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As we slide into a post-postmodern world, in which many house styles have been altered and hodgepodged to such a degree they become unrecognizable, there are a slew of identifiable types of houses popping up in new builds across the country. Although home designs used to signify something about their regionthink Craftsman homes in the Pacific Northwest, Colonial in the Northeast, or the sprawling California ranch housetodays home styles are less locationally driven and more about the individual lifestyles being framed within them. Modern and contemporary houses still have a stronghold on new construction, but many traditional types of homes are holding fast. Below, weve compiled an overview of the most popular home styles in the US today.1. Contemporary StyleFrom coast to coast, over the last decade, contemporary styles have become ubiquitous in architectural and interior design. Whether its industrial styles highlighting contemporary building materials, like steel and concrete, or more restrained expressions with clean lines and unadorned surfaces, contemporary home styles are united by their commitment to innovation in breaking with the past. Simple forms and geometries abound, with a distinct lack of more organic elements like curved shapes, soft textures, and overly decorative ornamentation. Sustainability is often an important feature in contemporary styles of houses, incorporating green elements like solar PV arrays, rainwater harvesting, and geothermal heating. One trend emerging in our work and resonating with an increasing number of clients is design that directly responds to the climate crisis, says Jonathan Feldman, of AD PRO Directorylisted firm Feldman Architecture. Its where issues of ecology, resources, and human and ecological well-being are embedded in design, rather than an afterthought.2. Midcentury ModernNeutra VDL Studio and Residences, the former home of architect Richard Neutra, displays many of the signature elements of midcentury-modern design, including rectilinear, horizontal volumes devoid of ornament.Ann Johansson/Getty ImagesCreated by architects in the middle of the 20th century, midcentury modern is a style born out of postWorld War II optimism and new technological developments of the age. With the advancements in steel, concrete, and glass, architects developed new styles of houses that expressed these novel building materials. For us, the elements that contribute to this style include clean lines, a reinterpretation of traditional craft, restraint, and an emphasis on connection to place, says Shawn Watts, of Leroy Street Studio. Clients are looking for architecture that feels authentic, meaningful, and timeless, and for homes that are contextual, appropriate, and relevant. No matter the individual expression, or whether they use industrial or natural materials, midcentury-modern styles of houses focus on doing away with unnecessary ornament and getting to the heart of a design vision. Were finding our clients want modern homes that still reflect the culture and DNA of the neighborhood, and that can coexist with surrounding historic and eclectic homes, agrees David Montalba, of AD PRO Directorylisted firm Montalba Architects.3. Classical RevivalA house in New London, Connecticut, bears certain signatures of Classical Revival architecture, like its fluted columns and pediment.Travelview / Getty ImagesIf theres one house style that lends an air of confidence and a deep sense of legacy, its Classical Revival. Derived from buildings of Roman and Greek antiquity, Classical Revival houses include Greek Revival and Roman Revival styles and draw on common elements such as columns, pediments, and a strong sense of rigor and balance. Think of classic civic examples like the Parthenon in Athens or the Pantheon in Rome: Buildings like these have influenced architects for centuries and still inform house styles across the country today, albeit in many different forms. There is a vast constellation of different styles and substyles, says Benjamin McGriff, of McGriff Architects, a member of the AD PRO Directory. But across all these variations, there is always a shared emphasis on the key principles of order, balance, composition, and symmetry. Through the 18th and into the 19th centuries, the Classical Revival house style represented a turn to simplicity after the lavish ornamentation of previous periods like French Rococo, and that clean austerity still has appeal today. Despite the inherent flexibility of residential Classical architecture to work with many different interior design styles, most clients see it as a somewhat serious and calming aesthetic, McGriff says.4. NeoclassicalThe White House is perhaps the most famous neoclassical home in America.Photo: Caroline Purser/Getty ImagesUnlike the Classical Revival style, which incorporates direct references to Greek and Roman forms, the neoclassical style pulls from design principles of the classical period in more