A Complete Guide to American Colonial-Style Houses (2024)

FAQs

How to design a colonial style home? ›

Multi-pane, double-hung windows with shutters, dormers, and paneled doors with sidelights topped with rectangular transoms or fanlights help dress up the exteriors which are generally wood or brick. Additional common features include center entry-hall floor plan, fireplaces, and simple, classical detailing. Sq.

American Colonial homes are generally characterized by a square or rectangular facade, a central entrance and windows symmetrically placed on either side of the entrance. They are typically made of wood, stone or brick and will generally have uniformly sized doors and windows with shutters.

English settlers of the New England colonies built rustic and pragmatic homes with architectural elements borrowed from medieval England, like diamond pane windows and steep pitched roofs. Initially they framed their homes out of timber which eventually transitioned to brick, especially further south.

A colonial-style house usually has two floors. On the first floor are the living and dining rooms, the kitchen and maybe some other rooms such as a bath/powder room, a family room, library, etc. On the second floor are the bedrooms and bathrooms.

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.

A few of the most popular types of colonial architecture include French, Dutch, Spanish, and British, the latter of which is the style most commonly constructed in the United States. Colonial homes usually have a simple, minimalist rectangular shape and other distinctive features.

Built during the 17th and 18th centuries, American saltbox houses were named after commonly used wooden salt containers from the colonial period. Historic saltbox houses are easily identified by their signature one-sided sloped rooflines and simple colonial facades. They often include a symmetrical brick chimney, too.

Using bright colors and modern furniture, get creative by adding a small office, comfortable seating or areas to entertain. Of course, you probably love to entertain people more than greet them formally. Best of all, they are an easy reno for any colonial living room, making it modern.

Mid-Atlantic Colonial

The standard vernacular house built by the colonists in this region between the first settlement in 1607 and the end of British rule in 1776 followed the I-plan format, had either interior or exterior gable chimneys, and was either wooden or brick. Most were only one room deep.

What is a Dutch colonial house look like? ›

The modern use of the term is to indicate a broad gambrel roof with flaring eaves that extend over the long sides, resembling a barn in construction. The early houses built by settlers were often a single room, with additions added to either end (or short side) and very often a porch along both long sides.

Colonial homes are generally not open concept. They traditionally have a central hallway with symmetrical rooms on either side. The formal living and dining rooms are usually in the front, and the kitchen and family room are in the back.

Colonial homes require a smaller roof and foundation than single-story homes. Because of this, they are cost-effective to build. These homes can even be placed on smaller lots and can help you save money on purchasing land.

Aside from the square footage, colonial homes typically employ gambrel roofs—a main feature of Dutch colonials—while Cape Cod houses traditionally make use of gable roofs. Colonial houses may also include more ornamentation, like the use of columns, which is less common on traditional Cape Cod homes.

Colonial farming families usually had a first floor with a wide open kitchen , fireplace, living area. Parents room may be on first floor, with a loft for ALL of the kids. Middle income earners may have a 5–6 room home. While the rich, would have multi room home with land.

Symmetrical Floor Plans

Colonial homes are generally not open concept. They traditionally have a central hallway with symmetrical rooms on either side. The formal living and dining rooms are usually in the front, and the kitchen and family room are in the back.

Classic color: White siding + white trim.

You really can't miss with a fresh, crisp white on the siding and trim of a Colonial house. Paint the front door white to match for an understated look, or a glossy navy or black (as shown here) for an elegant finish.

The first American Colonial-style homes developed during a period of British colonial rule. The homes were timber-framed wood houses with simple windows, decorative shutters, and symmetrical forms anchored by a central door and a chimney or two.

Layering different textures is at the heart of British colonial style. Dark timber floorboards are seen throughout the home with light weight Turkish or Persian rugs, animal hides or natural fibre seagrass and jute rugs. Accents of vibrant tropical, animal or floral prints are seen in soft furnishings.