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Considering Architectural Styles

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Choosing a house is largely about function, but greatly about form as well. You want to choose a house plan that beautifully represents your personal style and taste. There are numerous styles to choose from, but most can be classified into a few distinct categories.

Early American or Colonial homes are based on the styles favored in the beginning of our nation's history. Distinct features include shutters, columns, and duel chimneys. Federal and Georgian styles include many of the same features, accompanied by a brick façade and gabled porches.

Decorative gingerbread detailing, bay windows, wrap-around porches, and gabled roofs characterize Victorian-style homes. Cape Cod styles usually favor heavily sloped ceilings and dormers.

Two modern house plan styles are the Ranch-style home, heavily favored in the 50s and 60s, and the Split-Level, which was all the rage in the 1970s. Contemporary floor plans feature open designs, where kitchens and family rooms meld into one another.

Exterior material choices are another important consideration. Choices include brick, wood, vinyl siding, stucco, and modern materials such as fiber cement siding (Hardiplank being a popular name brand). Each choice offers advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, maintenance, aesthetic appeal, and resale.

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