Colonial houses are built in a traditional style of architecture that dates back to the U.S. Colonial era. They are designed to comfortably serve as a family home, and typically feature a rectangular shape with gabled roofs, symmetrical windows, neutral color schemes, and flat exterior walls.

What are the different styles of colonial houses?

There are many types of colonial house styles stemming from British Colonial (most common in the US), Dutch colonial, French colonial and Spanish Colonial. Within the US, different colonial styles of homes were built in different regions including saltbox, cape cod, Georgian and southern colonial houses.

Why is it called a colonial house?

Evolved from the simple log cabin, these homes rose up in the days of the 13 original American colonies (hence the name) because they were “simple to build, efficient to use, and easy on the eyes,” Riordan says.

What are the three simple features of an American colonial home?

New England and Cape Cod Colonial Colonial architecture characteristics include: Symmetrical front and rectangular shape. Two stories. A lean-to addition with a saltbox roof (basically where the roof in the back of the house extends almost all the way down to the ground- the shape of saltboxes in the time)

What are colonial houses made of?

Traditionally built with wood and sometimes stone (AKA the materials available), these homes were only one room deep and two or three rooms wide, with either one massive, central fireplace or fireplaces at both ends of the house.

What is considered colonial architecture?

Colonial architecture is an architectural style from a mother country that has been incorporated into the buildings of settlements or colonies in distant locations.

What does a Colonial Revival house look like?

So what do Colonial Revival homes look like? A lot like their predecessors, but bigger and fancier. … Most of the houses are two or two-and-a-half stories tall, and the front doors typically boast a grander appearance than their predecessors had, with pediments and even columns accenting the entrance.

What are the interior elements of colonial architecture?

• Campaign furniture. …
• Lightweight and eclectic fabrics. …
• Tropical inspired furnishings. …
• Natural texture. …
• Light and airy colours. …
• Traditional shutters. …
• Ceiling fans. …
• Eclectic accessories.

Why do people like colonial houses?

Appealing Architectural Features Colonial-style homes are detailed, aesthetic and well-proportioned. Many have tall white columns, balconies, large windows, elaborate front entrances and lengthy front porches.

What type of roof does a Colonial house have?

By far, wood shingles are the most common roofing material for colonial style roofs. It also happens to be a classic, natural option that creates a beautiful rustic appearance. While they can provide decent protection, they require a great deal of upkeep.

Article first time published on

How were colonial homes built?

The houses built by the first English settlers in America were small single room homes. Many of these homes were “wattle and daub” homes. They had wooden frames which were filled in with sticks. The holes were then filled in with a sticky “daub” made from clay, mud, and grass.

What makes Colonial Revival?

Generally, the Colonial Revival style took certain design elements – front façade symmetry, front entrance fanlights and sidelights, pedimented doorways, porches and dormers – and applied them to larger scale buildings.

What is British colonial architecture?

The British colonial styles tended to be very formal and rational, based on strictly symmetrical designs that featured pitched roofs, shutters, and the occasional column or pilaster for a decorative touch. They were usually made of wood or brick.

What is Colonial decor?

Colonial Defined Colonial-style decorating reflects the styles of that era, varying from rustic to refined. Early American furniture was sturdy yet simple, but it evolved into the distinctive, formal style of furniture of designers such as Chippendale and Hepplewhite.

What is Colonial furniture style?

: furniture made in the American colonies before the end of the Revolution and largely influenced by contemporary European styles (as the Queen Anne and Georgian) but having some indigenous features (as greater variety in woods and more extensive use of turnings)

What is a colonial house Australia?

Colonial Period (1800 – 1849) Attributes of a typical Colonial home include symmetrical design, corrugated iron roofs, brick chimney stacks, multi pane sash windows, six panelled doors, brick quoining, external shutters, wide wrap-around verandas, hipped roofs and stone or brickwork.

What are the characteristics of classical architecture?

Classical architecture originated in ancient Greece and Rome, and is characterized by symmetry, columns, rectangular windows, and marble, to name a few. For centuries, architects have drawn influence from these civilizations and incorporated traditional ideals into subsequent styles of architecture.

Are colonial homes expensive to build?

Building costs can vary significantly, depending on the particular home you build, the features and materials you select and your building location. Presently, the average construction cost for a Classic Colonial Home begins at $300.00 / Sq. Ft., but is often higher – based on regional trends and finish selections.

How tall is a colonial house?

As previously mentioned, colonial homes are usually two or three stories tall. The common spaces—living room, kitchen, dining room, and family room—are traditionally located on the first floor, with bedrooms on the second and third floors.

How do you start a Colonial?

1. The oversize and formal living room. A big living room that’s a formal space and cut off from much of the house is a feature of these houses. And while rooms like this worked well for how families lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries, they’re often just wasted space now.

How do you change the exterior of a house?

1. Change the proportions of the exterior of your home. …
2. Swap exterior finishes: cladding, render and paint. …
3. Replace a roof. …
4. Replace your home’s windows. …
5. Update your front door. …
6. Add an extension. …
7. Add a porch. …
8. Convert a garage.

How do I modernize the exterior of my house?

1. Install Fiber Cement Siding. …
2. Add Accent Sections. …
3. Use a Fresh Coat of Paint. …
4. Use a Pop of Trim Color. …
5. Update Your Roof. …
6. Add a Porch. …
7. Add Some Texture. …
8. Replace Your Shutters.

When were Colonial Revival homes built?

The term generally refers to homes built from the 1880s to the mid-1950s that reflect renewed interest in the earliest English and Dutch houses.

What makes a home craftsman style?

The common features of the Craftsman style include low-pitched gable (triangular) roofs, overhanging eaves with exposed rafters and beams, heavy, tapered columns, patterned window panes and a covered front porch. Craftsman house exteriors emphasize harmony with surrounding nature.

What is Colonial Revival furniture?

Colonial Revival: Style in furniture and architecture that imitated or freely interpreted American designs from the Pilgrim to Federal eras. Begun in the 1880s, it became the dominant style of the early 20th century. Proportions: Narrower and more slender than 18th-century originals.