Historic homes have a sense of personality and charm you just can’t find in conventional architecture. The details and craftsmanship give the feeling that your home has a story to tell. This is what gives older homes their legacy. But what exactly do all these details reveal about the property? The roof design, window placement, and the use of building materials reveal the home’s architectural style, the era it was built, and who might have designed it.
From Victorian to Craftsman: Identifying Your Historic Home’s Architectural Style
The Decorative Grand Victorian
Does your home look like it belongs in a fairy tale? Does it have elaborate woodwork, bay windows, and a little decorative flair on almost every surface? If so, it is likely Victorian in style.
Victorian homes were popular in the mid-to-late 1800s, and these properties were anything but minimalist. Think towers, turrets, and wrap-around porches. However, no two Victorian homes are alike despite these common design elements.
These types of houses tend to feature brightly colored facades with contrasting trim. This highlights the dramatic design elements of the house.
Queen Anne—The Showstopper of the Victorian Era
Queen Anne residences are a house style within the larger category of Victorian architecture. Their mesmerizing design tends to stop people in their tracks.
The defining characteristics of these homes are:
- Asymmetrical facades
- Large porches
- Decorative shingles
- Stained glass windows
- Turned wooden pillars
- A combination of textures
If your home features include these, chances are that it’s a Queen Anne. These homes were designed to make a dramatic esthetic impact with heavy ornamentation and whimsical design elements.
Colonial Revival—A Homage to a Time Past
As we moved into the early 20th century, the Colonial Revival style brought the tradition back into American architecture. Symmetrical facades, evenly spaced multi-pane windows, and traditional doorways distinguish this style from others in the Victorian era.
This style has aesthetic-looking shutters, dormer windows, and a centrally located front door. Brick or wooden siding is prevalent in most colonial revival homes. In addition, they are typically painted in traditional, muted color tones.
Craftsman Home’s Architectural Style—Aesthetic and Symmetrical
Homeowners began moving away from the fussy designs of the Victorian 1800s by the early 1900s. People began leaning towards a more down-to-earth style. The craftsman design style honors natural building materials and careful design rather than over-the-top decorating.
The following home features make these homes easy to recognize:
- Wide-covered porch with square, substantial columns
- Visible rafters
- Built-in shelving, bookcases, or window seats
- A low-sloping roof with overhanging eaves
- A warm, inviting atmosphere
Chances are, you’re living in a Craftsman.
Tudor Revival—A Touch of 20s
These homes feature steeply pitched roofs, decorative half-timbering, and tall, narrow windows. Tudor Revival residences bring a touch of old-world English charm to American homes. These homes were fashionable in the 1920s and 30s. Features include:
- Brick and stucco facades
- Arched doorways
- Stonework chimneys
Stucco walls create a unique textured look that adds depth and character. Along with gable roofs and decorative half-timbering, they are the most common materials for a Tudor home.
Your home likely falls into this category if it looks as if it would be perfectly at home in a quaint English countryside village.
Your Home’s Architectural Style: Mid-Century Modern—A Blast from the Past and Moving Ahead
Sleek, open, and fluidly integrated with the outside world best describes the mid-century modern design aesthetic. Was your home built during the 1940s through the 1970s? Does it feature the following? Then, there’s a good chance you’re living in an MCM:
- Floor-to-ceiling windows for more natural light
- An open floor plan for seamless flow between rooms
- A flat roof
- Clean lines and minimal decorative design aspects
With their minimalist and functional focus, midcentury modern homes function and integrate with nature. They feel light, breezy, and stylishly relaxed.
Embracing the History in Your Home’s Architectural Style
Understanding your home style is more than slapping it into a category; it’s about knowing its history. Learn how the design standards of the time influence everything from curb appeal to interior design decisions.
Decorating becomes intentional when you know the defining features that typify your home’s design era. Things that initially drew your attention dictate how you sustain its charm.
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