A Home Styles Tour of America

/ @designREMODEL/
Image by giovanni gargiulo from Pixabay

Image by giovanni gargiulo from Pixabay

By Ashley Zimmermann, Creative Content Director for @designREMODEL

Architectural styles of homes is a topic that we might not think about on a daily basis, but we are actually surrounded by a patchwork of interesting examples. Cities and towns are colorful blends, often made up of many smaller neighborhoods of similar themes and shapes. Trends vary across each region of the U.S. and these can be explained by both historical narratives and practical reasoning.

This article is intended to give a high-level overview of common architectural residential styles - for those new to learning about the topic - and to discuss where in the country some of these common styles can be found. For a quick introduction, I recommend watching Allstate Insurance’s short and very helpful YouTube video “7 Home Styles Explained.” The styles discussed include Cape Cod, Colonial, Victorian, Craftsman, Tudor, Ranch, and Modern.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

The Northeast

Naturally, Cape Cod and Colonial homes are popular in New England. include gray shingle exteriors, symmetrical windows on either side of the central door, a steep roof, and one-and-a-half stories. ‘Colonial’ is a broad term for the type of homes found during the Revolutionary War era, from the 17th through 19th centuries. HomeStratosphere.com tells us that subtypes of the Colonial style include British, Dutch, Spanish, French, and German. (The Cape Cod is actually a subtype of British Colonial, but it is typically referred to as its own style, so we will treat it that way, too.) Yankee Magazine’s NewEngland.com also features more specialized styles like Adam-Style houses, (also Called Federal houses), Victorian houses, and Greek Revival houses. 

It is no surprise that new immigrants to America brought their traditional architectural methods with them. Guarding against harsh winters was a practical consideration. NewEngland.com author Nancy Zerbey says of 17th-Century Colonial Houses: “Whenever possible, they were built facing south for winter warmth. Their very steep roofs were designed to shed snow. Small, diamond-paned windows and heavy, vertically planked doors helped keep heat indoors.”

The Midwest

Homes.com’s article The Most Popular Home Styles in the Midwest lists the Craftsman, Farmhouse, and Modern styles as their top three. Midwesterners are also practical folks. The Farmhouse, in particular, makes sense due to the history of agricultural industries found across the Midwest for the last several hundred years. This is a wide generalization, but in my personal experience I’ve learned that many Midwesterners prefer function above fancy. (I’m from the Midwest, so I’m allowed to say this!) 

The Craftsman home (also known as a Craftsman bungalow or Arts and Crafts home) does allow for some creative expression. Homes.com explains that these houses are based on traditional designs but often feature hand-crafted stone or woodwork.

The South

The tastes of the South are a bit harder to describe, since there are so many very culturally different regions, all considered ‘Southern.’ Though, both Homes.com andAmerican Home Shield name Southern, Traditional, and European styles as their top three picks for the South. AHS.com says, “While states like Texas and Oklahoma prefer the Traditional and Modern-style home, many others choose the wide-open layout of a Ranch/Rambler. Georgia, on the other hand, has a completely different take on design, with nearly 20 percent of all its homes built in the European (specifically French) style of architecture.”

Traditional characteristics of favorite residential options in the South take the heat into account. Staying cool is paramount. Large, open designs and porches are conducive to letting air flow, to cooling off, and to escaping the sun.

Image by Vic Padilla from Pixabay

Image by Vic Padilla from Pixabay

The West

The Western U.S. is another region with several distinct cultural and geographic subcategories. We know the West Coast has an affinity for Mediterranean homes, especially along the California coastline. AHS.com describes this as “taking hints from the Mediterranean shores of Spain, France, and Italy.” Obviously, this makes a lot of sense from a climate perspective. Additionally, this type of home (easily identifiable with its stucco and tilework) is considered luxurious, fitting nicely into the Hollywood Hills lifestyle.

Homestratosphere.com describes the Southwestern home as “unique and simple and is the region’s representation. This style has evolved using domestic natural materials, Southwest’s unique regional settings and [Native American] and Spanish cultural influence.” These homes look like the descendants of Pueblo dwellings.

Regarding the Mountain States, AHS.com says they often prefer the comfortable, laid-back Ranch/Rambler, as do many other parts of the country.

Everywhere

Speaking of ranches … one residential style continues to win the popularity contest: the seemingly-humble ranch home. Realtor.com’s 2016 article highlighted this home and noted that it was “the most popular home style in 29 of the 50 states,” at that point in time. Trulia.com’s study, also from 2016, reported the Ranch as the most popular pick in 34 states in the U.S. Based on these two studies, we can safely round to 30 of 50 states- that is no small number!

And it has maintained its popularity; the ranch home shows up on lists from then through today, including ApartmentTherapy.com’s The Most Popular Home Styles of Summer 2019, According to Google, BHG.com’s 2020 article What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular House Styles Explained, and Redfin.com’s 13 Most Popular Home Styles Across the U.S. from May 2021.

Why the popularity? Realtor.com’s article explains the Ranch is easily customizable, inexpensive, and can be quick to build. HouseBeautiful.com tells us the original Ranch architect, Clifford May, said the following of his 1931 design: 

“'I rebelled against the boxy houses being built then. The ranch house was everything a California house should be—it had cross-ventilation, the floor was level with the ground, and with its courtyard and the exterior corridor, it was about sunshine and informal outdoor living.” 

Allstate Insurance’s “7 Home Styles Explained” video, mentioned earlier, notes that as many Baby Boomers are retiring and looking to downsize, ranch homes are a common choice. According to the American masses, Ranches have it all.

Which of the home styles discussed in this article do you like the best? Please comment with your favorites!