Pictured Above: Designer Annie Anderson's Colonial home in Kansas City.Jump to:Colonial-style homes belong to one of the most recognizable residential architectural styles in the United States. It originated during the European colonization of the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries—British, Dutch, Spanish, and French settlers brought with them building traditions from their home countries, which were then adapted to suit local climates using local materials. As a result, Colonial-style architecture encompasses various subtypes based on the country of origin and regional adaptations within the U.S.Of course, there are many overlaps between these variations in Colonial-style architecture. In general, Colonial-style homes are most easily recognized for their symmetrical façades, gabled roofs, and closed-concept interiors. While Colonial-style homes have evolved over the centuries—their modern interpretation is the Colonial Revival style—they remain one of the most popular residential architectural styles in the U.S. today. Here's what you need to know about their historical design.Related StoriesKey Features of a Colonial-Style HouseThomas LoofA center hall Colonial home built in 1790 on five acres in Bedford, New York.Most Colonial-style homes share a number of key characteristics.Symmetrical façades: Colonial-style homes most commonly have a balanced, rectangular shape with a centered front door and evenly spaced windows.Two or more stories: Traditional Colonial-style homes are typically two or three stories tall, with living spaces on the first floor and bedrooms on upper floors.Gabled roofs: These homes commonly have gabled roofs with steep pitches.Central chimney or double chimneys: Early Colonial-style homes usually feature a large central chimney, though later variations may have pairs of chimneys, one located on each side of the house.Double-hung windows: Double-hung windows with multiple panes are evenly spaced across the façade of Colonial-style homes. They often, but not always, have shutters.Wood, brick or stone exteriors: Traditional exterior materials include clapboard siding, brick, and stone, depending on regional influences.Minimal embellishments: Colonial-style homes feature simpler design choices, particularly on their exteriors.Types of Colonial HomesColonial-style homes can be found across the U.S., with various regions featuring different adaptations. But the most dominant factor in determining subtypes is the architectural style's country of origin.FOTOGRAFIA INC.//Getty ImagesBritish Colonial: The most common subtype of Colonial-style homes, British Colonial architecture emphasizes symmetry and simplicity. On their exteriors, they often have brick or wood façades, shuttered windows, and central doorways. Interiors are compartmentalized, typically with a central hallway flanked by formal living and dining rooms.Johnrob//Getty ImagesDutch Colonial: Dutch Colonial-style homes are easily identified by their gambrel roofs, which make them look like classic barns. These homes were originally constructed by Dutch settlers in the Northeast and may also feature flared eaves, dormer windows, and broad porches.csfotoimages//Getty ImagesSpanish Colonial: Found primarily in the American Southwest and parts of California, Spanish Colonial-style homes are the most distinctive type of Colonial-style architecture, veering away from East Coast styles. Often a single story and built around a courtyard or patio, they are typically constructed with white stucco walls, red clay tile roofs, and arched entryways.TerryJ//Getty ImagesFrench Colonial: Popular in Louisiana and along the Mississippi River, French Colonial-style homes are known for their square profiles, wide porches, hipped roofs, and high-ceilinged floors.VELEZGREENE//Getty ImagesGeorgian: Georgian Colonial-style homes emphasize proportion and symmetry to a high degree—they will always have perfectly symmetrical façades. Common characteristics include paneled front doors with pilasters, brick exteriors, and dual chimneys. They were most popular during the reign of Britain's first four King Georges, or roughly from the early 18th to early 19th centuries.John Penney//Getty ImagesSaltbox: A subtype of Colonial architecture specific to New England, the saltbox house has two stories in the front and one story in the back. Its most distinctive trait is a long, pitched roof that slopes down from front to back, creating a distinctive asymmetrical profile. Originally developed as a way to add space without constructing a full addition, saltbox houses are usually wood-framed with clapboard siding and often feature a large central chimney.Advantages of Colonial-Style HomesJared KuziaInterior of a Boston Colonial Revival home, designed by Cecilia Casagrande.Colonial-style homes offer numerous benefits that continue to appeal to modern homeowners.Classic curb appeal: Their symmetrical design and timeless style are attractive to many homeowners.Defined spaces: Separate rooms in the closed-concept plan provide privacy and noise reduction, which can be ideal for families or remote work.Easy to expand: The simple rectangular floor plan makes it relatively straightforward to add extensions.Strong resale value: Their enduring appeal and association with tradition often make them desirable in the real estate market.Related StoryDisadvantages of Colonial-Style HousesThough Colonial-style homes are admired for their beauty, they do come with a few drawbacks, depending on personal preferences. Closed-concept layout: If you're interested in open floor plans, a traditional Colonial-style home might not be for you. Plus, some spaces, such as kitchens, may be smaller than you're accustomed