9The most charming homes of the later Victorian era were a sight to behold, from their complex structures to their ornate crafted details. Inside this book, you can take a look back to the 1880s and 1890s, when many elaborately-decorated houses were built in America.

These 44 authentic antique home designs have all been drawn in the perspective view - how they would look in a natural setting, or as may have been seen in a drawing of a home for sale. Many of these houses include wonderful wide porches and balconies, cupolas, turrets and towers, steep roofs, shingles, and ornate moldings and trim.

Broadly, the homes in this book are in the Queen Anne style, with many in the Stick or Eastlake style, though some may be considered Folk Victorian, with "gingerbread house" (bargeboard/vergeboard) detailing. Most of these houses were built from wood, with many different textures, patterns, carvings and other ornamentation incorporated into the design.

But what about the color? In addition to the creative, crafty styles of architecture, advances in manufacturing made a spectrum of paint shades affordable, and the homes that remain from this time are often vividly colored.

While fans of Victorian architecture will likely admire each stunning image, these elaborate illustrations will be of special interest to experienced colorists thanks to the beautifully-detailed originals. The homes from this age that remain standing today are considered historic treasures - which is all the more reason for you to explore these magnificent pieces of America's architectural past.