Architectural Styles

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Colonial

Colonial architecture was originally popular during the 1700s as European settlers where developing their homesteads along the East Coast of the United States. An offshoot of the Cape Cod style home, it features a symmetrical, rectangular design with a central front hallway and second-floor bedrooms. The style was revived at the turn of the nineteenth century as the Centennial inspired renewed interest in Colonial roots.

Elements of design

  • Columns along the front of the house, typically framing the door
  • Shuttered windows for decoration and protection against the elements
  • Popular in the Eastern and Southern United States
  • Classical detailing
  • Symmetrical facades
  • Built of brick or wood clapboard, depending on region
  • Variations of colonial details exist in many modern architectural styles