Do you know what you like, but have trouble finding the language to describe it? Have you found it difficult to communicate your desires to your builder or architect? You’re not alone – answering the question of personal style is often not a simple one, but it is critical in bringing your vision to life. Your home is an extension of your own personal character – it reflects not only your aesthetic preferences, but your lifestyle choices as well.
Architecture jargon is notoriously exclusive, but it doesn’t have to be. To help orient you, we’ve put together this short compilation of traditional American home styles. These styles have stood the test of time and are prevalent among local communities. Identifying the common characteristics of each style can arm you with a vocabulary and insight when seeking out the perfect look and feel for your next home.
Federal
- Associated Names: Colonial, Georgian, Adam
- Where It Started: Eastern United States; predominately New England and Savannah, Georgia
- Why You’re Drawn to It: You’re proudly patriotic and have a strong affinity for small-town America. You embrace tradition and yearn for the comfort of familiarity. Old Town Alexandria and Georgetown are your regional callings.
- What Defines the Style:
- Symmetrical Façade – often a “5 over 5” with a stacked central door/window and two windows flanking on either side.
- Pronounced Entrance – Federal homes embellish the main arrival point with a gable, portico, sidelights, or pediment surrounding the front door. These details are classically derived from elements of Greek and Roman architecture.
- Monochromatic Palette – white lap siding or bricks dominate the exterior materials of the style.
- Double-Hung Windows – six panes per sash and adorned with dark shutters.
- Elaborate Cornice – bulky, ornate trim where the roof meets the walls of the house. You’ll find that many homes have a swooping crown with small “teeth-like” blocks called dentils and a small roof overhang.
Farmhouse
- Associated Names: Lowcountry, Americana, Folk Vernacular
- Where It Started: Rural United States; many regional variations that reflect local building traditions
- Why You’re Drawn to It: You’ve got strong local roots and humble, idyllic aspirations. “Handcrafted” describes much of your aesthetic tastes and you possess a “do-it-yourself” attitude.
- What Defines the Style:
- Simple Massing with Prominent Gables – a rectangular footprint is common, usually with no more than one or two minor wings added to the sides or rear. A large gable on the front or sides will often be the most ornate element on the exterior.
- Wrap-Around Porch – large, covered porches are essential. A shady spot to relax and welcome guests embodies the Farmhouse lifestyle. Simple shed roofs with exposed rafter tails and standing-seam metal are subtle, authentic features.
- Minimalist Detailing – predominately clad in one exterior material (lap and board-and-batten siding being the most common) with simple trim, molding, and casings at openings.
- Evolving Character – more than any style on this list, Farmhouses have seen the greatest variation over time. While the trademark elements of simplicity and craftsmanship prevail, modern materials have influenced this style dramatically – lending to combinations of rustic and Contemporary interpretations.
Craftsman
- Associated names: Arts & Crafts, Shingle, Bungalow
- Where it Started: Western United States; influenced by both Asian and English architecture, but born specifically out of California
- Why You’re Drawn to It: You’re whimsical, eccentric, and live by your own rules. You embody the American spirit of innovation and your personal style is best described as “eclectic.”
- What Defines the Style:
- Low Pitched, Gabled Roofs – the most prominent feature of Craftsman homes – usually simple in massing with only one gable stretching across the entire width or depth of the house.
- Open Eaves with Exposed Structure – wide, sloped soffits are often left unenclosed, exposing the roof rafters.
- Lavish Woodwork – brackets, stickwork, and beams are added both as decorative elements and are emphasized by enlarging or exposing.
- Tapered Columns with Masonry Piers – short columns are sandwiched between a heavy porch roof and a solid brick or stone foundation. The more elaborate instances have battered (sloping) sides that rest directly on the ground, uninterrupted by the porch floor.
- Assorted Materials – various types of siding, shakes, and stucco are all common. It is typical for Craftsman houses to harmoniously use multiple materials on the exterior façades.
Chateau(esque)
- Associated Names: French Eclectic, Provincial, Estate
- Where It Started: origins in the French countryside; emerged in affluent suburbs around major cities in the eastern United States
- Why You’re Drawn to It: You have a formal sensibility, but are wowed by fantastical and storybook themes. You are luxurious and an avid supporter of the classics
- What Defines the Style:
- Steeply Pitched, Swooping Hip Roof – massive presence on the exterior, usually adorned with slate tiles and snowbirds. A flared roof edge and arched dormers are also common.
- Strong Indoor-Outdoor Connection – full length casement windows and French doors are prolific, offering grand entrances and views to the exterior on all sides of the home.
- Asymmetrical Massing – balanced by multiple primary and secondary volumes, vertical elements such as tall chimneys, and horizontal bands along the larger facades.
- Elegant Masonry – brick, limestone, granite, and stucco are the characteristic exterior materials for this style. Quoins, porticos, and balustrades accentuate entrances.
Prairie
- Associated Names: Wrightian, Ranch, Foursquare
- Where It Started: Chicago; derived from Asian building traditions and the flatness of the American plains
- Why You’re Drawn to It: You appreciate both the avant-garde and hand-hewn. You’re well-traveled and may have family roots in the Midwest, growing up amid the original forerunners of this style.
- What Defines the Style:
- Broad Overhanging Hipped Roofs – pyramid in shape with large eaves shading the upper floor windows
- Solid, Heavy Base – typically built of stone, this weighs the house down and connects it to the earth. Battered (sloped) walls give prominence to the base.
- Strong Horizontal Lines – thin bricks, low roofs, and floating balconies emphasize the linear character of the style.
- Window Banks – multiple windows ganged together are prominent exterior elements. They typically are casement and can wrap the corner or be filled with decorative art glass.
- Glorified Planters – greenery is incorporated as an extension of the architecture. Planter boxes, trellises, and pedestal urns all celebrate nature and give a home for plants to grow within (and on) your home.
Guest blog courtesy of W.C. Ralston Architects, an architecture and planning firm that has built an enduring reputation for design excellence in homes, neighborhoods and communities across the Mid-Atlantic region. Learn more at www.wcralston.com.
