Most houses in America fit into five historical classes including:
Spanish
Ancient Classical
The following are the three house styles based on the Ancient Classical tradition of columns, symmetrical facades, and low pitched roofs:
Early Classical Revival
(1770-1850)
The front porch dominates the facade of the house. The roof of the porch is usually supported with four columns. Notice that the front door is paneled with a semi-circular fanlight over it. There are usually five windows across the second floor facade. Finally, the windows are aligned symmetrically both vertically and horizontally.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Greek Revival
(1825-1860)
This style is characterized by a front porch that is first floor in height and is supported by square or round columns. The front door is surrounded by narrow sidelight windows and a rectangular line of windows above the door. The low-pitched roof-line is emphasized by wide band of trim called the cornice.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
NeoClassical
(!895-1950)
The facade of this style is dominated by the full-height porch supported by large classical columns. The windows are balanced with a centered front door.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Renaissance Classical
Included among these houses with their crowned doors and windows and one story entrance porches are:
.(1840-1885)
The Italianate style has two or even three stories. It has a low pitched, pointed (hipped) roof with wide overhangs that have decorative brackets. There is usually a square tower or cupola at the peak of the roof. The windows are tall and narrow with ornate inverted U shaped window crowns.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Second Empire
(1855-1885)
The dominant feature of this style is the look of the roof. It has a double pitched curved roof with the ornate brackets supporting the eaves. Second Empire also has wide trim cornices that make the roof line and eaves stand out.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Georgian
(1700-1780)
The Georgian style has a paneled front door that is centered and surrounded by rectangular columns. There are also small window panes at the top of the door. The windows are double hung with nine or twelve small panes in each half. In addition, there are tooth-like decorative moldings at the roofline or cornice.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Adam
(1780-1820)
The Adam style does not have a dominant front porch. There is a semi-circular fanlight over the paneled front door. There are usually side windows and an elaborate crown over the door. There may also be a small entry porch. The windows are aligned symmetrically and usually have five across the front facade. The windows are usually double hung with six panels in each half or sash. Notice the tooth like molding at the roofline.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
.
French Colonial
(1700-1830)
French Colonial houses can be one or two stories. There are usually many narrow windows. The sashes and Rrench doors are typicallly divided in pairs. The roof is steeply pitched that is either hipped or side-gabled. The walls are made of stucco with an overhange for the porch.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Dutch Colonial
(1625-1840)
The Dutch Colonial style has a side gabled roof. Notice that there is a prominant overhange at the eaves. The entrance doors are divided into separately opening upper and lower halves (if they are original Dutch styled doors).
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Medieval
The Medieval styles with their overhanging second stories, half-timbers, and steeply pitched roofs inspired a wide range of American styles including Tudor and influenced the Queen Ann style. Among these house types are:
Postmedieval
(1600-1700)
The Postmedieval style is characterized by a steeply pitched roof with no eaves or decorative cornice. There is no front porch or crown over the main door. The windows are small with many small diamond shaped panes. The roof is dominated by the large chimney that usually has a decorative brick or stone trim.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Gothic Revival
(1840-1880)
Gothic Revival also has a steeply pitched roof with steep cross gables. There are very ornate trim at each end with no trim at the eaves. The window extend into the gables with a pointed arch shape. There is usually a large one story porch with decorative gothic arches.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Stick
(1860-1890)
The stick house has a steep gable with decorative cross members (trusses) at its peak. This style also has wooden siding with decorative boards or stickwork. There is a full front porch that also has trusses and braces.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Queen Ann
(1880-1910)
The Queen Anne style has an irregularly shaped roof with a prominent front facing gable. There is a large front porch usually one story high and extended along one or two sides of the house. Textured shingles are used to avoid the smoothed wall appearance between the first and second story.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Richardsonian Romanesque
