What's Your Style?
Styles of houses vary
across the country. From the New England Cape Cod to the Victorians of San
Francisco, the choices are almost endless.
Following is a quick
guide to help you recognize and use the professional terms for many of the most
prevalent house styles:
• Cape Cod: This
compact story-and-a-half house is small and symmetrical with a central entrance
and a steep, gable roof. Brick, wood or aluminum siding are the materials most
commonly seen.
• Dutch Colonial: The
Dutch Colonial has two or two-and-one-half stories covered by a gambrel roof
(having two slopes 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.
• Georgian: Popular in
New England, the Georgian has a very formal appearance with two 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.
• 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 with a shingle roof. The
small-pane, double-hung windows usually have working wood shutters.
• Pueblo / Santa Fe
Style: Popular in the Southwest, these homes are either frame or adobe brick
with a stucco exterior. The flat roof has protruding, rounded beams called
vigas. One or two story, the homes feature covered/enclosed patios and an
abundance of tile.
• 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.
• 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 roof. 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.
• 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.
• Tudor: Modeled after
the English country cottage, Tudor styling features trademark dark-wood
timbering set against light-colored 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.
These are just a few of
the many styles of homes available across the country – some are more prominent
in different areas than others.
Contact me to get started on your real estate search. I can help you to find the perfect home that you've been looking for! Call me at the office at 610-372-0212, on my cell at 610-413-0520 or contact me via e-mail at erica.fair@yahoo.com. I look forward to working with you!
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