coving and plastering specialists in London, get in touch today.

Tilstone House Stately Home Damaged In Fire

Tilstone House Stately Home Damaged In Fire

It’s always so sad to hear about damage being done to period properties of all shapes and sizes and it seems that Cheshire is getting more than its fair share at the moment.

Not only did Lyme Park have to close its doors in August last year because of serious flooding that damaged buildings, paths and roads right across the estate, but now the county’s Tilstone House stately home has just been badly damaged in a serious fire.

According to the BBC, 50 firefighters battled the blaze on Sunday (January 12th), with the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service saying it had spread to all three floors of the 19th century mansion.

Luckily, the house was empty when the fire broke out and no injuries have been reported, but the A51 at Tilstone Fearnall was closed in both directions by police, with water pumped up from the Shropshire Union Canal.

As for Lyme Park, which you may well recognise as the home of Mr Darcy in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, it was the 17 acres of garden that took the most damage during the flooding, with planting, fences and paths all washed away.

We always hate to hear about properties being damaged, whether that’s through fire, flood or simply wear and tear over time. If you have a period property in need of restoration and need particular help with plaster coving, get in touch with the team here at Ovolo to see what we can do to bring your building back into the land of the living.

Pinterest Predicts Interior Design Trends for 2020

Pinterest Predicts Interior Design Trends for 2020

Those looking for plasterwork for their London home should consider the predicted trends for the coming year.

Each year Pinterest publishes its predictions for trends for the coming year based on the trends it has observed in increases in searches in particular areas.

Interior design is one of the areas that it covers, and here are the predictions:

Home theatres

This is one of the biggest potential hits for the coming year, with Pinterest observing a 368% increase in searches last year. Home theatres can be achieved with the introduction of specialised seating, large screens and surround sound technology, as well as adding bars and snack fridges to living areas to enhance viewing experiences.

Audio rooms

Similarly audio rooms are proving popular among pinners with audio rooms experiencing over 800% increase in searches over the past year. This is a great choice for tech buffs who want to listen to their Spotify playlists in style.

Garden rooms

Indoor plants have been a big deal, particularly among millennials, for a number of years now. They are set to be rebooted with a new trend for garden rooms which aim to bring the outdoors inside. Think conservatory style rooms with a focus on living greenery indoors. This experienced a 104% increase in searches over the past year.

Granny pods

Looking at intergenerational living? You aren’t the only one! Searches for Granny pods have increased 159% over the past year, with these end-of-the-garden based units proving hugely popular among many pinners.