What Home Architectural Style is Right for Me?
Building a home comes with many exciting decisions: paint colors, furnishings, kitchen cabinets, and most importantly – the architectural style! The style of your home is yours and the public’s first impression of the house you’ve worked so hard to create, so make sure the look is one that you will love for years to come.
Choosing the type of home you want to build is an extremely personal decision. When building your own home from scratch, its design can be as unique as the family that will live inside of it. Finding the balance between aesthetics and functionality is the key to choosing your perfect style. In this blog, we have included some of the most popular architectural styles and what makes them each special. This way, you can get a feel for which aesthetics catch your eye! Once you have a deeper understanding of your options and tastes, you can work with your builder to create the house of your dreams.
Cape Cod
If you’re a fan of a quaint, minimalist look, a Cape Cod home could be calling your name. The Cape Cod style was a popular architectural trend for homes especially in the 1930’s and are typically known for their wood paneling, steep gables, and symmetrical lines. This look offers a simple visual while retaining plenty of charm and curb appeal.
Craftsman
Looking for a home with lots of character and personality? The Craftsman-style home is perfect for you! These homes showcase stunning handiwork through their porches framed with wooden columns, decorative beams both indoors and out, exposed roof rafters, and beautiful wood and stone finishing touches. The woodwork on these homes portrays a feeling of warmth and intricacy that will remain a classic for years to come.
Colonial
The wistfulness and grace of a classic Colonial-style home has been appealing to many homeowners since the 1600s. This style has remained popular for hundreds of years because of its sturdy and symmetrical construction. A Colonial home can be spotted by its shuttered windows, rectangular build, either brick or wood facade, and again – its symmetry. This classic look is one of elegance and nostalgia and can be easily added on to in the future as well!
Country French
If you desire a look that is chic and whimsical, you must check out the Country French-style home. Outfitted with tall windows, stucco and stone walls, steeply pitched roofs, and gorgeous landscape designs, this style is the queen of curb appeal. These houses are often filled with lavish features such as large fireplaces, luxurious rooms, and soaring ceilings. So, if it’s a dreamy house you want, a Country French house you shall get.
Victorian
The Victorian Era lasted from about 1860 to 1900 and was a time of progress and ingenuity. The homes named for this time period represent those ideals in their distinctive and detailed architecture. Contemporary Victorian-style homes are known for their patterned shingles, bay windows, steep roofs, and asymmetrical exterior. These houses feel like a trip back in time to mid-19th century England with a hint of romance and intrigue.
Tudor
The Tudor-style home is crafted from a combination of medieval and English-manor style architecture. These houses are known for their steeply pitched roofs, front-facing gables that often overlap, decorative half-timbering within those gables made from stucco or stone, and large paned windows. While the exterior is made from mostly brick, the decorative gables and ornamental stone features (usually surrounding the door) bring a sense of charm and personality to these houses.
Modern
If you are a fan of clean lines and streamlined design, the Modern-style home will be of interest to you. Often made with combinations of building materials such as glass, tile, wood, and even exposed concrete, these houses feature large windows that allow for loads of natural light, flat roof lines, large open floor plans, and geometrically friendly features. This uncluttered and minimalist approach is perfect for the innovative individual.
Mediterranean
Also known as the Spanish farmhouse, the Mediterranean style of architecture is one of the most recognizable designs on the block. With its low-pitched tile roofs, beautiful arches, and stucco or adobo facades, these houses embody the warmth and vibrance of the Mediterranean. They are often surrounded by beautiful courtyards and gardens which give these houses an open and fresh feel.
Farmhouse
Thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines, the Farmhouse is having a big moment right now. These homes are the best of both worlds – highly functional as well as pretty freaking adorable. You’ll recognize this style due to its exposed beams, large front porches, open rooms, and shabby chic embellishments. This Farmhouse design creates a beautiful and casual aesthetic that every family can enjoy living in.
Mediterranean
Ranch homes are perfect for accessibility and affordability. Its efficient one-story layouts are the perfect partner for flow and a laid-back lifestyle. If your family requires more accessibility or wants easy access to the outdoors, this style might be perfect for you!
Choosing the style of your home is much more than picking out which house is the prettiest. While aesthetics are extremely important (as you’ll be looking at it for years to come), it is also important to keep in mind the functionality needed for your family. With the help of your architect, you can take these styles as inspiration to craft your dream home. Whether it’s a combination of many styles or just one, we hope that you receive the perfect home for you.
At Arcadia Fine Builders, we pride ourselves on our close interaction with our homeowners. No two people are the same, so no two houses that we build will be the same. We aim to create a home that is perfect for the way that you live no matter what architectural style you choose.