Colonial Revival Architecture

If you live in a house built before 1955 that's not a Victorian, bungalow, Italinate, Gothic, Greek Revival or neoclassical, it probably falls into the catch-all category of "Colonial Revival" architecture. Built from 1880 into the mid 50's, these mostly symmetrical, sturdy, boxy, houses borrowed from Georgian prototypes of centuries past to produce homes for the "Every Man" of America.

Some feature the gambrel roof that typically identifies a Dutch Colonial. These babies can have one to three floors. Some have dormers and some don't. Some have borrowed turrets from Queen Anne-style Victorians but their younger age give them away as products of the Colonial Revival.

About the only thing the houses typically have in common is an accentuated front door, usually placed in the dead center of the front facade . Look for crowns, pilasters, columns, fanlights, side lights, anything that makes that front door pop and announce that you are home.

From an interior design point of view the Revivals invite a return to tradition. Think Ethan Allen - the old classic stuff. Natural hardwood floors, white trim, yellow living rooms, brass accents and thick wool rugs. Lean towards cozy, staid furnishing and you can't go wrong. If you like traditional stuff, Colonial Revival architecture remains one of the all time favorite traditional design points of view.