The "traditional" house
plan of today combines many of the elements of the styles
below.
Traditional Styles
Federal Colonial: Box-
shaped, multi-storied, symmetrical house with
clapboard or brick exterior walls, one or more
chimneys, windows with small glass panes, usually
no porch but an elaborate surround for the front
door, which has sidelites and an elliptical
transom. Other characteristics include a low
pitched roof or flat roof with a balustrade,
shuttered windows symetrically arranged around a
center doorway, circular or elliptical windows,
decorative swags and garlands, palladian windows,
and dentil moldings. Easy to confuse with
Georgian style, the Federal style was more
graceful and ornate. 1730-1830.
Cape Cod: Very
small, compact, symmetrical house with a central
entrance and sleeping quarters in the attic.
Always 1 1/2 stories. There are usually no halls-
rooms are reached by walking through other rooms.
May have a very narrow overhang for front door
but usually no porches.
Dutch Colonial: Usually
has a gambrel roof with dormers and wide flaring
eaves, or parapet walls with chimneys. Most built
as one story houses, with the attic used as
sleeping quarters. Other characteristics include
wide overhangs, gable ends with small oval
windows, 8- over- 8 windows, and dormers. In
traditional dutch colonial, walls were made of
stone only, but modern homes use a variety of
materials. 1900-1925.
Early Classical Revival: Signaled
a return to the classical forms of Greek and
Roman architecture following the elaborately
detailed period of Victorian architecture.
Characteristics include colossal porticos, large
columns, pilasters, pedimented windows, classical
frieze, dentils and domes. Buildings are
generally masonry structures of monumental
proportions, using terra cotta, brick, and stone
materials. 1770-1920.
Georgian: Stately
and symmetrical, these homes generally have a
paneled front door in center with flattened
columns on either side of the door and a
decorative crown over the door, five windows
across the front, medium pitched roof with
minimal overhang, and chimneys on both gable
ends. Very little ornamentation. Most popular
period: 1690-1830
Saltbox: Usually
two stories, square or rectangular house with a
steep gable roof that extends down to the first
story in the rear. Exterior walls are usually
clapboard or shingles, but modern homes can be
masonry. Most have either a large central chimney
or end chimneys, usually no decorative elements
on exterior of building and no porch or overhang
for front door.
Plantation/Greek Revival: The
most easily identified features of this type of
building are the tall columns, most 2 stories
high, which can be either only in the front or
around the entire building, sometimes with a
2-storied porch. Most southern plantations were
built in this style. Other characteristics
include a pedimented gable at the front of the
home, symmetrical shape, heavy cornice, and
simple moldings. Height of popularity: 1825-1890.
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