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| Common Architectural Styles |
Have you ever heard a home referred to as a Tudor, or a
Colonial, and wondered exactly what those terms meant? Have you
tried to describe your home to others, and had trouble finding
the right words? Maybe you're trying to plan your dream home,
and you're in need of some inspiration. The history of
architectural styling is a fascinating subject and is well worth
the study. The evolution of real estate design to meet people's
needs throughout the years has resulted in classic and enduring
architecture that still exists today. Here are a few of the most
common architectural "types" explained.
Tudor:
A Tudor home is built in the style of late medieval
architecture, and echoes designs used on English country homes
through the 16th century. Tudor homes have a distinctly European
look. |
They feature decorative half-timbering, often in parallel
crown designs across the front of the home. These timbers are
merely decorative today but on the original homes they were an
integral part of the structural design. Tudor homes are very
often a light color, with dark or black timbers criss-crossed
across the gables (another important feature). Some of them have
false thatched roofs, imitating the real thatches of the
original homes, and most have decorative but functional chimneys.
Colonial:
This term typically refers to a Colonial Revival Style home,
which first appeared in 1876 at the US Centennial Exposition.
After the World Wars this home style was built all over the
United States and is still extremely popular today. Colonial
Revival Homes feature a symmetrical design, |
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often with a single
pillar on either side of the front door, and they are usually
made from brick or wood. They are extremely simple and
mathematically plotted, with windows on corresponding sides of
the house matching those opposite. The inside of a Colonial
style home often has a main entranceway with stairs that lead up
directly across from the door.
Cape Cod:
A Cape Cod style home is one of the most prevalent styles still
appearing across the country today. This style of home was first
built in the late 17th century by English colonists arriving in
America. It is a modest, symmetrical design, with a long peaked
roof and no more than two stories, usually one. Cape Cods often
feature wide clapboards or shingles on the exterior, and wooden
shutters over the windows. |
Their original design was lifted from English country homes
familiar to the settlers, who then modified the design to
withstand the cold winds and hot suns of New England weather.
These are just three of the most common architectural designs
used in today's homes. There are thousands more out there. With
the trends in the real estate market changing every day, it can
be reassuring to know that there are some things that will
always endure. Even the fickle world of home builders can
recognize the value of a true classic.
About the author:
Kirsten Hawkins is a real estate expert from Nashville, TN.
Visit http://www.king-of-real-estate.com/ for more information
on real estate, mortgages, and finding the house of your dream
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