FAQ

Most Victorian and early-20th-century houses were similar in the manner by which they were originally illuminated. Except for the grandest of homes, large, centrally located ceiling fixtures with numerous arms were usually found only in the dining room, living room, and parlor. Even in a modest house, a simple chandelier-type fixture with at least three arms was almost always found in these primary rooms. Typically, every room in the house was equipped with a ceiling fixture, although secondary rooms (e.g., bedrooms) rarely had fixtures with more than three lights (usually one or two). In addition, wall-bracket fixtures were common throughout the house, including hallways.

Kitchens, bathrooms, and other utility rooms were usually equipped with the most utilitarian fixtures available (the Burnside, for example).