Victorian Modern: A Design Bible for the Victorian Home

by Jo Leevers, Rachael Smith (Photographer)

With millions still living in Victorian homes, the subject of how to style and adapt nineteenth-century properties to modern lifestyles is always on trend. In spite of this, there are very few books available on the subject to date. While Pinterest, Instagram, and magazines can offer flashes of inspiration to those looking to design their Victorian home, Victorian Modern provides in-depth and enduring information on not only why Victorian houses were built and designed as they are, but how today’s designers are adapting and styling them in fresh and innovative ways that bring properties up-to-date.

Jo Leevers mixes historical and cultural context with practical tips and plenty of visual inspiration drawn from projects by top interior designers, with chapters organized according to how we use our homes: living, dining, cooking, sleeping, bathing, and working. Sprinkled throughout are practical decorating tips and information on the origins of the architectural features of the period.

Victorian Modern reveals how the history and design of nineteenth- century homes and ways of life can help to inform our present lifestyles and home décor in fresh and interesting ways.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Interior Design

239 pages, Hardcover

Published May 25, 2023

About the author

Hello there. My debut novel, Tell Me How This Ends, was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick and my second novel, The Last Time I Saw You is out now. Both are published by Lake Union (Amazon Publishing). In Germany, my books are published by Droemer, as Café Leben and In den Augen Meiner Mutter.
I've also written an interiors book, Victorian Modern, out with Thames & Hudson. You can find me on social media as @joleevers and my website is joleevers.com

Reviews

[Jordyn Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only skimmed, but appreciate the wealth of knowledge this one had, the countless examples and a variety of rooms done differently still in the same style AND obsessed that it included where certain wallpaper or tile can be found. Will be re-checking this one out again.