C. 1875 Italianate villa in Gardiner, Maine. The Italianate and Gothic Revival styles introduced romantic irregular asymmetrical silhouettes to American homes, with towers, porches, bay windows, and other elements that broke up the simple rectangular box of earlier houses. But, the Italianate style also appeared in restrained cubical form, as in this villa with a low hipped roof on a cubical block topped with a belvedere.
The Italianate style got a toehold before the Civil War, popularized partly by its use for Queen Victoria’s summer retreat Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. It really took off after the war, with examples of the style appearing in all parts of the United States.
Understanding the style of a house will help you identify which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Italianate is one of 25 styles described and illustrated with character-defining features keyed to dozens of color photos in “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2023
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