Victorian Plan Book Houses ~ Cottage Number 12 from John Riddell’s “Architectural Designs for Model Country Residences,” published in Philadelphia in 1861.
Tens of thousands of houses in America were built using plans published in architectural plan books in the 19th and early 20th century. It is likely there are versions of this design in many towns and cities.
This house was to be built of brick with a roughcast (stucco) exterior finish. The text includes notes on construction and finishes, indicating that all the interior trim was to be painted (“the tints being selected by the owner”) and only the newel, handrail, and balusters on the stair were to be finished with varnish. Principal rooms were to have plaster cornices and ceiling centerpieces with marble mantels in the parlor and dining room.
These period plan books can be helpful to restorers. The odds of finding the actual design for your own house are low but the color renderings, plans, and construction notes provide information about what was typical of the period. This can help determine what is appropriate for your house if historic features are missing or damaged.
Other approaches to answering such questions are covered in Chapters 2 and 3 of “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 online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
“Restoring Your Historic House is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2024.
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