PP here who requested the links. Um, the one with the couches looked ok, but I found the other two sites to be pretty ugly. Ethan Allen has stores in the area and has high-quality furniture. They might have some things that are ornate enough to fit your taste. I really recommend actual antiques. In addition to actual Victorian furniture, some depression-era furniture (from around the 1930s) is curvy, ornate, and well-made; it's less expensive than Victorian stuff. Actual Victorian stuff can be comparable in price to what your were looking at, especially if you can shop in more rural areas. If you buy from an antique shop, keep in mind that you can often get a lower price (5-10%) simply by asking politely (i.e., "Is there a chance I could get a better price on this?"), which most dealers expect. I agree with the poster who said to make sure that couches and chairs are comfy and sturdy, especially since you have kids.

OMG. You're joking, right? The links you sent wre so over the top, tacky, faux "Victorian" that this must be a joke.

If you like the look of that era, I think you'd be happier with some antique wooden pieces as accents, but be careful that seating purchases are comfortable and sufficiently sturdy. Also, for any reproductions, I suggest avoiding the ones with a high gloss finish--they tend to look "cheap" when placed together in a room--the real thing will look better and are often more reasonably priced. Also, I don't think you have to go with heavy velvet drapes (unless you have a large home with high ceilings, large windows, etc). It would probably seem to heavy and dreary. I've seen Victorian pieces in beautiful rooms with shutters, wood blinds, and/or lighter weight drapes.

I haven't been there in a while, but there is a street of antique shops in Frederick, MD that may be a good place to try. Also, try asking at bigger antique shops. Most shops in DC display Federal and less ornate european furniture, because that's what sells, but sometimes they have other things in their storage rooms.

It might pay to get a book about antiques and read up a bit before you go out to buy. For example, the "Abigail Adams" suite at the magnolia link is indeed (new) victorian, but Abigail herself lived in the federalist era (regency in Britain) which had a very different style of furniture, much simpler.

With some research, you can make choices that will hold their value well. So if you buy reproductions, you want to be sure it's faithful to the era it says it represents. You may not want to end up with "victorian" furniture with federalist doo-dads glued on. Or, if you buy antiques, it's worth learning what's more valuable, for example the original finish is generally more valuable than something that's been refinished. It's a whole other world....

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks, I don't know what style I like, I am new to this, I just know I want something that looks really old fashioned.

I like stuff like this:

http://victorianfurnitureco.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=VFC&Product_Code=407-1&Category_Code=AP-C


http://www.magnoliahall.com/vintage_collection/abigailadams_parlor.html

http://furniturevictorian.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=333

PP here, It looks French, maybe Louis the 14th. I think there may be a shop in Kensington, MD which specializes in it.
http://www.sparrows.com/press.htm maybe this is the place.

I've seen the stuff around here and there. I just never heard of anyone who actually liked it.

Make sure you pair it with those really heavy velvet drapes to get the complete look.

Most large furniture stores carries styles like that if you're ok with antique reproduction vs. antiques (all the pictures you listed are reproductions). You could try Belfort, Colony House, or any other place that sells a variety of names.

Check out the antiques district in Kensington - dozens of shops on Howard Avenue both east and west of Connecticut Avenue.

1872

OP here. Thanks, I don't know what style I like, I am new to this, I just know I want something that looks really old fashioned.

I like stuff like this:

http://victorianfurnitureco.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=VFC&Product_Code=407-1&Category_Code=AP-C


http://www.magnoliahall.com/vintage_collection/abigailadams_parlor.html

http://furniturevictorian.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=333

Tradition de France in Alexandria has several different eras of furniture. Also, try Greenfront furniture in either Manassas or Sterling. They recently moved. I cannot remember to which location. Tradition de France is expensive but they carry solid cherry furniture and it is excellent quality. They have a great summer sale and most of the stuff is half price. My bedroom set is from Tradition de France and everyone loves it. I think it is from the Directoire era.

LOL @ Ikea poster. I love Ikea, but it is the opposite of Victorian, at least the elaborately detailed stuff that is typical high Victorian style furniture. I think you would be better off buying actual Victorian antiques rather than recently manufactured Victorian-style furniture. If you want a classic, but less fussy look, you can get reproduction mission style furniture (I think Hardwood Artisans has some stuff in this style--tables and desks). First, I don't know of anywhere that sells reproduction Victorian furniture because it's out of style. Secondly, antiques tend to have better craftmanship than contemporary furniture. Check out antique dealers and malls around here. If you want upholstered antiques, you may have to get things reupholstered, not be picky about fabric, or work with an antique dealer to find furniture in a fugly state (think bare wood frames or stuffing falling out) that can be bought cheaply and then reupholstered. I'm curious--can you post links of anything you've found online that you've liked?

Antique dealers. Do you like American Empire or what style. I think if you search on eBay you will find stuff you like and then find out the name of the style and then you will know what you are looking for and call some dealers. Many dealers sell on eBay but may be local to you too. There are places in Baltimore. There are antique malls around.

Ikea??

Where can I buy Victorian style furniture? In person, not online.

Thanks