Victorian Kitchens & Baths

Touring through both historic and contemporary Victorian-style kitchens and bathrooms, authors Franklin and Esther Schmidt highlight individual design, décor and architectural elements that make a room distinctly Victorian. Filled with specific tips from experts in the field, Victorian Kitchens & Baths shows how to arrive at the extraordinary finished product through details on molding, trim and wainscoting; windows; tiles; lighting; pantries; colors, patterns and textiles; art, antiques and collectibles; and much more.

Diverse and exquisite, these rooms will appeal to aficionados of Victorian high style as well as those who wish to translate certain elements into their more contemporary kitchens and bathrooms. Reflective of the largest possible variety of locale, income level and style of the Victorian sensibility, this book gives myriad design possibilities for any type of home.

About the Authors Franklin and Esther Schmidt are a photography, styling, and writing team who have photographed and written about hundreds of homes. They have traveled to almost every state, producing articles and features for major magazines. Their work is featured in a variety of books as well as Architectural Digest, Old House Interiors, Antiques & Fine Art, Country Home and Country Living. As field editors for Victorian Homes, Washington, DC, correspondents for Art & Antiques, and antiques columnists for Country Accents, they have focused their work on interior design as it relates to architecture and lifestyle.

Romance is in and Victorian design and architecture are as popular now as they were when Victorian was the contemporary style more than a hundred years ago. Often, people who buy a Victorian home have expertise in antiques of the era and can furnish a period living room or bedroom, but they are stymied when it comes to the kitchen and the bathroom. Victorian Kitchens and Baths solves this common dilemma by looking at the individual design, decor and architectural elements that make a room Victorian, offering a myriad of purist as well as interpretive ideas that can be used and adapted to fit many homes and tastes.

Victorian Kitchens & Baths is conveniently divided into four sections: Historic Victorian Kitchens and Baths, What Makes It Victorian, Borrowing Decor from the Parlor, and Contemporary Victorian Bathrooms and Kitchens. Focusing on historical and contemporary elements, Franklin and Esther Schmidt have created a book that appeals to serious aficionados and collectors of Victoriana as well as those who are simply interested in using certain Victorian-style elements in their contemporary homes. Full-color photography, sidebars from professionals, and decorating information accompany a huge range of projects and offer fresh information.

Product experts--and Victorian-era specialists--offer their unique perspectives, tips and ideas, including Erika Kotite, board member of the Victorian Society in America and editor of Victorian Homes magazine; Patty Poore, editor of Old House Interiors; and Florine McCain, editor of Victorian Decorating.

Franklin and Esther Schmidt are a photography, styling, and writing team who have photographed and written about hundreds of homes. Their articles and features have appeared in a variety of magazines, including Architectural Digest, Old House Interiors, Antiques & Fine Art, Country Home and Country Living. As field editors for Victorian Homes, Washington, D.C., correspondents for Art & Antiques, and antiques columnists for Country Accents, they have focused their work on interior design as it relates to architecture and lifestyle. Franklin and Esther are also the authors and photographers of Cabin Kitchens & Baths (Gibbs Smith, 2004). They live in Virginia.

Library Journal

Whether authentically restoring a Victorian house or just wanting to add Victorian touches to a newly constructed abode, both amateur and professional designers will find a wealth of practical information here. Focusing on the Victorian decorating style in the United States from the mid-1800s to the first years of the 20th century, the Schmidts (Cabin Kitchens & Baths) explain the lifestyles, fashions, and technological advances in homes during that time. They give an overview of the style in bathrooms and kitchens, then turn to those who have particular experience in the field, such as tile expert David Malkin and designer and architectural historian Robert Esposito, who shares his experience with restoring a Victorian home. The one drawback is the lack of an index. Still, the book is highly recommended to public libraries for its comprehensive coverage and usefulness. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Franklin and Esther Schmidt are a photography, styling, and writing team who have photographed and written about hundreds of homes. Their articles and features have appeared in a variety of magazines including Architectural Digest, Old House Interiors, Antiques & Fine Art, Country Home and Country Living. As field editors for Victorian Homes, Washington, DC, correspondents for Art & Antiques, and antiques columnists for Country Accents, they have focused their work on interior design as it relates to architecture and lifestyle. Franklin and Esther are also the authors and photographers of Cabin Kitchens & Baths. They live in Virginia.