Elaborate design was the hallmark of The Victorian Home during the Victorian era in North America. Full-color photos show why houses of this period were often called "painted ladies" due to their ornate woodwork, colorful exterior, and lace trimmed windows. Rich illustrations show how Victorian values and tastes were reflected in the design of:
• the basement, which contained the kitchen and the dining room
• the first floor parlor for lavish entertaining
• the upper floors where people slept
• nursery, servants' quarters, and the scandalously secretive water closet