Dreaming of Homes

It's so much fun to dream, one of my favorite things to do is drive around Medina, Clyde Hill and Madison Park and look at homes. But I must admit I rarely know the right terminology for some of my favorite style of homes so I thought, why not learn.  My dream would be an old colonial, cape cod or a rambler - I LOVE ramblers!  The first house I lived in was a Dutch Colonial in River Forest, Chicago so I'm sure that's why I'm a little partial to the classics. The decor is another story...bead board, crown molding, checkered black and white floors, stripes, and gingham window treatments and the list goes on. Here are a few of my favorite styles and a little terminology to help when you're out house shopping...happy day dreaming!  ...all these homes are missing is a big American Flag in the front. 

The prominent, center gable isn't typical Dutch colonial here. But it is typical of the Cape Dutch Style. That is, in colonial South Africa.

Traditional Colonial homes have paired chimneys, decorative doorways and plain, symmetrical fronts.

How about one of my favorite movie homes from Somethings Gotta Give, it's a classic Cape Cod style home. Cape Cod house plans are often one story or one-and-a-half story designs that include decorative elements on the exterior which give it a distinctly "Cape Cod" feel. These decorative elements can include shingle or clap board siding and dormers.

Colonial Revival  Resurgence in American patriotism followed the country’s 1876 centennial that continued through the two World Wars. This was reflected in the immense popularity of colonial style architecture, based loosely on symmetrical Federal and Georgian designs. Design features include a rectangular footprint, gable roof, accented center front door, double-hung windows with shutters. Dormers and fireplaces are generally present. Dutch colonial and Cape Cod styles are variations of this design.

This is a traditional Dutch colonial with widow's walk. This American style originated in homes built by German, or “Deutsch” settlers in Pennsylvania as early as the 1600s. A hallmark of the style is a broad gambrelroof with flaring eaves that extend over the porches, creating a barn-like effect.

And of course one of my favorite movie homes is the Father of the Bride home.  This is a Traditional Colonial.  Love!

Colonial homes were as popular in the Southern Colonies as the north, but the southern version had the chimneys at the ends instead of the center. Characteristics, steeply pitched gable roof, symmetrical in shape, with centered front door, multi-pane, tall, double-hung windows, narrow plan, often only one room deep, wide, welcoming front porch, tall foundation walls to protect against moisture damage.  

Another one of my favorites is the Khardasian Ranch. This style combined the trend toward more informal design (Bungalow) and low, horizontal lines (Prairie). Originally developed in California, these single story homes were built across the country after World War II to meet the considerable housing needs of returning soldiers and their families. Ranch style features include low pitched roofs, deep eaves, large windows, simple floor plans and attached garages.