The Cape Cod House Style in Pictures and Text

Table Of Content

• History of Cape Cod houses
• Landscaping and Curb Appeal for Cape Cod Houses
• Roof Styles in Cape Cod Houses
• Different types of Cape Cod-style architecture
• Interior characteristics and features of the Cape Cod house style
• Cape Cod House Style – The Ultimate Guide To What It Is And How To Get The Look
• Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter

Although there are some usage limitations, the half-story is well worth it for the extra space. Though Cape Cod houses had humble beginnings, they’ve evolved into coveted, beloved structures. According to Wright, it’s the “cultural knowledge” of what the homes represent that keep them so popular. “The style is so warm and comfortable, and it just says summer,” Wright says. “It just screams summer.” Seen in movies and TV shows, the style is further embedded into pop culture as emblematic of warm weather and easy living.

History of Cape Cod houses

The distressed siding lends a hand to the beachside feel, but other common features in Cape Cod homes are shiplap and cedar accents, says Homenish. It's unlikely that you'd find gaudy or ornate decor in one of these homes, aside from a column or two touching upon the traditional theme. Certainly, Cape Cods lend themselves to coastal elements inside, but they're just as easy to decorate in an eclectic, new traditional, or Scandi-inspired style. With a look that's both historic and understated, it's easy to find a design aesthetic that will be harmonious with a Cape Cod cottage. The final addition to the stark design of the Cape Cod style house is the front porch, which has become as traditional an element as the weathered shingle siding or the dish antennae. Cape Cod house plans for 1950s America was a marketing scheme for a booming housing market.

Landscaping and Curb Appeal for Cape Cod Houses

With roots in the 17th century, this classic American style remains popular today. These Cape Cod-style homes showcase several key elements that distinguish this casual, traditional style. According to McDonald, when in their native setting, there are little disadvantages to living in a Cape Cod house. “These houses would be at home in nearly any seasonal resort type area in Southern New England.” However, the small footprint of this type of house—in its most traditional sense—can be disadvantageous for some. On the first floor, the kitchen was opened up and rebuilt, a two-sided interior fireplace was removed, and a new one was added to the family room’s exterior wall.

Roof Styles in Cape Cod Houses

It originated in the late 17th century when English settlers began building homes in the New England region, specifically along the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The owners of this traditional 20th century Cape Cod house gave it a brand new look by adding mock stone facing. Its application (or misapplication) can drastically affect the curb appeal and charm of any home. This home may have a picket fence in the front yard, but don't be fooled when calculating the age of this structure. The recessed entryway is an architectural solution to the rain-dripping and snow-melting problems of traditional Cape Cod designs. The history of Cape Cod architecture continued as the original wave of houses in this style was built from 1690 to 1850.

Ocean-inspired colors like sage green, aquamarine, and buttery beige tones give these homes a beachy, comfy vibe. Julia is a part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about real estate and design trends. When looking for a Cape Cod house, the façade is usually the first that will come to mind. Though most residences often feature unpainted side shingles and a clapboard or cedar shake roof, its symmetry will likely catch your eye. Since Cape Cod house style is typically free of any ornamentation, it’s easy to write it off as bland.

Famed architect's cottage, a Modernist landmark on Cape Cod, waits for revival — or demolition - GBH News

Famed architect's cottage, a Modernist landmark on Cape Cod, waits for revival — or demolition.

Posted: Tue, 10 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

We really created something out of nothing.” Introducing new furniture was always part of the Brauns’ plan, and the mahogany dining table is one of only two original pieces they decided to keep. Built in 1974, the house held 2,800 square feet, with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, and was in surprisingly good shape. Overall, the calmness and coziness of these homes draw innumerable homeowners each year.

