Cami Grace makes a great illustration of the architectural term “Folk Victorian”.

“What is a Folk Victorian ?” Here is a pretty clear explanation I love from abouthome.com:

“Life was simple before the age of railroads. In the vast, remote stretches of North America, families built no-fuss, square, T or L-shaped houses in the Folk style.

Simple Folk Style Farmhouse

 “But the rise of industrialization made it easier and more affordable to add decorative details to otherwise simple homes. Decorative architectural trim could be mass produced. As the railroads expanded, factory-made building parts could be sent to far corners of the continent.

Folk Victorian Farmhouse

“Also, small towns could now obtain sophisticated woodworking machinery. A crate of scrolled brackets might find its way to Kansas or Wyoming, where carpenters could mix and match the pieces according to personal whim or, according to what happened to be in the latest shipment.

Victorian Trim

“Many Folk Victorian houses were adorned with flat, jigsaw cut trim in a variety of patterns. …With their spindles and porches, some Folk Victorian homes may suggest Queen Anne [Victorian] architecture. But unlike Queen Annes, Folk Victorian houses are orderly and symmetrical houses. They do not have towers, high ceilings, or bay windows.”

Queen Anne Victorian Style 

So the Folk Victorian was basically a simple house from the last half of the 1800’s to the early 1900’s that was trying to dress up like the fancy Victorian houses rich people of the same era owned.

Think of it kinda like a little girl dressing up in her mommy’s clothes and jewelry. It isn’t quite as elegant, but it is really cute.

Hope you learned a little about architecture and got a kick out of our illustration.