30 Apr Styles of Homes in Our Area

Whether remodeling, adding on, or just giving your home some extra curb appeal, knowing the style of your house can help you develop a successful plan. You’ll also gain a greater appreciation of the way your house was designed and built.

Here are some Basic construction styles found in and around our area.

Cape Code Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With roots dating back to 1675, Cape Cod was a popular style for homes built in the 1930s. Typically one story–sometimes 1-1/2 stories–the Cape Cod style features a steep roofline, wood siding, multi-pane windows, and hardwood floors. Original Cape Cod homes were fairly small. They often boast dormer windows for added space, light, and ventilation.

 

Country French-Style  Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Country French-style homes in the United States date back to the 18th century–when France occupied much of eastern North America with settlements scattered along the principal waterways, such as the St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, and Mississippi valleys. French building traditions started to fade after Jefferson purchased Louisiana in 1803, but continued in New Orleans and other areas for another half-century.

 

Colonial Style Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Colonial style–dating back to 1876, Colonial homes usually have two or three stories, fireplaces, and brick or wood facades. The classic Colonial house floor plan has the kitchen and family room on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second floor.

 

Victorian Homes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are several styles of houses–such as the Queen Anne–that fall within the Victorian Era, which lasted from about 1860 to 1900. Homes of the Victorian Era were romantic, distinctive, and abundant with detail, from the fabrics and patterns to the colors and textures. Contemporary Victorian house design retains the traditional characteristics but uses more modern fabrics and colors. Traditional and contemporary can be combined nicely in these houses.

Victorian homes often feature a steeply pitched roof, a dominant front-facing gable, patterned shingles, cutaway bay windows, and an asymmetrical facade with a partial or full-width front porch.

Tudor Style Home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The name of this style suggests a close connection to the architectural characteristics of the early 16th-century Tudor dynasty in England. But the Tudor houses we see today are modern-day re-inventions that are loosely based on a variety of late Medieval English prototypes.

Common features include a steeply pitched roof, prominent cross gables, decorative half-timbering, and tall, narrow windows with small windowpanes.

Craftman Houses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Craftsman bungalow (also known as Arts and Crafts) was a popular house style between 1905 and the 1930s, and it’s making a comeback today. A distinguishing feature of the style is the large amount of interior woodwork, such as built-in shelving and seating. As for the exterior, Craftsman-style homes often have low-pitched roofs with wide eave overhangs, exposed roof rafters, decorative beams or braces under gables, and porches framed by tapered square columns.

Cottage-Style Homes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medieval styles of the English countryside inspired American architects to design the charming and cozy cottage-style houses we know today. The style became especially popular in the United Stares during the 1920s and 1930s.

Common features include a warm, storybook character, steep roof pitches and cross gables, arched doors, casement windows with small panes, and brick, stone, or stucco siding.

Mediterranean-Style Houses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mediterranean styles of architecture, such as Spanish Colonial Revival–also known as Spanish Farmhouse or Spanish Eclectic–flourished in Southern California during the 1920s and 1930s following a noteworthy appearance at the Panama-California Exposition of 1915.

Spanish-style homes often feature a low-pitched red tile roof, arches, grillwork, and a stucco or adobe exterior. The typical U-shape floor plan is oriented around a central courtyard and fountain, making the garden an extension of the living space. Rooms open to the courtyard, promoting cooling cross-ventilation and the flow of fresh air.

Traditional Ranch Homes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional ranch-style homes usually have simple floor plans, attached garages, and efficient living spaces. The style dates back to 1932 and is still being built today. It was one of the most popular styles in the suburban home-building boom of the 1950s and 1960s.