Ah, summer. For many of us, it’s our favorite season, and one that in the dead of winter feels like it will never arrive. But what was summer like in the past? If you could take a time machine and travel back 100 or 115 years, what would you see? Upon arriving in the past, […]
Bathroom and Kitchen Tech at the Turn of the 20th Century
In real estate, bathrooms and kitchens often make or break a sale. In the late 19th century, indoor plumbing was becoming commonplace, and homes were increasingly becoming electrified. This meant that kitchens and bathrooms were, perhaps for the first time, an important consideration when buying or renting a home. Bathroom Tech When bathing and toilet […]
Victorian Architecture: Gothic Revival and Italianate
The architecture that is most commonly associated with the Victorian age, especially the Victorian mansion, is Gothic Revival. Italianate also was common at the time. Both styles are very distinctive, making it easy to tell the age of a building. Let’s take a look at each: Gothic Revival Gothic Revival get its name from Gothic architecture […]
Building a Home in 1910: Turn-of-the-Century Floor Plans
In my continuing effort to study and immerse myself into the early 20th century, I recently finished reading 1000 Turn-of-the-Century Houses. The book is a collection of floor plans from the late 1890s and early 1900s. The floor plans were all drawn by a St. Louis architect named Herbert Chivers. He compiled them into a […]
Practical Yet Beautiful: Sewing Rooms in the Early 20th Century
Many traditional needlecrafts such as needlepoint, embroidery, knitting, sewing and crocheting are making a comeback. Today, these needlecrafts are pursued as hobbies, but a century ago women learned these skills as part of their education. This was especially true before the advent of mass-produced, ready-to-wear fashions. Even after clothing could be purchased in stores, these […]
Music to My Ears: The Importance of Music Rooms at the Turn of the 20th Century
Today, we live in a society where schools are cutting arts and music education programs. A century ago, however, music education was considered important, and every family that could afford it owned a piano. Some homes even had dedicated music rooms. Before the advent of radio and later television, playing music and singing was one […]
Sears, Roebuck Home Builder’s Catalogue: Home Decorating 101
When was the last time you read a catalogue cover to cover? Well, that’s exactly what I have been doing over the past several days. The catalogue I am reading is the Sears, Roebuck Home Builder’s Catalogue from 1910. I purchased the catalogue from Dover Publications as a research book. What better way to picture […]