House Styles


To try and cover all possible house styles and style combinations would too large in scope for the purposes of this site. This site strives to help the average home-owner learn about the roots of their house. The strongest correlation between styles featured here is that they have served as a major house style for Middle-class North America in the last 150 years.

Arts and Crafts — Simple honest design with a connection to nature

Craftsman — American Arts & Crafts style promoted by Gustav Stickley

Bungalow — Sloping roofline that begins at the 1st storey

Four Square — 2 storey home with Arts & Crafts Details

Tudor — Based on the English countryside, also called Enlish Cottage

Post WWII — Simple roomy homes built for veterans and the resulting baby boom

Ranch — 1 Storey Rectangular or L-Shaped home

Cape Cod — 1 1/2 storey home, often with dormers

Split-level — Defined by a split stairway that makes efficient use of lot space

Bi-level — Combines features of the Ranch and the Split-level, often called a Raised Ranch

Georgian — Symmetrical, orderly style imported from England

Traditional — Six windows across, diminishing in height on 2nd floor

Colonial — Symetrical style popular in 17th Century United States

Greek Revival — Defined by doric columns and ornate porticos

Terrace — Application of Georgian style to a row of homes

Victorian — Ornate decoration produced by the machine age

Second Empire — Defined by it Mansard roof

Gothic — Takes design cues from gothic cathedrals

Queen Anne — Highly ornamented with complex architectural features

Bay and Gable — Victorian style native to Toronto, Canada

 

Don’t know what style your house is? Let the House Style Questionnaire tell you.