In keeping with a more traditional style, you can find floor plans with the front entry or foyer that opens onto a stairway, with a bedroom, study, or office on the right side and a formal living room on the left. When kids are asked to draw a picture of a house in elementary school, they invariably respond with a rectangular shape that features a door in the center, with a window on each side. This simple – but timeless and charming – architectural depiction is a quintessential “Cape Cod” home. Unlike Victorian homes popular in the early 20th century, Cape Cod homes are distinguished by their simple architectural designs. Because of their modest geometric forms, Cape Cod houses are particularly well-suited for additions. Similar to the exterior geometry, the interior layout is planned symmetrically with the front door opening into the majestic central hall.

Unexpected exteriors

Traditionally, the space under the roof of a Cape Cod house wasn't used as a livable second story. Later, dormers became a useful solution for many Cape Cod homeowners to expand their living space. These pop-out windows allow some breathing room for the half-floor on the second level, making it suitable for bedrooms and bonus spaces. Though Cape Cod cottages may, at times, come with the connotation of old money or coastal elite homeowners, they didn’t start like this. “The first settlers came from Plymouth and were just trying to survive,” McDonald explains. Back in the 17th century, when colonists first came to what would become the United States, the rocky terrain and cold winters didn’t make the New England coast an ideal place to live.

The old dining room became a library, and a sitting room became a music room with a new piano. Upstairs, the master bath co-opted space from a large closet for a double vanity and an enlarged shower, and gained two more windows. “There’s so much detail there—from the millwork and window placement to the distressed ceiling beams.

The decor and furnishings in a Cape Cod house should aim to create a comfortable, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere that captures the essence of coastal living. Choose pieces and accents that reflect the timeless charm and simplicity of this architectural style, while also expressing your personal taste and style preferences. Like many historic residential architecture styles, the original Cape Cod homes were practical structures built with available materials suited to the local climate. This Cape Cod home seems very traditional—no dormers, a center chimney, and not even any window shutters.

Like the homes at Plimoth Plantation, the landscape of the traditional Cape Cod home often includes the picket fence or gate. Many of the homes of the past have been modified through architectural details or building additions. Exploring the meaning of architectural style can be challenging in a country like the United States with a population of diverse backgrounds.

Property of week: More than a classic Cape Cod style home, much more - Hartford Courant

Property of week: More than a classic Cape Cod style home, much more.

Posted: Sun, 13 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Cape Cod homes are still popular to this day as simple and efficient starter homes for small families or veterans. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the history, characteristics, and unique features of Cape Cod houses. We’ll explore both the exterior and interior aspects, including the iconic roof styles, windows, doors, color schemes, floor plans, decor, and much more. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to remodel or simply an architecture enthusiast, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to understand and recreate the Cape Cod house look.

Upon a closer look, in addition to a shed-like front door shelter, rain and snow can be redirected away from the house by gutters and downspouts and window lintels. For the practical New Englander, architectural detail is often for very practical reasons. However, you can easily personalize this home style by adding window boxes for flowers, painting your chimney a bold color, putting up a picket fence in color other than white, or adding colored shutters. These small changes can update and modernize your Cape Cod from traditional to contemporary.

Even if one is further inland in a suburban town, you can expect a nautical vibe with touches of traditional, rustic elements peppered throughout the interior and exterior. These homes are certainly more modest, but no less special — and they're definitely more popular than a beachside mansion. Whether you're thinking of buying one of these beauties or just toying with the idea of a late summer rental, there's plenty to learn about the classic Cape style home.

A temple-like portico (porch) with a steep pediment gives this Cape Cod-style house the appearance of a Tudor Cottage. This old home in Chatham on Cape Cod must have had its share of roof drips over the front door. More formal homeowners may take a Classical approach and install a pediment over the front door—and maybe some pilasters — not this New Englander. The American Cape Cod house style is often considered the first American independent style. Perhaps best described as the quintessential American summer house, the homes evoke daydreams of slower days and beachside New England retreats. To learn more about the look, AD spoke with Wright as well as Peter McDonald, an architect based in Cape Cod, about the unique house style.