My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Books/websites for identifying period features/decor

3 replies

Daisybell1 · 26/11/2012 08:47

Can anyone help with this? The house where I live is very 70s chic however hidden underneath are layers of wallpaper, old floor coverings and fireplaces.

I'd like to try and work out the age of some of these, but I don't know where to start. I've tried www.salvo.co.uk which has helped a little bit, but not much.

Are there any good guides out there?

OP posts:
Report
fresh · 26/11/2012 09:45

Do you know when the house was built? That will give you a starting point for research, but otherwise Judith Miller has written books on period style which may help.

Report
Daisybell1 · 26/11/2012 10:08

Thank you, I'll google Judith Miller!

The house is Georgian (although I think there was an older house here but nothing is left of it) and a few bits of Georgian architecture survive. But as an example I've just found some patterned lino underneath a carpet and underlay which I don't have a clue how to date.

I knew I should have applied to go on Kirstie's Vintage Home...

OP posts:
Report
fresh · 26/11/2012 13:01

Judith Miller's The Style Sourcebook is very useful. Helpfully, it says that lino was first available in 1860 so that gives you a starting point! It has sections on fabrics, wallpapers, paints, finishes, tiles and flooring.

I love this kind of detective work. Even better when you find the original carpenter's or decorator's notes under the final layer of wallpaper. We once found an entire mural on the base plaster...

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.