The c. 1885 Keyhole House in Natchez, Mississippi.
The Queen Anne style Keyhole House is a design by Knoxville, TN, architect George F. Barber, who published house design books from which people could order blueprints.
In 1887, Barber published the “Cottage Souvenir No. 1,” which contained 17 house plans. A second edition contained 59 houses and plans for barns, a chapel, a church, storefronts, and pavilions. Around 1895, Barber began publishing a magazine, “American Homes,” which advertised the firm’s latest house plans and offered tips on landscaping and interior design. Many of the designs had multiple examples built across the country.
The house was recently for sale, and my friends Laine and Kevin Berry of Our Restoration Nation did a video tour of this house on their YouTube channel. Take a look at the interior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcuR3Eu1uVg
Understanding the style of a house is the essential first step in developing a restoration plan that prioritizes the preservation and restoration of character-defining features while making changes to accommodate modern life.
More than 50 full-color photos illustrate the Queen Anne style in Chapter 2 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 on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
#antiquehome #antiquehomes #traditionalarchitecture #historicalhomes #historicalhouse #historic #oldhousecharm #oldhome #oldhouse #preservation #preserveourhistory #houseandgarden #homerestoration #houserestoration #ownapieceofhistory #vintagehome #architecturelover #restoringyourhistorichouse #yourhistorichome #restoration #houserehab #historicpreservation #queenannestyle #victorianstyle