Edwardian / Victorian red brick property vs 1930s build

[HairyPorter]

The area we're looking at has a handful of period properties as an abundance of 1930s build. We had seen a lovely period property that we offered on but our seller has just pulled out. We've lost £500 on the valuation but fortunately she told us the day before our survey and we didn't lose more. A 1930s house has come on on an adjacent street. The interior is beautiful but I can't help feeling its a compromise as part of why we loved house 1 was the character from being a period home. Am I being silly?? Surely we'll spend far more time inside the house than we would looking at it?!?

[LondonGirl83]

You aren't being silly. You just have to decide how important it is to you. For me, not being a period house would have been a deal braker but my area is mostly Victorian. I compromised on other things though that I know other wouldn't have-- size of garden and parking.

[Bonsoir]

I think that houses on more than two floors (as many "period" properties are) are a complete nightmare! Many 1930s houses are great and lend themselves to sympathetic accommodations between their original floorplans and modern living. That is less often the case with period properties that require significant mucking about in order to install bathrooms.

[Damnautocorrect]

I'm a big 1930's fan.
Normally on big plots, well proportioned rooms fewer damp problems than a Victorian. I also love the original sun stained windows, original fireplaces etc (although I know lots need this put back in!)
But if they aren't where your heart lies

[oscarwilde]

You are being silly. 1930's is a period, just not your preferred one

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

Agree as someone who lives in a Victorian property, there is a lot to be said for being on just two levels. I dream of lateral space. Victorian houses are colder, the rooms often pokier and in ours we've just discovered a major issue with the plumbing which could cost tens of k to fix.

So I'd get over your doubts

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

I don't think you're being silly - it's not that 1930s houses are objectively better or worse than Victorian ones, it's just you have a personal preference for the earlier ones.

My grandparents lived in an absolutely lovely 1930s semi; it was beautifully built and everything was still there if a little nicotine stained. It's a period I would definitely consider. But if you like Victorian/Edwardian best it's not about logic, it's personal.

[Bonsoir]

I think Victorian (or better still Georgian) and Edwardian houses are often more romantic than 1930s houses, especially from the outside. Wistaria and white painted woodwork are gorgeous.

But I think inter-war houses are generally accommodate modern life more easily.

[MummytoMog]

I prefer the way victorian and Edwardians look, but we couldn't afford one in the area we wanted. We ended up with a 1930s semi with a massive plot and lots of room to expand, which we've done. It didn't have much in the way of original features left, but I did manage to rescue next door's original front door off the skip, which is going on MY house if they don't want it...

[lulupeg]

I always wanted a grand victorian house but living in London and on fairly modest income settled for a flat, an ex local house (80s) and finally a fully refurbed 1930s terrace. I bloody love the 30s terrace! It's got lovely rooms, medium height ceilings, ability to extend into loft. Also we've put the character back in with fireplaces, banisters, picture rails, mirrors, architrave, shutters, tiled hall etc etc. I would now actively seek a 20/30s house again as believe they can give you much of the charm of victorian internally without some of the costs - my friend in a gorgeous Edwardian half house (beautiful externally) is always complaining about draughts and problems with the maintenance. Hers was more expensive than mine to buy and is much much smaller. For me I wouldn't trade space and comfort for a shared entrance smaller house but it's totally horses for courses - hers has beautiful sash windows/brickwork which for some would make it all worthwhile!

[Rooners]

I know what you mean.

It depends if you can love it. I've seen 1930s houses I like, and some I don't like - kitchens do tend to be tiny though - ceilings are a little lower. Things are usually very solid though, more rounded, less stark.

I love Victorian houses. There's something about them that speaks to my heart but then, I could certainly warm to a 30s house that had been left fairly original. The proportions may not be so special but they are still usually really nice.

