Home > Guide To Home Styles
America’s Most Common Home Styles
Styles of houses vary across the country. From the New England Cape Cod to
the Victorians of San Francisco, the choices are almost endless. Knowing which
style you prefer is one of the basic elements in your hunt for the perfect home.
Following is a quick guide to help you recognize and use the professional terms
for many of the most prevalent house styles:
Ranch
These long, low houses rank among the most popular types in the country. The
ranch, which developed from early homes in the West and Southwest, is one-story
with a low pitched room. The raised ranch, which is also common is the U.S..
has two levels, each accessible from the home’s entry foyer, which features
staircases to both upper and lower levels.
Cape Cod
This compact story-and-a-half house is small and symmetrical with a central
entrance and a step, gable roof. Brick, wood or aluminium siding are the materials
most commonly seen.
Georgian
Popular in New England, the Georgian has a very formal appearance with
tow or three stories and classic lines. Usually built of red brick, the rectangular
house has thin columns alongside the entry, and multi-paned windows above the
door and throughout the house. Two large chimneys rise high above the roof at
each end.
Tudor
Modelled after the English country cottage. Tudor styling features trademark
dark-wood timbering set against light-coloured stucco that highlights the top
half of the house and frames the numerous windows. The bottom half of the house
is often made of brick.
Queen Anne/Victorian
Developed from styles originated in Great Britain, these homes are usually
two-story frame with large rooms, high ceilings and porches along the front
and sometimes sides of the house. Peaked roofs and ornamental wood trim, many
times referred to as “gingerbread,” decorate these elaborate homes.
Pueblo/Santa Fe Style
Popular in the Southwest, these homes are either frame or adobe brick with
a stucco exterior. The flat rood has protruding, rounded beams called vigas.
One or two story, the homes feature covered/enclosed patios and an abundance
of tile.
Dutch Colonial
The Dutch Colonial has two or two and one half stories covered by a gambrel
roof (having two lopes on each side, with the lower slope steeper than the upper,
flatter slope) and eaves that flare outward. This style is traditionally made
of brick or shingles.
New England Colonial
This two-and-one-half story early American style is box like with a gable roof.
The traditional material is narrow clapboard siding and a shingle roof. The
small-pane, double-hung windows usually have working wood shutters.
Southern Colonial
this large, two-to-three-story frame house is world famous for its large front
columns and wide porches.
Split-levels
Split-level houses have one living level about half a floor above the other
living level. When this type of home is built on three different levels, it
is called a tri-level.
These are just a few of the many styles of homes available across the country
– some are more prominent in different areas than others. Knowing home style
terms will help you zero in on the type of house that will fill your needs and
suit your taste.
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