to.Multi-floor living: Because Colonial-style homes almost always have multiple floors, they're not ideal for those with decreased mobility.Traditional style: Some might find the very traditional aesthetic of Colonial-style homes to feel boring or cookie-cutter.Renovation costs: Updating a Colonial-style home to modern standards—especially in terms of HVAC, plumbing, or electrical systems—can be costly due to the home's age and structure.Related StoryWhat's the Difference Between Colonial-Style and Colonial Revival Homes?ferrantraite//Getty ImagesWhile Colonial-style and Colonial Revival homes share many similarities, there are important distinctions between the two. Colonial-style homes were built during the 17th and 18th centuries by European settlers in the Americas. Colonial Revival homes, on the other hand, emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a nostalgic reinterpretation of these earlier designs. While Colonial Revival homes mimic the symmetry and styling of historic Colonial architecture, they are often designed with updated amenities, including open floor plans, larger windows, and improved insulation.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

News Earth Gamma rays flared as this lightning bolt formed Thunderstorms generate this high energy radiation, but pinning it to specific bolt is new This lightning bolt striking a television broadcast antenna in Japan in January 2023 marks the first time a specific discharge has been definitively linked to a terrestrial gamma-ray flash, a new study reveals. Yuuki Wada By Sid Perkins 1 hour ago The collision of two lightning-bolts-in-the-making spawned an exceedingly brief but extremely energetic flash of gamma rays. This first-of-its-kind observation may help explain an origin of some of the most energetic radiation on Earth. Researchers have for years linked the production of gamma rays to the acceleration of electrons by strong electric fields in thunderstorms. Yet they’ve never been able to pinpoint the source of any so-called terrestrial gamma ray flashes, says Yuuki Wada, an atmospheric physicist at the University of Osaka in Japan. He and his team set out to remedy that by observing a hotbed of wintertime lightning over the west coast of Japan in January 2023. Sign up for our newsletter We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

Long before Grab rides and GPS directions, getting around in parts of Southeast Asia meant relying on human muscle and mechanical poetry. In Penang, that poetry rolled down the cobbled streets of George Town in the form of the trishaw, a three-wheeled chariot that was less about speed and more about spectacle. With the driver perched behind the passenger, pedaling like a stagehand moving the lead actor across a set, these vibrant vehicles blurred the lines between transport, craft, and theater. Their lineage traces back to 19th-century Japan, where the jinrikisha – literally “human-powered vehicle” – first emerged. Designed by Izumi Yosuke around 1869, it was a utilitarian marvel born out of necessity and swiftly adopted across Asia. When this mode of transport made its way to Malaysia, it evolved with local flair. Penang’s version added canopies, floral decorations, and a peculiar but charming reverse layout where the passenger faces backwards, getting a clear view of the city rather than of the rider. An addition of a third wheel turned the jinrikisha into a trike, replacing the hand-pulling operation with simple pedalling. As cars and scooters took over, trishaws faded from daily life, becoming nostalgic footnotes or tourist novelties… but now, a LEGO builder is turning them into a gorgeous brick-based collectible. Designer: WYCreation The trishaw’s gradual descent into obsolescence is precisely why WYCreation’s LEGO Penang Trishaw build feels so necessary. It doesn’t just document a cultural icon – it reconstructs it in 1,000 meticulously selected bricks, scaled to a commanding 1:8 model measuring 42cm long, 24cm wide, and 27cm tall. It’s bulky in all the right ways, capturing the vehicle’s ornamental charm and structural oddities with uncanny finesse. The curved canopy is especially arresting, made even more expressive by a bold reinterpretation: a LEGO flower used as its umbrella that acts as decor, a symbol of the trishaw, as well as a sun and rain-guard for the rider. Technically, this wasn’t an easy one. Trishaws, with their sloping profiles and offset balance, aren’t friendly to LEGO’s rectangular system. WYCreation spent weeks iterating designs, especially the wheel assembly, a notoriously difficult challenge due to its thin profile and structural integrity. Drawing inspiration from LEGO designer Đặng Hoàng, who previously used similar techniques in his own MOCs, the wheels here strike a rare balance between fragility and fidelity. What makes the build special isn’t just the execution, though. It’s the way it preserves atmosphere. From the flared fenders to the slightly tilted passenger seat, every element echoes a larger story, the kind you can almost hear through the rhythmic ring of a brass bell and the creak of aging pedals on asphalt. You’re not looking at a LEGO model. You’re seeing a street scene from 1970s Penang, filtered through brickwork. The Penang Trishaw is currently a submission on the LEGO Ideas forum – an online community where LEGO builders make and share their own creations, as well as vote for their favorites. Top-voted designs get vetted by LEGO’s internal team and then turned into box sets that anyone can buy. You can vote for WYCreation’s MOC (My Own Creation) on the LEGO Ideas website here.The post Penang’s Iconic Backward Trishaw Gets a Brilliant LEGO Makeover first appeared on Yanko Design.

