Architectural Styles

Art Deco Homes built in this style feature geometric elements and a vertically oriented design.

California Bungalow A forerunner of the craftsman style, California Bungalows offer rustic exteriors, sheltered-feeling interiors, and spacious front porches.

Cape Cod A true classic, Cape Cod homes-square or rectangular one-story structures with gabled roofs and unornamented fronts-were among America's first houses.

Colonial An offshoot of the Cape Cod style, Colonial homes feature a rectangular, symmetric design, second-floor bedrooms, clapboard siding, and gabled roofs.

Contemporary Unmistakably modern in feel, Contemporary style homes are identifiable by their odd-sized windows, lack of ornamentation, and unusual mix of wall materials.

Craftsman Full-or partial-width porches framed by tapered columns, overhanging eaves, and exposed roof rafters differentiate a Craftsman home from the similar California Bungalow.

Creole A front wall that recedes to form a first-story porch and a second-story balcony highlights the Creole Cottage design.

Dutch Colonial German, or "Deutsch", settlers in Pennsylvania originated the Dutch Colonial style, dominated by a barn-like broad gambrel roof with flaring eaves.

Federal This style arose amid a renewed interest in Greek and Roman culture, as its classical ornamentation around cornices, doors, and windows demonstrate.

French Provincial Balance and symmetry define the French Provincial style, which includes a steep hip roof; balcony and porch balustrades; and rectangular doors set in arched openings.

Georgian Refined and symmetrical with paired chimneys and a decorative crown, Georgian houses were named after English royalty.

Gothic Revival English romanticism influenced this style, marked by "Gothic" windows with pointed arches; exposed framing timbers; and steep, vaulted roofs.

Greek Revival Large porches, entryway columns, and a front door surrounded by narrow rectangular windows characterize Greek Revival Homes.

International The International style exposes functional building elements, including elevator shafts, ground-to-ceiling plate glass windows, and smooth facades.

Italianate Symmetrical bay windows in front; small chimneys set in irregular locations; tall, narrow, windows; and in some cases towers, typify Italianate houses.

Monterey The Monterey style updates the New England Colonial style with an Adobe brick exterior and a second-floor with a balcony.

National Rooted in Native American and pre-railroad dwellings, the National style consists of a rectangular shape with side-gabled roofs or square layouts with pyramidal roofs.

Neoclassical Recognize Neoclassical homes, which exist in incarnations from one-story cottages to multilevel manses, by their Ionic- or Corinthian-columned porches.

Prairie Originated by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Prairie-style house comes in two styles--boxy and symmetrical or low-slung and asymmetrical.

Pueblo Flat roofs, parapet walls with round edges, straight-edge window frames, earth-colored stucco or adobe-brick walls, and projecting roof beams typify Pueblos.

Queen Anne Emerging in the late Victorian era, the style employs inventive, multistory floor plans that often include projecting wings, several porches and balconies, and multiple chimneys with decorative chimney pots.

Ranch Similar to the Spanish Colonial, Prairie, and Craftsman styles, Ranch homes are set apart by pitched-roof construction, built-in garages, wood or brick exterior walls, sliding, and picture windows.

Regency Although they borrow from the Georgian's classic lines, Regency homes eschew ornamentation. They're symmetrical, two or three stories, and usually built in brick. Typically, they feature an octagonal window over the front door, one chimney at the side of the house, double-hung windows, and a hip roof.

Saltbox This New England Colonial style gained the Saltbox nickname because its sharply sloping gable roof resembled boxes used for storing salt.

Second Empire A Victorian style, Second Empire homes feature mansard roofs with dormer windows, molded cornices, and decorative brackets under the eaves.

Shed A subset of the Modern style, Shed houses are asymmetric with multiple roofs sloping in different directions, which creates several geometric shapes.

Shingle An American style that echoes the Queen Anne, the Shingle style is distinguished by unadorned doors, windows, porches, and cornices; continuous wood shingles; a steeply pitched roof line; and large porches.

Shotgun Tradition says that a shotgun blast can trace a straight path from the front to back door of this long, narrow home. The style is characterized by a single story with a gabled roof.

Spanish Eclectic Taking its cues from early Spanish missions, Spanish Eclectic then adds a dash of details from Moorish, Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural styles.

Split Level A Modern style, Split level design sequesters certain living activities, such as sleeping or socializing.

Stick Decorative horizontal, vertical, or diagonal boards characterize Stick Houses, which are members of the Victorian family.

Tudor Half-timbering on bay windows and upper floors, and facades that are dominated by one or more steeply pitched cross gables typify Tudor homes.

Victorian Built during the rise of the machine age, Victorian architecture often incorporated decorative details such as brackets, spindles, and patterned shingles.

Home Features:

arches, columns, dormers, roofs, windows, classic molding