Then & Now ~ 1960s and 2020s. In 1967, this beautiful Italianate style townhouse in San Francisco received one of the first exuberant psychedelic paint schemes that became a trend in the city during that period. The photo was taken in 1973 by Judith Lynch, who documented the restoration of many Victorian houses taking place then. Many of her photos can be found on OpenSFHistory.org.
While not authentic to the 19th century, the funky 1960s paint schemes drew attention to the houses and helped protect them at a time when more than 6,000 Victorian houses in the city were being demolished for “Urban Renewal.”
This appreciation of Victorian architecture as part of the San Francisco counterculture of the era coincided with the passage of the federal Historic Preservation Act that put the brakes on the wholesale demolition of historic neighborhoods across the country. As the “Painted Ladies” of San Francisco became famous, communities across the U.S. followed in rediscovering the beauty and value of their Victorian era homes.
Italianate is one of 25 styles and types described and illustrated with hundreds of color photos in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.” Exterior and interior painting are covered in depth as well.
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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