From 1880 to 1910, the Queen Anne style so completely dominated Victorian residential architecture that it has become synonymous with the word "Victorian" for many people. Queen Anne style homes represent an exuberant collection of eclectic details. Gables, bay windows, towers and various textures all come together in unexpected ways to create harmony.
The Queen Anne Home
essential elements
Essential Style Elements
Queen Anne homes feature textured surfaces, decorative patterns of wood or stone, and various colors of shingles and slate. They feature elaborate decorative trim, stained glass and an array of colors. These homes are typically two, three or more stories, with cantilevered upper stories and include towers, turrets, porches, balconies and bay windows.
Quintessential Windows
Like most homes in the Victorian style, Queen Anne style houses have tall, double-hung windows. One way Queen Anne homes differ from Victorian, however, is that double-hung windows in the Queen Anne style are far more likely to have the upper sash decorated with art glass or with a decorative grille pattern combined with colored glass. Windows in Queen Anne style homes are often paired or tripled.
Quintessential Doors
Main entry doors are simple, rectangular, raised-panel doors and often have mail slots. Typically, transom windows with art glass are used above the doors. Frequently, the upper half of the doors also includes art glass. Side doors, back doors and other auxiliary doors are less elaborate than main doors, but often have art glass and transom windows. Patio doors were not used on period Queen Anne homes, but these doors can easily be styled to work well and suit the needs of today’s homeowners.
style options
Colors & Finishes
The Victorians painted their houses in a rainbow of colors. Although brighter colors are standard for Queen Anne homes today, the Victorian preference was for darker earth-tone colors, including but not limited to sienna, red, forest green, burnt yellow and muddy brown.
Exterior Color Palette
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White -
Canvas -
Prairie Grass -
Forest Green -
Dove Gray -
Cocoa Bean -
Red Rock -
Black
Interior Wood Species
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Maple -
Oak
Interior Stain Colors
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Russet -
Cinnamon
Painted Interiors
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White
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Primed
Andersen® Art Glass
Art glass is a common decorative element in Queen Anne homes and greatly adds to the home's ornate style. Patterns range from classical Renaissance designs to more flowing, nature-inspired Art Nouveau motifs.
The most popular locations for art glass in the Queen Anne style are front cottage windows, accent windows and bay windows.
Andersen offers several art glass designs that complement Queen Anne style architecture, including Queen Anne, Regency, Victoria and Diamond Lights. Each design is available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, and in a combination of clear and colored glass or clear glass only. See more art glass options.
Hardware Styles
Window hardware embraces the mass production methods of the Victorian era and is elaborately decorated. Double-hung windows, which are the main window type in the Queen Anne style, feature sash locks and sash lifts in either antique brass, bright brass or oil rubbed bronze finishes. Satin nickel is also an alternative.
Like window hardware, hardware for doors is elaborately decorated. The Italianate doors found in many Queen Anne style homes are often substantial, with the hardware also being of considerable size and weight. Handles, deadbolts, door knockers and mail slots are standard for front doors and are usually finished in antique brass, polished brass or oil rubbed bronze. Satin nickel is also an option.
Double-Hung Hardware
Lock and Keeper in Oil Rubbed Bronze finish
Whitmore® Door Hardware
Whitmore hardware features graceful curves and a decorative rope border that perfectly complements the Queen Anne style. Made of solid, forged brass to provide the substantial look and feel of the Victorian era.
Covington™ Door Hardware
Covington hardware offers an ornate appearance that perfectly complements the Queen Anne style. Made of solid, forged brass to provide the substantial look and feel of the Victorian era.
Hardware Finishes
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Antique Brass -
Bright Brass -
Oil Rubbed Bronze -
Satin Nickel
Grille Patterns
The quintessential grille pattern for a Queen Anne style window has small sections of clear or colored glass that form a pattern around the outer edge of the sash. In double-hung windows, the grilles are used only in the top sash.
The grille placement should produce glass sections that are as close to square as possible. Glass sections measuring roughly 4" are ideal. Any number of other glass sections may exist around the perimeter of the window.
Cottage double-hung window with quintessential grille pattern
2-over-2 grille pattern
6-over-6 grille pattern
No grilles
Art glass in top sash
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Pattern Book
More On This Home Style
Pattern books from the Andersen Style Library present quintessential details of the most popular American architectural styles, with an emphasis on window and door design. The result of years of research, they exist to make it easier to create homes with architectural authenticity.
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