Victorian Exuberance ~ A coastal Maine Queen Anne style house.
The Walter Wotton House in Friendship, Maine, was built in 1900 at a cost of $1699.96. A black and white photo taken in 1907 shows that the house was originally painted white or another light color with only the porch posts and window sash in a dark accent color, likely dark green or black. This was not a typical paint scheme for the Queen Anne style when these houses were built but shows that there are always exceptions to the rule.
The Queen Anne style is perhaps the most exuberant of the popular Victorian era styles. As seen on this house, the exuberant use of ornament gives the style visual interest and invite closer study even when painted white.
Maintaining or restoring the varied materials of these houses is key to preserving their character. A period color scheme will further enhance the textural and patterned effects intended by the Victorian era designers.
Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” is devoted to helping to identify the character-defining features of a house, prioritize elements to be preserved or restored, and guide changes necessary to make the house serve 21st century lives.
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!
“Restoring Your Historic House is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2026.
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