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What style of house is this?

| Posted in General Discussion on September 8, 2000 11:26am

*
We’re in the process of designing a new home for our family. The style we’re interested in is sort of “cottage-y” in style with steep roof peaks (at least 14:12) and the main front gable has a “swoop” to the roof-line as it comes down over the front doorway.
What we’re looking for is this: 1) what do you call that style, so that we can better descibe it to the designer, builder, friends, etc., and 2) what are (or where can I find) the design details that are characteristic of this style so that we are sure to incorporate “authentic” elements.
Thanks in advance.

Dave

Reply

Replies

  1. Guest_ | Sep 04, 2000 09:14pm | #1

    *
    The style of your house depends as much on the geographic location as it does on roof style, etc. Please be more specific as to what area you live in (or are trying to mimic) and if you know the names of any well-known architects who built in this style.
    You might even post a sketch of what types of things you are trying to achieve. With the information you have provided so far there is not a lot to go on.

    1. Guest_ | Sep 04, 2000 09:22pm | #2

      *Dave,

      This home sounds very much like the house they did on HometimeTM. I believe it was called the house of distinction. Have a look on their site.

      View Image © 1999-2000"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle

      1. Guest_ | Sep 04, 2000 11:08pm | #3

        *Think Joe was talking about "The House With Character". Try http://www.hometime.com/ and click around until you find it.

        1. Guest_ | Sep 04, 2000 11:15pm | #4

          *Dave:I thought of the same TV show as Joe: Here is a link to a picture of the house.

          1. Guest_ | Sep 04, 2000 11:44pm | #5

            *I'm thinking Disneyland......been a long time but there is/was a ride in a small boat down a river through what was a fairy tale, children storybook kinda countryside. Little houses ect. That's what popped into my (pick your own adjective) mind. Joe H

          2. Guest_ | Sep 05, 2000 12:46am | #6

            *

            OK, so I didn't quite remember the name of that house, but Matt that's it. It sure was a really nice house too.

            View Image © 1999-2000"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle

          3. Guest_ | Sep 05, 2000 02:28am | #7

            *Dave, is there only ONE "swoop", swooping toward the center of the front elevation as it goes over the front door?Curiously, Steve

          4. Guest_ | Sep 05, 2000 03:09am | #8

            *"Victorian" or "Cotswald Cottage" is what comes to mind... elements of each incorporated.Oft with a thatch or wave-coursed roof.

          5. Guest_ | Sep 05, 2000 04:27am | #9

            *Here's a description of some architectural terms, [below] but the "swoop" may be a "bellcast". The house you are describing sounds like an English Tudor style, with the bellcast and the steep pitch. Characteristics also include tall and/or elaborate chimneys, some times topped with chimney pots on each flue, cross gables and patterned brick work or stone work.They were very popular in the 1920's-1940's. An excellent reference book on house styles is "A Field Guide to American Houses" by McAlester.Architectural terms:

  2. Suzanne_Price | Sep 05, 2000 05:28am | #10

    *
    I remember skimming a book on US domestic architecture in Borders that said these houses were supposed to be French country in style. This sounds odd, but it stuck in my mind for that reason. They were built about the same time as neocolonial houses.

  3. Guest_ | Sep 05, 2000 03:41pm | #11

    *
    Dave - The house pictured by Matt G. might be described as 'Arts & Crafts Revival.' But I think your reference, as noted by Rose, is to English Tudor Revival.

    You might see if you can get a copy of the book "Authentic Small Houses of the Twenties" by Robert T. Jones, Dover Publications, which has 254 plans and illustrations, some of them in that style. See page 49, 204 and others. This is an authentic reprint of a 1929 version and well worth having given your approach.

    Jeff

  4. The_Machine | Sep 08, 2000 08:20am | #12

    *
    Mr. Lervik:

    Absolutely English Tudor Revival. Are you accepting bids or do you have a builder in mind? Sounds like a fun, unique project.

    The Machine

  5. Dave_Lervik | Sep 08, 2000 11:26pm | #13

    *
    We're in the process of designing a new home for our family. The style we're interested in is sort of "cottage-y" in style with steep roof peaks (at least 14:12) and the main front gable has a "swoop" to the roof-line as it comes down over the front doorway.
    What we're looking for is this: 1) what do you call that style, so that we can better descibe it to the designer, builder, friends, etc., and 2) what are (or where can I find) the design details that are characteristic of this style so that we are sure to incorporate "authentic" elements.
    Thanks in advance.

    Dave

  6. Guest_ | Sep 08, 2000 11:26pm | #14

    *
    Check out this month's (the one I just received in the mail - it might be Sept. or Oct.) "Old House Journal". I think the featured house style is pretty similar to your description.

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