Victorian Style Homes

Victorian Style Homes in Des Moines, by Des Moines Real Estate Experts RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts

The Victorian style of architecture is made up of many sub-categories.  Three of the more popular styles are the Queen Anne, Shingle, and Stick.  The Queen Anne style is perhaps the most recognizable and most often associated with the Victorian style of architecture.  Homes designed from this period are elaborate and decorative.

It is fairly easy to recognize a Queen Anne style home in the Des Moines area.  First look for fanciful detailing on the exterior of the home.  The outside coverings incorporate different styles and patterns such as what is called gingerbread.  Another popular exterior pattern is called fish scale.  Another tell-tale sign is the use of eclectic materials.  Queen Anne homes are creative and have towers, wings, porches, balconies, and are usually several stories high.

Shingle style homes have wide porches.  The exterior of the home is of course, constructed with shingles.  They are similar to the Queen Anne style of architecture in that the homes are asymmetrical.  However, there is much less ornamentation with shingle style architecture.  This style originates in the Northeast, which might account for the sharply pitched roof line.

The stick style of architecture is similar to the Queen Anne and the shingle styles of Victorian homes.  Stick homes blend parts from the shingle style and the Queen Anne style to create a new look.  The roof line is steep.  Gables will be seen on stick style home roofs.  The roof line overhangs beyond the house.  Although this style uses shingles as an exterior covering, it also incorporates stickwork.  The stickwork separates this style from the other Victorian styles of architecture.  It is this stickwork (boards) that gives this style its name.  The typical stick style of home is found in the Northeast.  Another style of stick architecture can be found out west, especially in California.

Victorian architecture can range from simple to elaborate.

There is a lot of free information available to you about buying, selling or investing in Des Moines real estate. For complete information about the Des Moines real estate market including current homes for sale, property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything Des Moines real estate at Real Estate with RE/MAX. Please feel free to contact us with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and we will be more than glad to answer your questions. Call us at 1-800-708-5890 or email us at dsm@realestateconcepts.net.