#But like. The examples of weird and creepy things she uses are… Dark woodwork and lots of carving

[marzipanandminutiae]

See like this is what I mean when I say that the haunting of Hill house reflects mid-century antipathy towards Victorian design.

Because what is described here as the builders trying to get out of the house quickly and not really caring much about the second and third floors is. Extremely typical of that design style. Like, it's really normal to go into even a grand late Victorian house and have The upper rooms be significantly simpler than the lower ones, just because they wouldn't be seen by as many people and many families preferred to make them beautiful with furniture, prints, wallpaper, etc. rather than spend extra money having architectural details put in

It doesn't have anything to do with the house being evil or the builders wanting to get out quickly – but it makes sense that a woman writing in the 1950s, born in 1916, who spent the majority of her life in either relatively new build in California or much less elaborate older houses in New England, might not have the cultural context to understand that. And therefore might see it in some more elaborate high Victorian mansions and find it offputting

It's kind of amusing to read as someone who works with that style of house professionally, because it's very much like saying. I don't know. "The house had popcorn ceilings and that was a sign of how creepy and haunted and evil it was!"

[zolanibor]

Popcorn ceilings are proof that the house is built with hate, not love. Everyone hates them. I agree with that one

See like this is what I mean when I say that the haunting of Hill house reflects mid-century antipathy towards Victorian design.

Because what is described here as the builders trying to get out of the house quickly and not really caring much about the second and third floors is. Extremely typical of that design style. Like, it's really normal to go into even a grand late Victorian house and have The upper rooms be significantly simpler than the lower ones, just because they wouldn't be seen by as many people and many families preferred to make them beautiful with furniture, prints, wallpaper, etc. rather than spend extra money having architectural details put in

It doesn't have anything to do with the house being evil or the builders wanting to get out quickly – but it makes sense that a woman writing in the 1950s, born in 1916, who spent the majority of her life in either relatively new build in California or much less elaborate older houses in New England, might not have the cultural context to understand that. And therefore might see it in some more elaborate high Victorian mansions and find it offputting

It's kind of amusing to read as someone who works with that style of house professionally, because it's very much like saying. I don't know. "The house had popcorn ceilings and that was a sign of how creepy and haunted and evil it was!"