Architectural Styles: Learn the Lingo - Part 1

American architectural styles reflect our vibrant cultures, vast geographic areas, and time-forgotten eras.  Discover the rich heritage of the most popular home types you may encounter in your real estate career.  Designs and colors were influenced by local building materials available, and adapted to regional landscapes.

Ever wonder how to distinguish a Cape Cod from a Colonial?  A Mission from a Mediterranean?  A Prairie from a Pueblo?  Unravel the mysteries of house architecture designs with Part 1 of our handy guide below.

Architectural Styles of American Homes

A-Frame This contemporary style is characterized by its easy-to-recognize pointed triangle roof which resembles an “A”.  This all-seasons house is designed to capture sunlight with large windowed fronts and backs that overlooks lake views.  The large decks accommodate vacationing family and friends.  It was most popular during the 1960s and 70s in resort areas, such as mountain retreats and ski getaways.  The interior is open with a fireplace, bedroom, and loft nestled into the attic.  This steep sloping roof is specially designed for snowy climates and the house is generally designed to fit in with its natural surroundings using existing materials and tan / brown hues.
Bungalow Identify this style by its low horizontal roof, earthly colors, front porch, and wood siding.  It’s a small, simple space with a fireplace focal point.  The living room opens to the dining room with built-in wooden furniture such as bookcases, window seats, buffets, and sideboards.  The interior includes plaster walls and is characterized by wood floors and chair rails, stained glass windows, and artisan lighting fixtures.  This style was popular in the 1920’s and developed from the Arts and Crafts era influence.  Closely related is the California Bungalow which borrows the colonial Spanish motif.
Cape Cod Look for a steep roof, gray wood shingles or clapboarding, no front porch, and a white picket fence.  Other identifying features include a brightly colored front door with intricate carvings and an ornament; white trim and window shutters; airy clean-look white paint on doors, crown molding, and cabinets which sharply contrast with the wood floors.  Walls are painted to reflect the Cape Cod colorful seaside, echoing the blue ocean, tan sand, and glowing orange/reddish sunsets.  Based on the colonial lifestyle of the early pilgrim settlers, the simple functional design originates from 17th century New England.  Exteriors are characterized by broad low frame steep sloping roofs, symmetrical pitched style with a front door in the middle, and windows with shutters on each side.  Native woods such as cedar shingles were used frequently, along with oak/pine hardwood flooring.  Interiors may have a hallway, parlor, upstairs left and simple open floor plan.  Think of: Martha’s vineyard style.
Circular Octagon, silo, and round houses are examples of circular architectural style.  They are eco-friendly and highly energy efficient.  Circular styles are known for withstanding tornados and hurricanes because their design offers protection against the harsh elements.  They are ideally suited for country living where views abound, with large windows boasting panoramic views.  Home builders can buy a “kit” and build it on site from Deltec.com, the most popular DIY round house.  Related styles are the geodesic domes and cone shapes.	circular           geodesic dome
Colonial Exteriors are narrow and tall, boxy rectangular structures, with a natural wood-look.  Other identifying features are muted grays & earth tone colors, vertical tall doors and windows, and multi-panel windows. This simple and sensible style from the early American settlers and pioneers has narrow, non-decorative trim which reflects the conservative craftsman style.  From the basic colonial style developed French Colonial, Spanish Colonial, Dutch Colonial and Georgian.
Contemporary This modern, minimalist style is known for its striking artistic asymmetrical roof lines.  Featuring boxy picture windows, the “industrial” look outside, and large flexible living areas inside.  This eye-catching design offers a break from the cookie cutter tract home because each home is uniquely custom designed.  Closely related to the Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern style.  Sometimes referred to as a “California Modern”.
Craftsman Identify this style by looking for rectangular and triangular shapes which characterize this no-nonsense design, built using natural local woods.  These homes highlight simple hand-crafted wood construction.  The front porch may have a separate, smaller roof and columns which echo the house.  Nature-inspired exteriors reflect their surroundings with moss green, rusty red, and brown/tan colors.  The front door will have glass near the top, and double-hung multi-tiered windows adorn the exterior.  Pride of craftsmanship shines through, hence the name.  Popular during the arts and crafts movement.
Danish Provincial This style is identified by the half-timber construction technique called bindingsværk, which uses brick and timber, or stucco and timber.  The timber is arranged in an angle design.  The thatched-roof look is common, as Scandinavian settlers brought their Danish designs straight from Denmark.  Look around, the property may have an adjacent Danish windmill.  And look up!  You may see a stork weather vane sitting above the entrance, which the Danish believe will bring good luck to their family.  Think: Solvang.