[HairyPorter]

My head tells me I'm being silly- the 1930s house is fully refurb, is much larger and is in fabulous condition inside with new kitchen and wood floors everywhere. The house we were in the process of buying needed some minor decorative work and the kitchen was tiny but had a bigger garden and we could have extended out. And yet I still wish the sale hasn't fallen through- it had original tiling and fireplaces with an open chimney etc... Not sure if we should hold out for another house to come on before offering on the 1930s house!

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

What are the odds of another Victorian house coming on in your area? How often do they come up for sale? How affordable are they? You can make quite a hardheaded decision about whether to hold out for the dream house or whether it's time to settle for what you can get. The info about sold houses is so easy to find online, you can easily find out how likely it is there'll be another along within the next year. (Roughly. Of course the supply ebbs and flows but you can get some idea.)

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

House buying is a gut thing, if you aren't in love with the 1930s house no matter how delightful, then don't buy it. Just don't say we didn't warn you about the nightmare joys of older properties

[maillotjaune]

I love 1930s houses with original features - ours had the original ceilings (simple but lively coving etc) and some of the fireplaces. It also had most of the original kitchen and bathroom - less attractive unfortunately!

However, it's a matter of taste isn't it so if it's not what you want and you have a realistic prospect of more older house is coming on to the market then I'd probably wait.

[London1975]

You will get more space for your money in 1930s houses but Victorian/Edwardian are generally considered a better investment because they hold their value better. But if that's not important to you, I'd go for space and layout that a '30s house can offer

[Lagoonablue]

Just moved from an Edwardian garden terrace to a 1930s semi. The new house still has enough original features to make it interesting and the off street parking and large garden are a delight. I had a yard and no parking int the last house.

I love the 30s actually but I would go on a house by house basis til you find something that suits you. Good luck.

[HairyPorter]

Hmmm... I'm quite undecided still. There are NO original features at all in the house- not even a fireplace... It has been refurb to a very good standard, has very hood wized rooms, is a big house (probbly bigger than we need actually) and needs minimal work doing (changing blinds, in build wardrobes and carpet on stairs) BUT I didn't love it... It just wasn't romantic enough! Im starting to wonder if finding a house is really any different to finding a husband?!? I seem to be looking for a place that ticks most boxes and sets my heart racing.... But is the racing heart a real requirement in the equation???

[lulupeg]

Ours had virtually no features but we put them back in! I guess less fun to do that if already nicely decked out. I would want to put character back in if at all possible. Even picture rails or coving which are fairly cheap to do make a big impact and one fireplace at least is lovely.

[Bonsoir]

I think that it might help if you looked at some photos (books, internet...) of houses of that period and imagined how you might tweak the decorations to make it more appealing.

[Bonsoir]

Have you got a link on rightmove or something so that we can give opinions?

[Lagoonablue]

Second adding picture rails as they are of that period. You can source repro or refurbished 30s fires on line too. Have a look at some houses online too. Pinterest has a board called 1930s house which has some good pics.

[Devora]

Yes, give us a link. I live in a 30s semi that was very unsympathetically modernised, and it is a whole lot less cute than the Victorian houses on the street. But I have really enjoyed putting some personality back in, and it is much lighter and warmer than its neighbours. Also really great storage.

I psyched myself into it by reading books on 30s architecture. It also looks good with generally retro stuff from 1930s to 1970s.

[Bonsoir]

30s houses can often be easily and successfully adapted for modern living by retaining (or reinstating) original features but changing the colour schemes (paint colours were frightful in the 30s) and installing modern lighting. You don't have to muck about with partitions in the way you do with older houses as the proportions of the rooms are quite liveable.

[beaglesaresweet]

To me the issue of the 30s houses is that you can't put a nice chandeliier in the living room! ceilings too low, and they usually use horrid covered round sort of lamps on ceilings.
But maybe some 30s houses that are in affluent areas are bigger and with high ceilings (still no patch on victorian/edw that are not cottagey!). I sympathise OP, I'm wrestling with the same dilemma now - but am glad there is a thread like this to point out the good sides.

[HairyPorter]

Thanks all! We drove past it again and dh vetoed it. So here's a link if anyone's interested! Victorian house 1930's house