Victorian Vibes: Five Frightfully Fabulous Homes for the Fall Season
By Elliman Insiders | Published on October 28, 2022
By Grace Cassidy
The Addams Family mansion may be the most iconic example of Victorian architecture in popular culture, with its creepy, kooky and altogether ooky vibes. Indeed, when he conjured up a home for Gomez, Morticia and the rest of his fictional family, Charles Addams drew inspiration from the Victorians in his childhood neighborhood of Westfield, NJ.
But how did these 19th-century beauties become the archetypal haunted houses filled with ghosts, ghoul and urban legends? According to Fast Company, when Victorian architecture fell out of favor, the style was increasingly disparaged as an expression of “vulgar, excessive, conspicuous consumption”—the McMansions of their day—and eventually became a dusty, cobwebbed relic of the past.
Of course, many of today’s homebuyers are far from frighted by the ornate facades and multi-level living spaces of historic Victorian and Victorian-style homes. Here are five on the market now. Scroll on, if you dare….
9 Convent Lane, Center Moriches, New York – $3,395,000
Situated on three magnificent acres, this 9,000-square-foot home is host to eight bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and one half-bath. Boasting 383 feet of direct water frontage on Moriches Bay, homeowners enjoy a peaceful and private lifestyle. The home features historic details from the original 1896 construction, including a wraparound covered porch, Queen Anne moldings, high ceilings, leaded-glass windows and the original hardwood flooring. Outside is a pool, English-style gardens, and a gazebo. Kimberly Cammarata represents the listing.
212 N. Monarch Street, Downtown Aspen, Colorado – $10,500,000
Built in 1888, this Victorian home in Aspen could be just the home to make you feel like you’re living in a haunted house. Exterior features include shingle siding, arched accents and leaded-glass windows. The home spans 2,500 square feet in size, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, and has been owned long-term by two Aspen families. Emery Holton represents the listing.
700 W. Francis Street, Aspen, Colorado – $17,995,000
Also in Aspen is this incredible 5,000-square-foot Victorian dating back to 1888. The property spans 0.14 acres and includes the main house and a standalone carriage house. Along with the steep gable roof, leaded stained-glass windows and wood shingles on the exterior, residents will enjoy renovated interiors with historical details, including hardwood floors, a marble fireplace and a modern kitchen with designer stainless-steel appliances. Raifie Bass represents the listing.
1726 Avenue L, Lost Bayou Historic District, Galveston, Texas – $699,900
This colorful Victorian-style home was built in 2006, allowing homeowners to enjoy newer interiors while still honoring the neighborhood’s 19th-century charm. The home spans 1,684 square feet with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and one half-bath. Hardwood floors, a modern open floorplan, stainless-steel appliances and a primary suite are included. A covered back porch is an ideal space to entertain or curl up with a good book and a cup of coffee. Eric Gage represents the listing.
317 S. Windsor Boulevard, Los Angeles, California – $10,995,000
This stunning 10,800-square-foot home in Los Angeles was originally built in 1914 and designed by architect B. Cooper Corbett, but the interiors were completely renovated over the last three years. With seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and three half-baths, the home includes designer appliances in the kitchen, marble countertops, a movie theater and billiards room in the finished lower level and a stunning outdoor living space complete with mature landscaping, a pool and spa, pool house and separate guest house. The property is on the market for $10,995,000.