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What are the different styles of homes?

There are many different styles of homes out there and it is good to know what style of home it is that you like and what you are looking for. Here we are going to tell you a bit about all the different styles of homes so you can have a feel for what it is you are looking for, so you can build or remodel your home with the style you prefer.

Art Deco

A mix of smooth swirls, curves and high-gloss finishes, Art Deco style evokes 1930’s movie star glamor.

Cape Cod

A Cape Cod cottage is a style of house originating in New England in the 17th century. It is traditionally characterized by a low, broad frame building, generally a story and a half high, with a steep, pitched roof with end gables, a large central chimney and very little ornamentation.

Colonial

Colonial homes have a distinct rectangular or square shape, are often large and stately, feature a large, decorative crown over and around the front door and often have long, symmetrical windows on both sides of the door. Generally, colonial houses are two-story structures.

Contemporary

“Contemporary” and “modern” may seem interchangeable, but in architecture terms, they aren’t. Contemporary architecture grew out of a movement beyond the modernist architecture of the early and mid-20th century, which some considered cold.

We have a description and picture of a modern home as well down further in this blog, in alphabetical order.

Craftsman

The term “Arts & Crafts” refers to the early 19th-century British and American movement to revive handicrafts. The movement was also the inspiration behind the Craftsman and Bungalow styles. The great thing about these homes is they have really big over hanging roofs which creates shade and keeps your house much cooler in the summer and keep the rain away from the house in the winter not to mention it look quite beautiful.

Farmhouse

Farmhouse is a term used more often to describe function. Very simply put, homes built on agricultural lands were called farmhouses. They were built out of necessity to house and protect the inhabitants who either owned or worked the farm. They were usually built by the people who inhabited them.

Federal

This grand style inspired by Roman classicism was America’s first “national style.” Between the years 1780 and 1830, a new nation wanted a new style of architecture, and it was named federal.

French Provincial

Inspired by rural French homes built in the 1600’s, these homes are characterized by balance and symmetry.

Italianate

“Italianate buildings tend to be characterized more by their ornamentation than by the structure itself,” explains Gerald Foster, architect and author of American Houses: A Field Guide to the Architecture of the Home.

Mediterranean

Known for its red tiled roof and arches, this style blends influences from various countries in the Mediterranean region. All the Spanish revival styles, Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival and Pueblo Revival, are sometimes lumped under the Mediterranean label.

Modern

The broad term “modern” includes several mid-20th-century architectural styles. It’s easy to confuse modern with contemporary. But modern architecture refers to design inspired by the historical art movement of modernism. In fact, most examples of modern architecture are at least 50 years old, so they aren’t actually that modern.

Neoclassical

Recalling the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome, Neoclassical homes are formal and timeless.

Post-War

Homes built after World War II were dubbed post-war and are known for being basic and functional. Usually Post-War homes are red brick or white brick exteriors. The Post-War style was about function over form. There are fewer moldings and details and the ceiling is lower in this style of home.

Prairie

The Prairie style homes emerged during the Arts and Crafts movement around the same time as the Craftsman and remained popular until 1920. The architect most commonly associated with Prairie style homes is Frank Lloyd Wright. Many times the Prairie style was combined with other architectural styles, especially with the Craftsman.

Pre-War/Vintage

Homes built before World War II were dubbed pre-war and are known for their ornamentation and detailing. Pre-War loved to closely mirror the Victorian style.

Ranch

The Ranch style is an art form unique to America. Low-slung ranch homes, modeled after the casual style of homes on true Western ranches, were first built in the 1930’s and gained popularity.

Row House

A row house — one of many houses in a row — is a common home style in densely-populated urban areas. Row houses have been around since the 1600’s. As cities grew, space became an issue. For much of the 19th century, you couldn’t build very far upward, so sandwiching houses together made sense as land became scarce.

Spanish

Spanish settlers introduced several styles that exhibit strong Latin influences and foster a connection to nature. All the Spanish revival styles, Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival and Pueblo Revival, are sometimes lumped under the Mediterranean label.

Tudor Revival

Thanks to their steeply pitched, multi-gabled roof lines and decorative half-timber framing, Tudor homes are one of the most recognizable on the American landscape

Victorian

Victorian homes are often compared to dollhouses with elaborate trim and bright colors. But the term “Victorian architecture” actually refers to styles that emerged in the period between 1830 and 1910, during the reign of Queen Victoria.

I hope all of this information was useful in helping you figure out what style of house you want. Here at RWT Design & Construction we can build a home from the ground up or fully restore a home. We also can fully remodel your home to suit your style and taste. So if you have any further questions feel free to call us at (818)-841-8600 or check out our website.

Sincerely,
RWT Design & Construction

“Romney Tripp started construction in 1977 and formed RWT Design & Construction in 1992, eventually setting up the shop in Burbank. From the mid 1980’s Romney has been working on building recording studios as well as… Read more.”

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