Advice on Choosing a House Style

Advice on Choosing a House Style

Part one of three:
(part two • part three)

What exactly does it mean when a plan description labels a home "Spanish/Mediterranean"? What does a builder mean when he talks about "Tudor detailing"? What do the homes look like in the neighborhood in which you plan to build? Are they Country or French? Your search through a sea of home plans to find the right one for you and your family will be easier if you have a clear understanding of what kinds of house styles are available, what kind you prefer and how the outside look of the house influences the inside layout.

Here are details on house styles with specific examples that refer to actual home plans offered from HomeStyles.

EUROPEAN-STYLE ROMANCE

"European or Euro styling" covers many different types of house styles developed over the centuries in varied countries of Europe. Many of today's "European" styled homes do not completely replicate the original designs, but instead are loose interpretations highlighting selected elements. The advantage is that you can have an attractive home that reflects the flavor of a period or country, without it looking so extreme or different from other homes in your neighborhood that it looks out of place. Here are details on how to spot three of the most popular European styles:

french house

French: If you like formal, but graceful decorative details, a French style home may be the one for you. Exteriors of these home often incorporate: wedge-shaped keystone details above the windows; quoins-- a detail that looks like interlocking blocks-in the left and right side corners of the facade; arched and multi-paned windows; copper-topped window bays; and shutters. The exterior surface of the French style home is usually made with brick or stucco. Inside, the layout of the rooms is usually formal, with distinct living and dining rooms. Shown: plan #FB-5446-ELAM

Spanish/Mediterranean: If you like open, sprawling interiors, look into building a Spanish/Mediterranean style home. The exteriors are usually surfaced in stucco, with lots of arches and columns. The most distinctive feature is a low-pitched, reddish tiled roof. Modern interpretations of the Spanish/Mediterranean style are flowing inside and out, with simple lines and airy spaces. This style is most popular in the Southern states and California. Shown: plan #HDS-99-167

Tudor: If you are an Anglophile and everything British is your cup of tea, think Tudor! The styling is based loosely on English homes of the late Medieval period. The distinctive exterior is made with half timbers-angled planks painted brown or other darkish colors. These mock beams--for they are only decorative and not true structural beams-- complement these other elements commonly used on the exterior: stucco, stone and wood. Many Tudors also have massive chimneys or steep gables. Inside, the interiors can be formal with distinct divisions between rooms, arched entryways, and tall, narrow windows. Shown: plan #P-7579-2A

More home styles:
part two: American Styles • part three: Contemporary Styles

Check out house plans on the HomeStyles site to find one that's right for you. You may order plans for any of the homes shown here by writing down the plan number and calling HomeStyles toll-free at 1-888-466-7895