Updated 2022
Winnetka Historic Homes - Italianate Style
Victorian homes were being constructed in this country between 1840-1890 and the most popular of them was the Italianate style. Although an American original, they were generally inspired by Italian villas and farmhouses and could be as simple as a two-story home or an elaborate mansion.
There are several features that distinguish this style but the most prominent is the elaborate cornice. The eaves are deep-set with rows of brackets along the underside. The homes are usually irregular in shape and stand two to three stories high or even higher. Many of these homes have spacious porches. bay windows, and hipped roofs (where all sides are sloped.) An original feature that has been lost on most of these homes is the cupola.
The Italianate style of home was built with a variety of materials including wood, stone, and stucco - most of the typical North Shore homes were simpler clapboard structures, less ornamented and smaller than their East coast cousins.
Two beautiful Winnetka Italianate homes are:
302 Forest St., constructed in 1873 
255 Ridge Ave., constructed ca. 1885
Previous Posts about Winnetka Historic Homes:
Winnetka Historic Homes Part 1
Winnetka's Original Log Home - The Schmidt-Burnham House
While you're here, please see:
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