What to make of the fact that the hall tree is back? This tall structure of ornately carved wood, with coat hooks, mirror and storage space for umbrellas, was a staple of the Victorian foyer. Furniture manufacturers have discovered that people like hall trees just as well in 1998, foyer or no foyer.
Maybe today's living rooms aren't overflowing with heavy furniture, piled with carpets or cluttered with bric-a-brac, but a touch of Victorian is very much in vogue again. It might be something as simple as painting a room a deep, saturated color, where before off-white looked very right.
Of course, the Victorian Age spanned much of a century and encompassed a number of decorating styles. After all, Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901. Gothic, Elizabethan, Louis XVI and XV were only a few of the styles that had a revival over that time period. Our current fascination is with a sort of romanticized version of Victorian - feminine and ornate.
Some designers are calling it vintage, not Victorian. Raymond Waites, whose Vintage Home collections of furniture, fabrics and accessories are hugely successful, fell in love with the style after making millions designing American country. These days, he says, explaining the switch, "I like to handle more precious things - things with a traditional edge."
You could add a touch of vintage to a room with antique lace, satin ribbon, cabbage roses, frosted glass. Use crown molding or Victorian-inspired wallpapers and fabrics. Hand-painted bird cages are a charming accent, and, of course, there are always angels.
A grouping of curios and family photographs in ornate frames, a needlepoint pillow or a panel of lace as a window treatment can be a personalizing addition to a room.
"Victorian is the styling that ushered in the century," says trend watcher Michelle Lamb. Maybe that's why it's on its way back at the end of it. Neo-Victorian or vintage elements add a sort of instant heritage to a home. If they are a little worn, all the better.
"It's a style that's visually proper," says Waites, "but actually warm and soft, a comfortable style with a forgiving nature."
The current popularity of movies with period settings can only heighten interest in vintage styles. With "Titanic" a significant influence on fashion, can furniture be far behind?
We haven't seen much in the way of Edwardian styling yet, but give manufacturers a little time.
