18 Victorian Homes We Love

Not every Victorian home fits the over-the-top stereotype. Although many do have fancy cornices, corbels, cupolas, and extensive trim, others, like this handsome house, are more simply adorned. You won't find extravagant ornamentation on this mint-colored abode, recently redesigned by Martinkovic Milford Architects. Yet, though the home is minimalist in comparison with some of its Victorian brethren, each thoughtful flourish on this house makes a grand gesture. From the gilded details and patterned bargeboard to the intricate ironwork above the garage door, the property's striking details quietly convey the grandeur of the Victorian era.

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Perched on Humboldt Bay, this blushing pink Victorian has an air of romance typical of the period. The home's graceful turrets, bay windows with fanciful cornices, and intricate front porch pillars are an excellent example of the Queen Anne architectural style, while the gently sloping cupola atop the prominent turret seems to draw inspiration from the iconic onion domes of Russian architecture. Built as a wedding present for its first residents in 1889, this home has since earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, so it should be around to delight people for years to come.

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This canary yellow nest typifies the distinguished Queen Anne-style homes that line the Silk Stocking Historic District in Galveston. Its sunny color palette aside, the home also makes a bold statement with its painstakingly maintained architectural details. A fanciful covered porch, prominent bay windows, pronounced eaves, and the hypnotic radial pattern of the gable vents make the historic property a sight to behold.

All four of the picturesque Queen Anne-style properties that make up this row of Victorians known as "the Four Seasons" are must-see architectural spectacles. Yet this particular four-story property sets itself apart from its neutral-colored neighbors with its winter-inspired design elements. Navy siding creates a striking background for the second-story carved snowflake centerpiece, and an interior marble staircase lends the Victorian home evergreen charm.

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Built in 1892, this meticulously maintained Seattle home epitomizes the Queen Anne architectural style that enjoyed its heyday between 1880 and 1910. An unconventional color scheme of yellow and salmon, elaborate dormers and gables, whimsical fish-scale shingles, and a turret topped with a steep cupola paint a pretty picture of life in the old Pacific Northwest.

Lovers of historic homes will recognize this sprawling house, redesigned by Degnan Design Group, as an illustration of all things Victorian. The roof encompasses a mountain range of dormers, cupolas, and other architectural flourishes. Above them all, a widow's walk—a railed roof platform—serves the practical purpose of granting access to the chimney and rooftop while adding an air of elegance. 

The mellow yellow exterior of this two-story property in the Deep South lacks nothing in the way of embellishments. Lacy railings frame the facade while widow's walks and a Juliet balcony add romance. Hooded windows along the upper stories unify the distinct wings of this grand structure. 

This iconic home, which appeared in the acclaimed 1986 flick Crimes of the Heart, is a perfect blend of drama and romance. Known as the Northrop House, the Victorian structure pairs a serious square cupola and dormer with playful features like pink paint, gingerbread detailing, and a whimsical detached gazebo. The end result resembles an intricately carved dollhouse brought to life.

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Built in 1900, this bold blue and plum Queen Anne-style Victorian is one of the oldest and most distinguished residents of the Buena Vista neighborhood in San Francisco. At 7,600 square feet, it's also one of the largest, with architectural flourishes that make as big a statement as the home's size. The expansive windows, fanciful dormers, and a staggering three-story spindle-like tower capped with a steeply pitched cupola are enough to make jaws drop.

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The tiered, wedding-cake-like construction of this Victorian is a fine example of the Second Empire architectural movement, which stretched from 1852 to 1870. In keeping with the tastes of its time, which called for unrestrained embellishments, the property boasts a mansard roof with elaborate cresting, generous eaves supported by corbels, and tall windows with narrow louvered shutters.

Converted back into a single-family home from a beloved bed-and-breakfast, this Victorian estate was born of the Eastlake Movement, an offshoot of the Queen Anne style introduced by architect Charles Eastlake. In keeping with the Eastlake appetite for bold angles, the home's steeply pitched roofs, protruding dormers, and Eastlake's own favorite feature—an abundance of spindles—present a geometric appearance.

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Discover and admire beautiful and innovative home architecture, from grand Victorians to quaint cabins and all the styles in between. Take a look at the latest images and inspiration!