comprehensive ways. I define the Neoclassical style as having gable roofs, round columns, general symmetry, some form of entry or porch, and frequently a main core and wings in the massing, explains Cathy Purple Cherry of the AD PRO Directorylisted firm Purple Cherry Architects, which has offices in New York and across the East Coast. Often, the neoclassical style expresses itself in subtle ways, with faades that are symmetrical and balanced, or an emphasis on classical proportions and scales in interior spaces. Typically, the neoclassical style embraces punched window openings on a solid wall, as opposed to the modern proclivity towards broad expanses of glass and window walls. Neoclassical style is not about capturing views, explains Purple Cherry. We translate the neoclassical style to meet our clients needs by increasing the window sizes on the back and sides of homes to capture views and bring in more natural light. Ultimately, the neoclassical style continues to stand the test of time due to its architectural ubiquity across time and place. Neoclassical is always going to be an appealing architectural style, declares Purple Cherry. Whether someone visited a significant property, or were raised in a classical home, the classic and stately aesthetic will always be appealing.5. TudorA Tudor-style house with a gabled roofline and brick-and-stucco construction.Peter Spiro / GettyMost PopularArchitecture + DesignThese 24 Beautiful Places of Worship Are Built Into NatureBy Katherine McLaughlinBathroom13 Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas That Will Inspire You to Embrace Rustic CharmBy Morgan GoldbergArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Art Deco Buildings Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla Named for the Tudor period in England and Wales, spanning the late 15th to the early 17th centuries, Tudor house styles today take loose inspiration from late Medieval manor homes. Originally combining Renaissance and Gothic design elements, todays Tudor houses often feature white stucco exteriors framed by half-timbering or a dark brick or stone construction. Its a storybook style of home that is often punctuated by a gabled roofline and long, rectangular windows. Though the Tudor trend was popular in the US in the 1920s and 30s, it fell out of style in the 1950s, but its still possible to see Tudor home styles across the country today.6. GeorgianGeorgian houses are known for their symmetrical design and flat faade.Pauws99 / GettyParticularly on the East Coast, the Georgian style is one of the most consistently popular house styles today. It saw its heyday in the American colonies from the 18th century through the Revolutionary War and was heavily influenced by Renaissance design. These types of houses are characterized by their rigid symmetrythink windows and front doors evenly lined up and spaced, with rows of windows breaking up a flat faade. Typically expressed in red brick structures with hip roofs, these types of homes rarely feature excess decoration and have restrained exteriors. With the Georgian style, proportion and balance reign supreme.7. Gothic RevivalThis Gothic Revival house by Bohl Architects showcases the genres gabled roofs and lacy ornamentation.John Ellis PhotographyMost PopularArchitecture + DesignThese 24 Beautiful Places of Worship Are Built Into NatureBy Katherine McLaughlinBathroom13 Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas That Will Inspire You to Embrace Rustic CharmBy Morgan GoldbergArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Art Deco Buildings Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla Many styles of houses aim to capture a single theme or ethos, but Gothic Revival house styles are defined by eclecticism. Drawing from many different time periods, architectural ideas, and forms, Gothic Revival houses merge architectural ideas and forms from a range of times and places. Many may associate the term Gothic with medieval Gothic cathedrals, but the Gothic Revival style is actually a European invention originating in Gothic towns of the English countryside, primarily in the 19th century. Typically, these types of houses have steep roofs, pointed arches at window and door openings, roof gables with lacy ornamented woodwork, front porches, and oriel bay windows. Because the Gothic Revival style was defined from the outset by its eclecticism, today it is popular for the range of creative expression it can embody. Many architectural styles can be predictable, and very rigid in their expression. Gothic Revival embraces complexity and contradiction, says Chip Bohl, of Bohl Architects, a member of the AD PRO Directory. Angela Healy, also of Bohl Architects, agrees. Gothic Revival is romantic, enchanting, and dramatic architecture with an old soul. Who wouldnt love that?8. VictorianThe Painted Ladies of San Francisco are some of the most famous Victorian style homes in a city known for them.Dea / Gianni Oliva / GettyAnother blast from the