If you are looking at buying a new home, consider buying a beautiful older Gothic revival home. Gothic revival became popular in North America around the mid to late 19th after gaining a following in England in the late 18th century. The style is influenced greatly by churches and cathedrals built in the iconic high-reaching style of the medieval Gothic period.
Homes built in Gothic revival style tend to be two or more stories tall with a sharply pitched irregular shaped roofline. They are easily recognized by their tall arched or pointed windows, often in leaded glass. Other types of accent windows that are quite common in Gothic revival are cloverleaf or quatrefoil shaped ones. Some Gothic styled homes have all wood siding but stone and brick elements are also very common. Multiple chimneys are also a common feature of Gothic revival, sometimes single chimneys are found, but also in evidence are groupings of chimneys as well.
Inside Gothic revival homes there are also some distinctive elements; crown molding and chair rails are used extensively, while wood cabinetry is also very common. Flooring in these types of homes is most often hardwood, or ceramic tile, with real linoleum in the kitchens and other rooms as well.
Gothic revival homes are best decorated with an eye towards rich deep colours, textures and patterns. Victorian type furnishings are commonly used for Gothic revival homes, with their rich colours, luxurious upholstery, and classic styling. Curtains used to decorate these types of homes were heavy and sewn from rich fabrics. Many homes had ornate wallpapers used to decorate the walls.
As lovely as these Gothic revival homes are to look at, owning them isn’t always such a dream. Due to the age of these homes—excluding the modern-built ones, of course—there can be a variety of problems to deal with when preparing these homes to live in. Make sure that you get a thorough inspection so that structural issues are pointed out. Old wiring and plumbing should be inspected as well to anticipate any problems that might arise. As well, look for dry rot or termite damage if that is a problem in your area.
While you should always be a little cautious when buying an older house, particularly one that may be a hundred years old or more, consider what that home can be like once you’ve settled into it and really made it your own. Not many homes built these days carry the same kind of old-world charm and character as a beautiful Gothic revival home.
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