Yes, I realize that. But I actually am, first and foremost, curious as to what these historic houses look like inside, in part because I just love old houses, and in part because I want to know whether I would want to emulate them.

Google “folk victorian house floorplan” and tap on images.

Yes, but I'm afraid Google has not yielded anything at all about the interior of these houses, which is why I was asking. That would be easy though! I wish it worked!

I would imagine the type of homes you are interested in were built/designed based on the carpenter's know-how and the owner's bank account, then decorated on the trend of the day. Most plans were overly simplistic and not fit for more modern living.

Dover Publishing reproduces many plan books on victorian architecture, but the houses are usually more grandiose.

@Mark Bischak, Architect I can't tag you because Houzz is all glitchy on my phone, but I think you are precisely correct. I doubt there is a standard layout for these, despite the similar exteriors, which is what makes them "folk" houses. And they undoubtedly had no bathrooms etc originally. But there are thousands of these now that are being lived in and have baths and laundry rooms and I was just hoping there was some sketch of a floor plan out there.

They wanted this house

with this budget

So it all works out.

Bottom line is find a local architect that can design a house that meets your needs, fits the site, and has the style you like. If you want a house that is historically correct, find a local architect that has experience in the historical architectural style you desire.

@Holly Stockleyl Thank you for looking for these! Unfortunately, I have seen them all and they don't really fit. Most are two stories (whereas the houses I'm looking for are usually 1 or at most 1.5 stories with a converted attic). The top one is one I've seen before and it's the best fit, but like most all of these "plan book" plans, they were quite deep and narrow due to suburban lots vs these rural homes being wider.

>Bottom line is find a local architect that can design a house that meets your needs, fits the site, and has the style you like. If you want a house that is historically correct, find a local architect that has experience in the historical architectural style you desire.

Fair enough, I might as well add some details. This is 30+ acres in rural East Texas. There was a 1930s farmhouse on a large flat area near the road that was demolished at some point. Across the street there is still a 1930s folk farmhouse, which is VERY rare for this area (it has double front gables, symmetrical, and being vaguely remodeled). The market in this area is 95% manufactured homes, and probably 4% other prefab cabin/portable metal bldgs, and then the last 1% are custom homes that I would bet are entirely by design-build firms, in the style of what I might call "styleless European" (most) or when done well (rare) I might call it the "Lone Star Ranch" variety, like below.

Southern Living Showcase Home Project · More Info

Bless their hearts, it's a lovely house, I've nothing against it.

But we want to build a small vacation house, just a cabin or cottage perhaps 900-1200 sq ft, and it occurred to me that back in the 1930s, this was probably the size these houses would have been. I love old houses and I dislike modern open floor plans, so I thought we might consider a modest "new old house" that blended in and looked as if it might have been a remodeled original old house. (Assuming I actually liked what they were like inside, which as I said, I don't know and am trying to find out. I probably just have to find some in real life.) My feeling, which may be wrong, is that many aspects of the "new old house" can be more expensive if you are going for a true replica, but certain things like room and door placement, ceiling and baseboard heights, etc can be done with an eye toward giving an older feel even if you aren't using hand-carved newel posts.

But this is not Connecticut or Vermont. There is not a large market for historic houses here, or indeed for a hundred miles in any direction. I thought (and still think, but am open minded) that my best bet would be to familiarize myself with typical layouts, ceiling heights, stair and door design etc and then know what to tell a design build firm that actually will build in this area.. If you know of architects that work remotely, work on small <1200 sq ft houses, and have knowledge of folk victorian styles like below, I would love to hear about them!!

Victorian Gingerbread House · More Info

Watch for open houses on those that come up for sale, and then go to the open house. That way, you get a first hand look.

Here is an archive of Sears house plans.

http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/byimage.htm

This on seems similar to ones you're looking at, though it does have a second level. If the homes weren't kits like this, I think you'll just have to tour any that are up for sale in order to see actual floor plans.

Have you looked here?

http://www.antiquehome.org/House-Plans/

http://www.antiquehome.org/House-Plans/1909-Radford/r1-8256.htm

My fave house style. Have you seen this house from “Sleeping with the Enemy”? https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/404-Magazine-St_Abbeville_SC_29620_M69721-13223#photo15

A floorplan I found. I would hire an architect to create a plan with a center staircase for a 1.5 story, bedrooms upstairs & master on main level

https://www.allisonramseyarchitect.com/plan-details.cfm?planNumber=C0356

Thanks @laura_04! Yeah, I have looked at all these and they are frequently just a lot longer and less wide than the ones put up for sale online, and frequently much more ornate and have a larger second story.

The market is so crazy right now that we are in no hurry to build anything on our land.

I decided the best bet would be to tour local historic houses and any that go up for sale and take some sketches and measurements down, so as to get a feel for a few places and be in a better position to discuss ideas with an architect or design/build firm someday.

Emily, It's been 4 years...any luck? I'm ready to build a granny house near my children in TN and STILL no floor plans.

Hi Elizabeth Jones! I actually live in a 3-story folk victorian farmhouse now. We sold our land and moved to Michigan to be close to family. But I have always wanted to write a book on this very subject!! We all can find old Sears plans with no bathrooms or laundry rooms, and yet we know people are living in these houses today! They have modified them to be old and yet functional. I would love to go into these old houses, take pictures and measurements (my own baseboards are 11 1/2 inches tall!), and create a floorplan that someone could at least bring to an architect and say ”I want something like this” and know that the proportions and charm would be there. I hope you find something!

I am so glad I found this thread. I live in home that I think is very much the style/era you are discussing and I have looked high and low for the floor plan or one close to it on various platforms without any luck. My hoem is a queen anne cottage...the wikipedia version to a T. But i can not find a floor plan from that area to save my life that is even close.

My home is almost original except for two bath rooms added to the rear after 1940.

One unique feature would have been a rear enclosed porch in the center of the home that was dead center with the front door. parlor, hall, rear porch...not a lean to but with in the mainm roof if that make sense.

Let us hope the OP (and others) have found/create their desires in a historic-ish home. There are historic styles of architecture that were appropriate for the time they were created, but irrelevant to modern living. Many pure architectural styles are responses to the social/economic factors of the time, and may not relate to modern needs.

Homes should address the needs of the occupants at every stage of of life, as difficult as that may be. Strive for the design to meet the needs of those that live in it and has the character of what one desires, or reflects the character of those that spend the most time there.