past, Victorian refers to a European house style that emerged during the Victorian era in the late 19th century. Often associated with the age of industrial expansion in Britain, the Victorian style can be seen as a reaction to the symmetrical and straightforward designs of Neoclassical and Georgian styles. The style encompasses a mixture of many revival styles, including Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival, and Second Empire. Victorian homes are characterized by elaborate detailing, expressive ornament, and a sense of grandeur. Today Victorian-style houses are some of the most diverse, since they typically feature decorative detailing and grand structures.9. Mediterranean StyleCasa Casuarina, the former residence of Gianni Versace in Miami Beach, exemplifies the Mediterranean style.Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesMost PopularArchitecture + DesignThese 24 Beautiful Places of Worship Are Built Into NatureBy Katherine McLaughlinBathroom13 Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas That Will Inspire You to Embrace Rustic CharmBy Morgan GoldbergArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Art Deco Buildings Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla In many cities, new builds often take inspiration from historical styles but incorporate innovative details inspired by the local context. In South Florida, where the New Yorkbased AD PRO Directorylisted firm Fairfax & Sammons Architects often designs homes, a prominent house style is Mediterranean. Mediterranean-style architecture is a classic, timeless tradition that combines elements of proportion and design, Anne Fairfax says. Its colorful and textured exterior stucco, intricate wrought-iron railings, and distinctive curves and lines give it an elegant yet timeless look. Mediterranean-style homes also focus on bright natural light, with oversized windows and front doors and open spaces that allow fresh breezes to flow. Additionally, the emphasis on outdoor living, with these types of homes utilizing courtyards, loggias, and terraces, makes the Mediterranean style perfect for the climate of South Florida.Historically accurate architecture based on location is essential to preserving culture and a sense of identity, Fairfax says. The best preservation tool is to build with integrity and respect for the past, and not be afraid to ask that beauty be a requisite.10. Shingle StylePart of a distinctly American vernacular, Shingle-style houses originated in New England. This example can be found in Chatham on Cape Cod.Loop Images / Getty ImagesBecause of the countrys colonial roots, many traditional house styles developed on the East Coast but have since migrated to other parts of the nation. One such house style is the Shingle style, which originated in New England as an alternative to the more expensive clapboard-siding homes that signaled a higher design aesthetic but were out of reach to the average homeowner. Using shingles, or small wood pieces installed in an overlapping rhythm, was a less costly and easier-to-maintain option than clapboard and other cladding options of the time. Today, the Shingle style can be found in many different materials and aesthetic expressions depending on the region and design influences, with the most common material being cedar. Shingles can be used on differing styles, explains Aaron Mollick, of Studio AM Architecture | Interiors, a member of the AD PRO Directory. They signal a casual sophistication that many of our clients express when creating their legacy homes. Michael Troyer, also of Studio AM, agrees. Shingle style grants artistic versatility and interpretation of ones own personal taste. Shingles have a rigor and repetition, which appeals to both traditionalists and those drawn to a more modern sensibility.11. ItalianateBuilt in 1876, the Villa Finale in San Antonio, Texas, embodies the Italianate tradition.Most PopularArchitecture + DesignThese 24 Beautiful Places of Worship Are Built Into NatureBy Katherine McLaughlinBathroom13 Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas That Will Inspire You to Embrace Rustic CharmBy Morgan GoldbergArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Art Deco Buildings Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla The mid-19th-century Italianate style remains enduring for house styles today. It was popularized in the US as people looked backwards to a romanticized version of the past to re-create something similar in the present. Inspired by medieval Italian villas and farm houses, the Italianate house style typically features deep overhanging eaves with highly decorative brackets, or the element that carries the weight of the eave. Ornamental elements such as decorative window crowns or pediments are common for Italianate houses. They will often have tall, narrow windows, usually with rounded tops. Inspired by Italian villas, these types of homes typically feature ground-level front porches supported by narrowly spaced