When you are looking at new Calgary homes for sale, it helps to narrow down your options based on the style of house you are interested in. But when it comes to home styles, do you know what you’re talking about and what the specific characteristics are?
Unless you know the lingo, it may be hard to research any given style and discuss your options with your realtor.
This guide to home styles and their characteristics may help make the options a little more familiar and a little easier to discuss. Who knows, maybe it will introduce you to a new style of architecture as well.
Victorians: The Victorian home is named for Britain’s Queen Victoria and first came to market between 1830 and 1910. These romantic homes are all about the details inside and out. They typically have two or three stories, a wrap-around porch, and towers.
Craftsman: The ever-popular Craftsman-style house is often associated with bungalows and was initially designed in the early 1900s. These houses are distinguished by overhanging eves, gables, and wide front porches. They are built out of a variety of materials include stone, cedar shingles, stucco, and brick.
Cape Cod: Cape Cods were the style of some of the first homes built in the United States. They typically have one or one-and-a-half stories and a steep roof with clapboard or brick siding.
Tudor: The dramatic Tudor-style house is based on a mix of medieval and early Renaissance styles. These homes typically have elaborate details, including steeped gabled roofs, large chimneys, and embellished doorways. The signature of the Tudor style, however, is the exposed wood framework that accents the house. They became popular with homeowners in the 1920s and 1930s.
Ranch: This home style is another popular option for many homebuyers, especially with Baby Boomers who are looking to retire. The one-story style is made distinctive by its wood and brick facade, large picture windows, sliding glass doors, and built-in garage. The style first hit the neighborhood scene in the 1920s.
Modern: These distinct homes were inspired by the modernist art movement and typically have wide expanses of glass, minimal details, sharp angles, and flat roofs.
Colonials: The Colonial-style house was devised in the 1700s. These popular home choices are characterized by their symmetrical rectangle design, a steep roof, and perfect rows of windows with shutters. Like Cape Cods, they are often built using brick or clapboard siding.
