Welcome to The Victorian Emporium advice
General Advice on Victorian living
Welcome to the General Advice area of The Victorian Emporium. Here you can view and read all of our advice articles on their various subjects.
Our guide to ordering and installing cast iron radiators
Cast iron radiators are expensive items and as such you will want to make sure that you are choosing a suitable radiator that will work effectively and look beautiful, and that installation of your radiators is as problem-free as possible. When you order a cast…
Our guide to ordering and installing cast iron radiators
Cast iron radiators are expensive items and as such you will want to make sure that you are choosing a suitable radiator that will work effectively and look beautiful, and that installation of your radiators is as problem-free as possible.
How can I use Maximalist Design in my house?
“Maximalism replicates the rhythm of nature, where there is variation everywhere” is a rather lovely description by curbed.com of one of our favourite design trends. There is no agreed definition or set of rules for maximalist design so maybe a good place to…
How can I use Maximalist Design in my house?
What does Maximalism mean? “Maximalism replicates the rhythm of nature, where there is variation everywhere” is a rather lovely description by curbed.com of one of our favourite design trends. There is no agreed definition or set of rules for maximalist design so maybe a good place to start is with a look at maximalist meaning’s origins from the wider world. The Cambridge dictionary definition of Maximalist is “taking as much action…
How to choose fabric for your upholstery project
Brocade, Brocatelle, Chenille, Chintz, Damask, Linen, Tapestry, Tartan, Tweed, Velvet, Weaves, Wools to name but a few. There are so many fabulous fabrics; sometimes it’s overwhelming choosing the right one. Although I will be talking about some practical…
How to choose fabric for your upholstery project
Brocade, Brocatelle, Chenille, Chintz, Damask, Linen, Tapestry, Tartan, Tweed, Velvet, Weaves, Wools to name but a few. There are so many fabulous fabrics; sometimes it’s overwhelming choosing the right one. Although I will be talking about some practical considerations when selecting fabric, my intuitive choice is usually the right one. Love the fabric you choose. Upholstery is a hard craft; all that effort needs the perfect top…
Were Victorian houses cold?
Are they cold = No Are they colder than other houses = No Are they more expensive to heat = Yes
Were Victorian houses cold?
Are they cold = No Are they colder than other houses = No Are they more expensive to heat = Yes Were Victorian houses cold? This is a common question asked by people assuming that newer houses are warmer than older houses. The simple answer is that average room temperatures have risen over the years however this is only partly due to the age of the architecture. So the simple answer is that some were and some weren’t cold. A house is…
Are cast iron radiators more expensive to run?
Cast iron radiators can be very beautiful and are available in a wealth of different heights, widths, designs, paint effects and as such generally cost more than their modern steel equivalents. They are also very heavy and each section is hand cast so can have…
Are cast iron radiators more expensive to run?
Cast iron radiators can be very beautiful and are available in a wealth of different heights, widths, designs, paint effects and as such generally cost more than their modern steel equivalents. They are also very heavy and each section is hand cast so can have slightly different characteristics. We often get asked by uncertain customers whether, because of the volume of water they can hold and how heavy they are, are cast iron radiators…
How to install a roll top bath
The bath really is the stand out feature of most bathrooms and a roll top bath is the perfect choice for a period bathroom. There are a lot of different shapes to a roll top bath. For example there is the slipper bath with one high end, the oval bath with both…
How to install a roll top bath
The bath really is the stand out feature of most bathrooms and a roll top bath is the perfect choice for a period bathroom. There are a lot of different shapes to a roll top bath. For example there is the slipper bath with one high end, the oval bath with both ends at equal heights, the bath that is flat at one end or on one side and therefore supposed to be positioned against one wall. Are roll top baths comfortable? This is a really…
How to restore a Victorian fireplace
Fireplaces can be beautiful centrepieces in all rooms of your Victorian house but they are enhanced incredibly as a period feature if they work and provide a source of heating too. We'll help you achieve that with this article which focuses on bringing your…
How to restore a Victorian fireplace
Fireplaces can be beautiful centrepieces in all rooms of your Victorian house but they are enhanced incredibly as a period feature if they work and provide a source of heating too. We'll help you achieve that with this article which focuses on bringing your Victorian fireplaces back to life. It would be unusual to have a working fireplace in a bedroom nowadays as people typically want their bedrooms to be cooler than their reception…
How to create a Victorian bedroom
The first distinguishing feature that defines a Victorian bedroom is that it would have a fireplace, unlike this room in both the period before and the period after. In the preceeding periods, inhabitants would rely on thick blankets to keep warm and later in…
How to create a Victorian bedroom
The first distinguishing feature that defines a Victorian bedroom is that it would have a fireplace, unlike this room in both the period before and the period after. In the preceeding periods, inhabitants would rely on thick blankets to keep warm and later in history, on cast iron radiators and electric heaters. The location of this fireplace may determine where the furniture will sit comfortably so that the fireplace can be viewed as an…
Source Period Features to Recreate a Victorian Interior
At The Victorian Emporium, we offer a service which helps you source period features and products needed in order to recreate a Victorian interior you may have seen and wished to reproduce in your own home or indeed on a film, TV or photographic set.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Owning a Victorian Home
Owning a Victorian home is a responsibility. It existed long before you did and will probably be around well beyond the date of your death. For these precious architectural beings, you should see yourself as merely the custodian/caretaker, tasked with looking…
The Do’s and Don’ts of Owning a Victorian Home
Owning a Victorian home is a responsibility. It existed long before you did and will probably be around well beyond the date of your death. For these precious architectural beings, you should see yourself as merely the custodian/caretaker, tasked with looking after the property until it becomes someone else’s.