columns.12. Spanish ColonialThis Spanish colonial revival bungalow in San Jose, California, was built in 1932.NNehring / GettyOn the West Coast, one of the most commonly recognizable house stylesparticularly in Californiais the Spanish colonial style. Inspired by the architecture of the Spanish missions, these types of houses are defined by gracious courtyards, solid white stucco walls, arcaded walkways, and rustic red tile roofs. As a native Californian, I have always loved the Spanish style, says Erik Evens, of AD PRO Directorylisted firm KAA Design. The planning of Spanish colonial buildings places special focus on inviting outdoor spaces such as courtyards and loggias, which are protected from the rain and sun and are usable year-round. Often imbuing a sense of warmth, texture, and rich details, Spanish colonial types of homes are still common in Southern California and beyond, but often with a modern twist. This style allows our clients to build in a way that connects to a rich architectural tradition, says Evens. As an architect, Im keenly interested in creating a contemporary interpretation of the Spanish colonial style that addresses a modern lifestyle.13. Ranch StyleThe low, sprawling ranch style can be found across the US.Mardis Coers / GettyMost PopularArchitecture + DesignThese 24 Beautiful Places of Worship Are Built Into NatureBy Katherine McLaughlinBathroom13 Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas That Will Inspire You to Embrace Rustic CharmBy Morgan GoldbergArchitecture + DesignThe 11 Most Beautiful Art Deco Buildings Around the WorldBy Maya Chawla In the American West, the legacy of ranch-style houses looms large. This type of home originated in the Southwest and California, but can now be found in the Midwest and across the US. This style of home is known for being single-story and rambling, with open floor plans and expansive living spaces, and large porches or patios. Ranch-style homes typically have low-pitched roofs, long windows on the facade, flat roofs, and an attached garage. While the form and scale of ranch-style homes can vary depending on the locationthey tend to be more sprawling in California and more compact and asymmetrical in other placesthe emphasis on an indoor-outdoor connection is a defining factor. Were particularly drawn to the broad overhanging roofs of California ranch homes, which evoke a sense of cozy domesticity, and the generous use of porches, which foster a connection to nature, says John Ike, of Ike Baker Velten, a member of the AD PRO Directory.14. BrutalistMany contemporary homes reference Brutalisms monolithic forms and exposed concrete, as seen in this residence by KAA.If any house style has experienced the scorn of a bad rap, its Brutalism. Known for its profusion of flat expanses of exposed concrete and monolithic forms, the Brutalist style was first defined by British historian and critic Reyner Banham in his 1955 essay The New Brutalism and has been criticized for its sometimes harsh and institutional expression. But according to Banham, the style is less about a brutal design expression and more about stripping down architecture to its most frank expression. Besides the unabashed embrace of exposed concrete, the Brutalist style is often defined by a clearly visible structure and honest expression of materials, which can be refreshing in the age of more is more. Recently, the term Brutalism has grown in use to describe modern, minimalist architecture that is austere but confident in its simplicity, says Grant Kirkpatrick of KAA Design. KAAs Duan Tran appreciates Brutalism for its directness and its commitment to authentic, honest material expression. Ive long admired Brutalisms boldness in form and artistic integrity, he explains. Raw concrete, modular geometry, heavy monolithic forms, and the use of natural lighting are key elements of Brutalism and what continue to drive a strong following for me and so many others.Frequently Asked QuestionsHow do you know what your house style is?Every house style has certain identifiable features, as evidenced by the above list. For example, craftsman homes almost always have low-pitched, triangular roofs while Victorians often have dramatic, steeped ones. By learning the common characteristics of popular styles, you can better match those traits to your own home. You may also be able to learn more about your houses design by digging into its property history.What is the most popular house style in America?The answer is complicated and depends on who you ask. Many architects have their favorites, and popular styles among the design set, including midcentury modern, Brutalism, and Contemporary, are discussed above. However, more traditional styles such as neoclassical, Tudor, and Shingle style have a devoted following, especially in certain parts of the country where those styles have been simmering for decades. Ultimately, the old adage of beauty is in the eye of the beholder rings true, as there truly is a house style for everyone.
