QA

Quick Answer: What Is A Colonial Home

Colonial Home 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 makes a house a colonial style?

Colonial-style houses usually have two or three stories, fireplaces, and brick or wood facades. The classic Colonial-style house floor plan has the kitchen and family room on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second floor. Colonial homes are easy to add on to at the side or the back.

What is the difference between colonial and traditional home?

The difference between Colonial and traditional home styles is quite simple; Colonial refers to a specific type of style, while traditional is a broader term encompassing many styles, including Colonial.

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.

How do you know if a house is a colonial?

Colonial homes are generally square or rectangular in shape, with the front door placed in the middle of the house’s front. It’s a very symmetrical look. The homes are almost always two-story structures with four rooms on each level. Frequently the house will have a chimney on one end.

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 does a Colonial Revival home 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 does colonial homes look like?

Colonial-style homes normally have a square or rectangle shape, with the door located in the exact center and the same number of windows reflected perfectly on either side. They traditionally have two to three stories with similar, traditional room layouts.

What did colonial houses look like inside?

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 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.

Are colonial homes good?

Appealing Architectural Features Colonial-style homes are detailed, aesthetic and well-proportioned. The front door is usually located in the center of the home with even numbers of windows and columns on either side, creating a uniform and symmetric appeal.

What type of roof does a colonial house have?

Clay tiles were commonly used as roofing material on Spanish Colonial homes, and they’re extremely heavy, so they require additional roof framing to ensure the structure can support their weight. Clay-tiled roofs are noncombustible and durable and typically last more than 50 years.

When were colonial homes built?

These styles are associated with the houses, churches and government buildings of the period from about 1600 through the 19th century. Several relatively distinct regional styles of colonial architecture are recognized in the United States.

What is considered a colonial?

Colonialism is defined as “control by one power over a dependent area or people.” It occurs when one nation subjugates another, conquering its population and exploiting it, often while forcing its own language and cultural values upon its people.

What does the term colonial mean?

Colonial means relating to countries that are colonies, or to colonialism. People who have lived for a long time in a colony but who belong to the colonizing country are sometimes referred to as colonials.

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.

What is Colonial furniture style?

Definition of colonial furniture : 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).

How do I get a colonial look?

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

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.

Are colonial homes still popular?

Colonial. Colonial architecture has maintained popularity most prominently in the northeast, especially from Maine to Virginia. The house architectural style is characterized by evenly spaced shuttered windows, multiple stories, chimneys and brick or wood exterior siding.

What is a modern colonial house?

This style has an asymmetrical façade, small windows, and rectangular shutters and is built on one floor of wood. source: homelight.com. Colonial-style houses are famous for their classic architecture where we can find some common features such as it has brick or wood facades, a fireplace and has two to three stories.

What two uses did the fireplace provide for colonial homes?

What two uses did the fireplace provide for colonial homes? Fireplaces provided heat and for cooking.