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Influences and style
To achieve an authentic Georgian house style when building or decorating your Georgian dollhouse it is important to understand the influences and style during this period from around 1714 to 1830. During the Georgian period people really started to take an interest in fashion and interiors. The upper classes often enjoyed a Grand Tour of Europe for a year or two and during this time they were heavily influenced by the fashion and interior design they saw on their travels. This influence also extended to the design and style of the Georgian dollhouse. Other major influences included the architecture of Inigo Jones and the Orient.
The style of the era was centered around delicate color schemes and woodwork, delicate furniture, harmony, balance and a sense of light and airiness in the rooms.
Characteristics of a Georgian dollhouse
The most popular color combinations have evolved from the heavier burgundy, sage green and blue grays of the early Georgian period to much lighter greens, blues and dark pinks. The floors of Georgian houses were typically bare planks covered with oriental rugs. Or, if the property had been more exclusive, the floor would have been a light colored stone or marble.
For a true Georgian effect the dollhouse walls should be paneled up to the nut rail and then painted or papered over.
Repetitive patterns in the wallpaper such as clovers and far eastern designs were very popular. The wallpaper also reflected the trend for block printing towards the end of the Georgian era and featured simple and bold geometric patterns such as squares and stripes.
Cotton with a delicate floral pattern was the preferred fabric for furnishing fabrics. It was important to match the sofas, armchairs and curtains, and the latter were often adorned with pagoda-style valances. Often armchairs and sofas were protected with loose covers made of cheap striped linen and these were removed to entertain special occasions. Georgian lighting featured chandeliers made of glass, metal, and wood, as well as wall lights in brass, silver, or silvery wood. In less expensive properties, the luminaires were often made of pewter or tin.
The furniture was delicate, such as winged chairs and chairs with circle or shield backs.
Georgians loved their fireplaces and the grander the house, the more elegant and eye-catching the fireplace! Edges carved with festoons and shells were an indication of wealth and status. Ornaments and pictures were usually grouped around the fireplace to emphasize the fireplace’s importance as the focal point of the room.
Ceiling moldings often consisted of elaborate ribbons and festoons, classical figures and urns.
Georgian front doors generally had center knobs positioned at waist height and no letterboxes. There was often a filigree lunette with a canopy and pediments. The original Georgian properties had sash windows and shutters.
Learn more about Georgian dollhouses and Julie-Ann’s Dolls Houses miniatures
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