Whether remodeling, building an addition or just giving your home some extra curb appeal, knowing the style of your house can help you design a successful plan. The following slides offer ideas for 10 familiar house styles.
Cape Cod Homes
With roots dating back to 1675, Cape Cod was a popular style for homes built in the 1930s. Typically one story or sometimes one-and-a-half stories, the Cape Cod style features a steep roofline, wood siding, multi-pane (often dormer) windows and hardwood floors.
Original Cape Cod homes were fairly small. If you’re in need of more space, consider adding on to the side or back of the house, depending on the site. Many original Cape Cod-style homes did not have a finished space upstairs, so you may find that the upstairs area is either incomplete or previously remodeled and can easily be changed to fit your needs.
Country French-Style Homes
Country French-style homes in the United States date back to the 18th century, when France occupied much of eastern North America with settlements scattered along the principal waterways, such as the St. Lawrence, Great Lakes and Mississippi valleys. French building traditions started to fade after Jefferson purchased Louisiana in 1803, but continued in New Orleans and other areas for another half-century.
Country French homes are often one story with many narrow windows and paired shutters, steeply pitched roofs (either hipped or side-gabled), stucco walls and a half-timbered frame.