Early 1900s - what’s authentic?

[EgremontRusset]

We are buying a little terrace built around the turn of the century. I can’t wait. Can anyone recommend any resources on what would be ‘in keeping’ for interior decor? I want to know whether I should be letting my imagination run riot with picture rails, ceiling roses, paint etc

This was the era of sombre and dark interior decoration OP. Very formal, lots of deep wine/red, dark timbers and potted palms. Chintz or velvet curtains and flocked wallpaper.

I'd just take a few elements from the period and using pale colours throughout (terraces can be short on light) I'd add the original touches here and there.

If there are already original features such as celing roses and fireplaces, well all good...they're very pretty.

Try this - shop and advice - www.thevictorianemporium.com

Buy vast amounts of display porcelain and other trinkets. Fill all the drawing room surfaces with them. Make sure you dust everything every day, or rather that your maid does

Depends on what type of house you have and which class of person lived there. My house was built in 1896 and would have been for working/lower middle classes. My neighbour's house was a coal merchant's and had small stabling at the back whereas mine was occupied by a coach driver who worked for a local hostelry. Their decor would have been much more functional and less ornate than my friend's house which was built a year earlier bit was occupied by a local alderman and foreman of a factory.

My house did have picture rails as I can tell by the plastering, and my kitchen would have had a range on the back wall. Everything original has gone, ripped out in the 60s and 70s in the name of modernity. My fireplaces would have had arched brickwork at the top but they've been rebuilt and knocked out. My neighbours' arches are still there .

My bathroom was the third bedroom and all bedrooms would have had small fireplaces.

Look back on old censuses to find the occupations of the people who lived there as that will give you a clue to the original decor of the house. It's worth doing before investing in potted palms and pianolas if your house wouldn't have had them.

Censuses - great idea!
It is a two up two down, built at a time when the railway into London was transforming the area. I am guessing lower middle class, it has quite high ceilings compared to the similar era ‘workers’ cottages’ in the area. Photos from two sales ago show loads of panel type mouldings in the front room but that’s gone now and I wonder if it was inauthentically posh.

Harrietm - looks fab thanks!
Irene - def no maids here I wonder if they would have had a ‘daily’ / ‘char lady’ / whatever the right term would be

I had an Edwardian house and had a few books, this was one of them (the one I remember!).

www.amazon.co.uk/Edwardian-House-Style-Architectural-Interior/dp/0715312278?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Barchester - thanks that looks perfect!

We used to have a lovely little turn of the century terrace in London and it had a fireplace in each room. They had been boxed away and I spent ages restoring them. Sounds like a really lovely project, not much to add but good luck!