It’s flagship wireless headphones season, and Sony has revealed its highly anticipated WH-1000XM6—a pair of over-ear noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones three or five or even nine years in the making, depending on how you look at it. I’ve had a few days to go hands-on with the WH-1000XM6, so here are my first impressions. The Sony WH line has long been an excellent all-rounder, a perennial best-for-most recommendation (the XM10004 was one of the first things I reviewed for this very publication). So, if you’re familiar with Sony’s headphones since at least 2022 (and many commuters and frequent flyers will be), you’ll recognize most aspects of the new 1000XM6’s aesthetic. With its vegan leatherette-wrapped cylinder of a headband and matte, touch-sensitive (and fingerprint-friendly) earcups, the 1000XM6’s build is 95 percent 1000XM5—an gentle evolution from the last model rather than a revolution. But it does address the biggest complaint of the previous generation: the lack of foldability. That’s right, hinges—last seen on 2020’s 1000XM4—are back. And a folding mechanism means a more compact carrying case, with a new magnetic lock so no inconvenient zippers to get stuck or wear out. Despite the similarities to the 1000XM5, there are many small, purposeful tweaks blended into the 1000XM6 chassis. The headband is a touch wider, flared toward the back for both stability and as a directional cue on how to wear them. Similarly, the asymmetrical earcups (which now have replaceable pleather cushions) feature the power button—now a round, recessed button rather than raised tab—on the lower left as another indicator. And that’s accompanied by a tiny tactile marker in the rear center of the housing, just in case you weren’t sure. Point being, Sony has addressed long-term comfort and portability and made it easier than ever to get the headphones to your head correctly, whether you’re sprawled out at home or feeling cramped in basic economy. Once on, the clamping power is higher than the 1000XM5 but not excessive, and the weight is an easily manageable 254g (for comparison, the AirPods Max weigh 385g). The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Sony WH-1000XM6 (in the case and on the right) shown side by side. The sound So, what should you expect once the 1000XM6 is on. Much is being made of the tuning, done through a collaboration with material science and mix engineers. The 1000XM6 features a 30mm driver, consistent with the 1000XM5, but featuring new components. And it’s not the size, it’s how you use it. When asked about the choice of materials in the driver units, Sony Electronics’ Shimo Hiroaki commented, “There are various advantages to using carbon in the dome [diaphragm] of headphones. For example, high rigidity allows the diaphragm to move precisely as intended, resulting in less sound distortion. Additionally, the lightweight yet rigid carbon material can respond quickly to vibrations in the high-frequency range.” That translates to a more crisp, articulate, authoritative sound. The high-frequency reproduction is further refined by the use of a perforated bobbin—an unassuming support in the voice coil that can extend and smooth response through resonance dampening and controlled airflow. As for the voicing, it’s informed by Grammy-winning and -nominated engineers from Battery Studios, Sterling Sound, and Coast Mastering. Following in the “as the creator intended” messaging of the BRAVIA home entertainment launches of the last couple of years, Sony drew on internal resources (in this case Sony Music Entertainment facilities and personnel) to achieve a more “truthful” house sound. While I don’t know all their target curve or individual signal chains, per se, this crew of new release, catalogue, and immersive mastering engineers brings a wealth of golden ears. Beyond the acoustic architecture and artistic input, digital signal processing (DSP) plays its part. Sound quality starts with the quality of signal, and Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 with support for AAC, LDAC, and LC3 lets the 1000XM6 connect to your device of choice in the most optimal way. There’s no support for aptX Adaptive, however, and there won’t be as LDAC is Sony’s proprietary high-resolution codec. (While I keep an Android smartpone and several DAPs around for testing because I believe LDAC at 990kbps is perceivably superior to AAC on an iPhone, YMMV. And thanks to all of the software efforts on both ends, AAC isn’t bad, I’m just an acknowledged snob—if I can stream uncompressed audio, I don’t want to bottleneck it as much as possible. The ultimate solution would be to use the 3.5mm headphone jack, if you have a source that supports it.) The result of all this fine-tuning? On its default settings, the 1000XM6 is less bassy, more taut than its predecessor. Listening to the deep, post-disco house of “Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)” by Hercules & Love Affair, the kick drum is less fuzzy than on the 1000XM5. The groove of the bassline is more defined, the edges of the brass section more clearly etched, the lush piano chords allowed to billow and breath. While the melancholy yet uplifting vocal from Anohni sustains its intensity more effortlessly. It’s more soulful, more propulsive, cleaner and more detailed compared to previous Sony drive units. Undoubtedly enjoyable. As to whether it’s more “natural” and an authentic connection to the source, that will require more close listening and A/B testing with other top-tier wireless headphones to firmly determine. And, as always, the Sony app provides ample ways to tweak the sonic signature. There’s the familiar DSEE Extreme for upscaling compressed sources and a 10-band EQ (versus the 1000XM5’s 5-band) thanks to the upgraded processor—the first new chipset in several generations. Noise cancellation To test the noise cancellation, now supported by 12 microphones (up from 8 in the 1000XM5), I would have liked to have taken a flight. While timing didn’t allow that, I had the next best thing: a flight path. I live within walking distance of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (the most infamous airport at the moment after Newark, unfortunately). And this means almost constant rumbling roars from every trajectory (reinforced by the railroad tracks between me and the runway). You learn to tune it all out naturally, but being able to cancel it digitally is even better. So, with DCA and Amtrak as my backdrop, I went on a walk. At first, I thought something was wrong. Not only was the noise not being cancelled, but I could hear birds chirping clear as day. Looking at the app, I realized I’d left Adaptive Sound Control on and Ambient Sound—jacked up to the top level (20)—had triggered when I started moving. Then, as I was checking the settings, the background suddenly went black. Apparently, it didn’t take a lot of standing still to send the headphones back into a focused state. So, that’s a quality passthrough mode proof of concept, if your day involves more interaction and/or you want more automation. And there are customizable Scenes to help you dictate when silence and situational awareness should be prioritized, as well as what music service should be used. Back to the planes. What planes? Toggling between Ambient Sound and Noise Canceling instantly took the stretched thunder of ascent from a whoosh to a whisper. And with music playing, it disappeared all together. Would the effect be even more pronounced if I didn’t wear glasses? Would it be less pronounced if I had hair? Sony claims no, as the new 7x faster QN3 processor adapts ANC to compensate for hats, air pressure, eyewear, etc. As a near-sighted bald, I appreciate my head coverings and corrective lenses being considered, even if I’ll never know what part a hairstyle plays. What I do know is that what I hear, or didn’t hear in this case, reinforces the XM series’ reputation as a preferred travel companion and I look forward to an actual in-transit test. And a quick dip into a coffeeshop on the way home gave the impression that the broad spectrum of ambient noise is being addressed, including chatter and clatter. I them sat through my wife’s work check-in without the need to sign an NDA; I couldn’t hear a thing (the deafheaven album playing surely helped). Call quality The Sony WH line has always bridged the gap between headphones and headset for business leaders, and the latest iteration improves directivity for when you just have to be in on that meeting but you’re off-site. On a recent call testing the XM5 versus the XM6, the person I was speaking with commented that my voice on the XM6 sounded clearer and cleaner, particularly in the sibilants (think the many, many times you make an s, z, sh, or zh sound). The XM6’s combination of six beamforming mics—two more than the XM5—plus AI noise reduction/voice isolation regulated all my higher amplitude utterances while exhibiting lower compression artifacts. If you’re someone who likes to dictate texts, notes, etc., these will work well to ensure intelligibility. Battery life and charging capability One last new feature of note is that you can use the 1000XM6 while charging it via USB-C cable, though charging will stop at 80 percent when in use in order to reduce battery wear. To achieve a 100 percent charge, turn off the headphones. And if the battery is running dry but you’d rather not remained tethered, a three-minute charge can give the 1000XM6 three hours of juice. As for the total run-time advertised, it’s the same as the 1000XM5: 30 hours with ANC off, 400 with ANC on. And an effective wear sensor helps conserve that. The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are available to order now for $449.99 in Black, Platinum Silver, and Midnight Blue.