your period house your period home
The Edwardian era was a period of revivalism, taking ideas from the mediaeval and Georgian periods, among others. The ethos of eclectic designers had won; houses mixed and matched many influences.
The Edwardian period was from 1901 to 1910, the reign of King Edward VII, although in architectural style, it effectively means through to 1918.
The Queen Anne style remained in vogue into the early Edwardian period. The influence of the Arts and Crafts movement meant that vernacular traditions remained but new styles were adopted, including a new version of English 18th century classical, in other words neo-Georgian. The wealthier patrons of architects and designers persisted with French classical styles, particularly Louis XVI.
In the years between 1910 and 1914, the middle classes were happy to pick and mix Louis XVI influences, Elizabethan panelling, Tudor beams, Arts and Crafts, as well as Moorish influences.
House designs of these first few years of the 20th century were:
Writers continued to attack this jumble and looked for a new national style. However, pure Arts and Crafts products were too expensive and not available in sufficient quantity. Many furniture and building products were therefore machine-made, influenced by Arts and Crafts styles. For example the mock Tudor cottage look, sometimes called the 'Quaint' style, appeared from the late 1890s but was scorned by 1910. Needless to say, it persisted, and has continued to the present day.
The battles between the designer camps continued; Art Nouveau - and its Scottish variation - was reviled by Voysey and Walter Crane.
Houses had wider frontages so there was often more room for a hall; in larger houses this was even used as a living room. For example it would be furnished with a desk and perhaps even a fireplace.
The underlying themes of buildings and interior design of the Edwardian era were for expensive simplicity and sunshine and air. Colours and detailing were lighter than in the late 19th century, looking back to the Georgian era of a century before. The desire for cleanliness continued. As gas and then electric light became more widespread, walls could be lighter as they did not get so dirty and looked better in the brighter light. Decorative patterns were less complex; both wallpaper and curtain designs were more plain.
There was less clutter than in the Victorian era. Ornaments were perhaps grouped rather than everywhere. Displays of flowers were placed to complement the floral fabrics and wallpapers.