Federal Look for a half-circle fanlight window over the door, symmetrical 2-story homes with tall doors and long, tall windows in a row.  Greek columns welcome visitors to the small, formal front stoop (no porch) with double-hung sash windows, Palladian windows, and flat or low-pitched roofs.  Interiors often boast circular, hexagon, and oval rooms with high ceilings.  This formal, upscale style was popular from 1780 to 1850.  Think: the White House and the Oval Room.
Foursquare Popular in the Midwest, these homes are a staple style in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.  Named “Foursquare” because the floor plan is 4 rooms per floor, boasting a square boxy shape with a wide front porch, these homes are often 2 stories with an attic dormer and a basement.  The exterior has wood siding or shingles and is recognized by its square columns.  This humble and basic floorplan is also known as “Prairie Box” and “American Foursquare”.
French Country This style reflects the French rural lifestyle, with designs ranging from modest farm houses to extravagant chateaus.  These homes have a cottagey-feel and exude charm and character.  They can be identified by the stone exterior, curved arches, wood-beam ceilings, and stone floors, and a thatched-roof look hipped roof.  Colors are soft and blend in with the countryside.  Think: Thomas Kinkade “light” paintings.
Georgian Classic symmetry reigns supreme in this style inspired by the Renaissance movement.  Outside, look for tall slender Greek-style columns adorning the front entrance, a hipped roof, and double-hung windows with shutters.  Inside, key features are its graceful ornate detailed trim, a fireplace, and transom windows.  Conservative colors are white, ivory, sand, light blue, or light gray.  This is one of the earliest styles of architecture for homes built in New England between 1700 to1850.  It bears a strong resemblance to the Federal style.
Gothic Exterior features include: Steep tiered roof, arched or peaked/pointed windows and doorways, front door with a transom window above, diamond shaped window panes, and a small step-up front porch.  Stone exterior walls are dark or tan/rock colored and feature stained glass windows.  This Medieval style has an asymmetrical floor plan;  look for ornate detailed trim, and crafted finials.  Long-ago churches made this style popular, enhancing it by adding gorgeous stained windows and steeples.  Popular in the 1840’s to the 1890’s, this style developed from America’s Romantic Era.  Think: dark haunted house.
Italianate This formal European style is based on Italian design, framed by its signature Italian decorative double columns.  It often has a square “cubed” tower with a cupola on top, or a campanile (bell tower).  It boasts a paneled front door, often a double door, below the “tower” and a round transom window above the front door.  Narrow, tall window panes extend from floor to ceiling and highlight the wrap-around porch.  Unique characteristics are: tall, low-pitched roof, and crafted detailed brackets.  Colors of this 2 or 3 story house with shutters and trim are usually white, green, or pinkish tan.
Log Cabin This style is built with round tree logs, usually unpainted but logs may be enhanced to bring out and protect the natural wood look.  This rustic, down-to-earth design is constructed using natural materials.  It has a simple design with a pitched roof and a fireplace/chimney, set on a hill or a natural forest surrounding.  This style is usually plain and functional and unpretentious; but fancy large variations can be found hidden away near upscale ski slopes.  It’s a popular style in mountainous regions of the west, particularly California, Montana, and Colorado, where these homes are used primarily as vacation cabins and snow/ski retreats.  Think: lumber jack home.

Now you can speak intelligently when advising your sellers and buyers.  And at the next Sunset Soiree, impress your friends with your newfound knowledge of house architecture.  You’ll be the life of the party!

How many different home styles are in your neighborhood?  Learn to identify house architecture in your farm area when you drive around.  Not sure of the style?  Snap a photo and verify it online to see if you identified the house correctly.  Now you’re a home architecture pro!

Watch for Part 2 of this topic next month, describing 12 more architectural styles.

 

Article copyright © 2013 by Regina P. Brown.  The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.  She is an actively practicing Broker and a trainer / instructor at RealtyPro Academy, which offers continuing education and professional development online courses.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Article is published in The San Diego Realtor® magazine.

NOTE:  Illustrations are NOT part of article because author does not own copyrights.

 

Read more in our "Learn the Lingo" series:

1) Backyard & Outdoor Structures: Learn the Lingo

2) View From the Windows: Learn the Lingo

 

 

Regina P. Brown
Broker, Realtor®, e-Pro
California DRE # 00983670
Join & post to my NEW ActiveRain group at http://activerain.com/groups/virtualoffice

   

             

Text copyright © 2011 R.P. Brown, All Rights Reserved