 Victorian
Kitchens & Baths
by Franklin Schmidt, Esther Schmidt
Romance is in and Victorian design and
architecture are as popular now as they were when Victorian
was the contemporary style more than a hundred years ago.
Often, people who buy a Victorian home have expertise in antiques
of the era and can furnish a period living room or bedroom,
but they are stymied when it comes to the kitchen and the
bathroom. Victorian Kitchens and Baths solves this common
dilemma by looking at the individual design, decor and architectural
elements that make a room Victorian, offering a myriad of
purist as well as interpretive ideas that can be used and
adapted to fit many homes and tastes.
From the Inside Flap
Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Historic
Victorian Setting the Stage Historic Purity in Twenty-First-Century
Life A Victoriana Kitchen Diary Preston Street Kitchen Appliances:
Evolution after the Revolution Bathrooms: A Short History
City & Country Kitchens Chapter 2: What Makes It Victorian
Borrowing from Other Design Traditions Funny, It Doesn't Look
Victorian Making It the Victorian Way Let Me Count the Ways
Molding, Trim & Wainscoting Millwork Windows: The Eyes
into a Victorian World Stained & Leaded Glass Tile for
Style Ceramic Tile in the Nineteenth-Century Kitchen &
Bath Let There Be Light Lighting for Victorian Kitchens &
Baths Pantries The Evolution & Revival of the Victorian
Pantry Chapter 3: Borrowing Decor from the Parlor Period Kitchen
Re-Do To Remodel or Reinvent: Restoring a Period Kitchen Color
& Pattern How to Design a Kitchen that Looks Historic,
Not Dated Art, Antiques & Collectibles Chapter 4: Contemporary
Victorian The New Victorian Start New, Think Old: Kitchens
& Baths with Soul Flights of Fancy Kitchen Conservatory
My Honey of a Kitchen My Fabulous Kitchen & Bath Resources
About the Author
Franklin and Esther Schmidt are a photography, styling, and
writing team who have photographed and written about hundreds
of homes. Their articles and features have appeared in a variety
of magazines including Architectural Digest, Old House Interiors,
Antiques & Fine Art, Country Home and Country Living.
As field editors for Victorian Homes, Washington, DC, correspondents
for Art & Antiques, and antiques columnists for Country
Accents, they have focused their work on interior design as
it relates to architecture and lifestyle. Franklin and Esther
are also the authors and photographers of Cabin Kitchens &
Baths. They live in Virginia.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission.
All rights reserved.
Romance is in-again-which is probably why Victorian design
and architecture are as popular now as they were from the
middle of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth
century, when Victorian was the contemporary style. The essence
of Victorian design lies in its warm woods, opulence, colors
and patterns. But beyond the look, our continuing draw to
it is based on ties to family histories and memories of past
generations. Houses with turrets, gingerbread and multiple
porches are being bought or built by people with a passion
for preservation, an eye for romantic high style and a love
of the pieces of the past we can make our own. It's a contagious
enthusiasm that doesn't dissipate. Those who buy or build
Victorian often have expertise in antiques of the era and
can knowledgeably furnish a period living room or bedroom,
but when it comes to doing the kitchen or bathroom, they are
stymied. There are also those who are not necessarily aficionados
of Victorian high style, but are drawn to certain elements
that they would like to translate into their more contemporary
homes, particularly in their kitchens and bathrooms. Mid-nineteenth
and early twentieth-century kitchens were almost solely utilitarian
workrooms, the denizen of the servants and not of the family.
Today's kitchen has evolved into a household social center
where work, leisure and entertainment combine to create an
environment that needs to be attractive as well as functional.
Islands, eating nooks, window treatments, artwork and investment
in the most attractive and up-to-date appliances (or the most
effective way of disguising them) can make the kitchen the
greatest financial investment in a house.
Reviews
Victorian Homes Magazine
August 2005
"Victorian Kitchens & Baths –
a new book by husband and wife team, Franklin and Esther Schmidt
… takes readers on a pictorial journey of "Victorian
self rediscovery." Recently released by Gibbs Smith,
the book is a veritable "who’s who" of 19th
century architecture. Sprinkled with informative essays throughout,
and written by a host of authorities on the subject, contributing
authors include Erika Kotite, editor of Victorian Homes magazine,
Bruce Bradbury of Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers;
Dan Mattausch, an internationally recognized 19th-century
lighting expert; and Brent Hull, an expert on historic millwork.
"… the Schmidts have created a volume worthy of
any renovator’s library. Stimulating essays answer questions
the Victorian neophyte might ask about the accuracy of mixing
one style with another, while exquisite photos inspire the
seasoned veteran. Readers are not only led to the river of
great debate that surrounds turn-of-the-century authenticity,
Victorian Kitchens & Baths encourages them to drink, long
and deep."
The Journal News (Westerchester
County, NY)
July 7, 2005 Thursday
LIFE&STYLE; Pg. 3E
Hidden treasures available at Great Finds
"Imagine a setting where a collection
of Victoriana would feel right at home. That can become a
reality, with the help of "Victorian Kitchens & Baths."
The new book, written and photographed by Franklin and Esther
Schmidt, offers tips on combining the historical allure of
Victorian design with today's lifestyles. The book covers
the basics, from choosing wood and lighting to tiles and colors...
Anyone contemplating a decorating project with a Victorian
flavor will want to consult this book."
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
July 2, 2005 Saturday
INSIDE OUT; Home pages; Pg. 13
RECREATING THE GOOD OLD DAYS
Jane Leyens
"Kitchens and
baths -- usually the first rooms to be remodeled --
always pose a challenge when it comes to integrating motifs
and finishes found in the rest of the house.
"Especially in Victorian houses ... seeking the charm
of the old means choosing between reproducing the original
look or having the rooms integrated into the decor...
"Esther and Franklin Schmidt's book addresses just that
topic: how to adapt Victorian ideals to rooms that not only
are purely functional, but also ones that can accommodate
modern conveniences...
"Whether one is remodeling a Victorian house or simply
wants to use period elements in a more modern home, this book
covers all the bases ... They introduce a fresh perspective
on a style rooted in another century."
Kirkus Reports
June 10, 2005
"The Schmidts' photographs are as sharp
as newly honed carving knives, and the research that went
into discovering these rooms must certainly have been formidable…the
Schmidts give copious information on how to go about recreating
Victorian kitchens and baths, while a host of contributing
writers explain all the travails and satisfactions of creating
their own contemporary versions."
Homestyle Books
Club Review
"Whether you want to decorate completely
in the Victorian style or you simply want to add a touch of
this classic style to your kitchen and bath, you’re
sure to find your inspiration here."
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