The dominant objects of the Richardsonian Romanesque style are the round-topped towers. There are usually arches over the windows and porch supports. The outside walls are rough -faced masonry with squared stonework. Also notice that the facade is not centered or asymmetrical.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Tudor
(1890-1940)
Tudor has a steeply pitched roof with the front being dominated by one or more cross gables. There are also half timbers on many of the walls. The windows are tall and narrow with many panes. The Tudor style is characterized by a massive chimney that has decorative round chimney pipes.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Chateauesque
(1880-1910)
As the name implies, the chateauesque style has many vertical elements such as spires, turrets, gables, and shaped chimneys. The roof steeply pitched and usually hipped. The front entrance is centered with a stone arch. The walls are masonry and stone. There are many dormers usually extending through the roof- line.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Shingle
(1880-1900)
The dominant characteristic of the Shingle style is the make up of its irregular roof and walls. The wall siding and roofing are made of wood shingles. This style has an asymmetrical facade with an irregular, steeply pitched roof that usually has intersecting cross gables. It also has multilevel eaves with porches that blend into the roof line.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Modern
The Modern movement evolved over the years from 1900’s to the present. Two major movements make up the modern styles including the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and secondly the machine age where there was emphasis on eliminating any nonfunctional decoration. Modern styles included flat roofs, and smooth wall surfaces. The modern house types include the following:
Prairie
1900-1920
The Prairie style is characterized by a low-pitched roof that is hipped with wide overhanging eaves. They are two stories with one story wings or porches. The front porches can be centered or asymmetrical with large square supports. The windows are narrow with patterned small panes.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Craftsman
(1905-1930)
The Craftsman style also feature a low-pitched roof with wide overhangs. The roof rafters are exposed and usually have decorative beams or braces added under the gable. There are partial or full porches with a roof that is supported by tapered square columns that usually extend to the ground. The windows usually have multiple panes with a narrow rectangular pattern.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Modernistic
1920-1940
Modernistic features include a flat roof with smooth wall surfaces. There are usually horizontal grooves or lines in the walls and other horizontal elements like railings and overhangs off on the main entrance. Modernistic also uses towers and vertical projections to provide additional style elements.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
International
(1925-Present)
The International Style also has a flat roof usually without a ledge. The windows are set flush with the walls with no decorative trim. The walls also do not have any decorative detailing or trim. The facade does not have a porch and the entrance is asymmetrical.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Spanish
The Spanish influence blended adobe with similar Spanish and Native American traditions. There are even some Moorish and Islamic influences. The following house types fit the Spanish tradition:
Spanish Colonial
(1915-1940)
The Spanish Colonial style is characterized by a one-story house with a flat or low-pitched tile roof. The walls are made of adobe or stone and usually covered with stucco. There are multiple entries and a few small windows which can be closed with wooden shutters.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Mission
(1890-1920)
As the name implies, there is a Mission shaped dormer on the main roof or a parapet on top of the porch. The roof is made of red tile and is supported by large, square columns with arches above. The walls are usually made of smooth stucco. Finally, the windows are narrow with multiple square panes.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Pueblo Revival
(1910-Present)
The Peublo Revival style has a flat roof with walls that extend above the roof-line or parapeted wall. The walls have irregular rounded edges with wooden roof beams projecting through them. The wall surface is usually earth-colored.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Spanish Eclectic
(1915-940)
This style has a low-pitched roof with little or no eave overhang. Like the other Spanish styles, Spanish Eclectic has a red tile roof with one or more gables. There are arches placed above the door and windows. The walls are usually made of stucco. Notice that the front entrance is asymmetrical. McAlester,Virginia and Lee.
A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998
Monterey
(1925-1955)
Monterey differs in that there are two stories. It also has a low-pitched roof. There is second story balcony. The balcony is usually covered by the main gable of the roof. The walls are stucco,while the front entrance and windows are asymmetrical.
McAlester,Virginia and Lee.A Field Guide To American Houses.New York. Alfred A.Knopf.1998