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Most Cape Cod-style homes have a plain front entry with little to no trim or details. Later versions became more decorative, sometimes featuring a small portico. Some also have painted pilasters or, in the case of very elaborate setups, porch columns.
History of the Cape Cod house style
Before you dive into all of the nuances and rich history surrounding Cape Cod house style, it’s important to understand how it is defined. Meanwhile, in the interiors, the low-heightened ceilings and bold shutters account for heat conservation and blocking of harsh winter winds. Homeowners can also create a backyard living area without interfering with the Cape Cod home’s quaint, historic charm. You can find patios and decks in many Cape Cod backyards with comfortable furniture for entertaining friends and family. Winters can get cold in New England, so a fire pit would be a nice addition to enjoy the fall and winter seasons.
Simple paint colors
Though the style gets its name from the region where it’s most popular, a home doesn’t need to be in Cape Cod to be considered within the architectural vernacular. Likewise, just because a house is in Cape Cod, that doesn’t necessarily mean it falls within the style. Generally, any home that makes use of the architectural elements outlined above could be called a Cape Cod house.
Cape Cod House Variations
The charm of Cape Cod-style home in East Memphis sealed the deal for couple - Commercial Appeal
The charm of Cape Cod-style home in East Memphis sealed the deal for couple.
Posted: Sat, 15 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Still, these homes are most often found throughout the New England coast including areas like Cape Cod; Martha’s Vineyard; Nantucket; Watch Hill, Rhode Island; or even the Hamptons in New York. White paint and black shutters was a popular pairing during the Cape Cod revival. However, you can always reinvigorate your façade with a different combination.
However, some modern Cape Cod homes no longer include the traditional cabinetry and have smooth-slab doors for a sleek and contemporary look. Originating around the same period, Cape Cod and Colonial-style homes share many notable characteristics. The historical tie between the two styles is apparent on the pitched roofs of many of these houses. They offer practical drainage and height for the half-story typically included in a Cape Cod home.
Colonial Cape Cod Homes
After World War II, Capes began to get a little bit bigger and families and their needs grew, too. Nowadays, newer, bigger builds of this timeless, budget-friendly option are still popping up along the shores and in the suburbs, it's safe to say this style isn't going anywhere. 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.
Cape Cod House Floor Plan
A typical home has two to three bedrooms and a big central fireplace to gather around with family, friends, and guests. The upper half-story can be used as bonus space, storage space, or an extra bedroom. The Cape Cod-style home is architecturally iconic and one of the most popular house styles in the U.S., along with the colonial-style, Tudor-style, and the row house. Learn more about the long history of this quaint architectural style, the defining characteristics that set it apart, and the different types of Cape Cod-style homes. According to Home Edit, many Capes feature wood trim, but in more modern takes, it's bright white to contrast any other timeless pieces in the home. The outlet also notes that natural materials are the best to decorate with in Cape Cod homes, since it highlights those wood elements and brings the build back to its early roots.
Defining elements and characteristics of a Cape Cod house
Cape Cod architecture is one of the most instantly recognizable home styles in the United States. At its core, an original Cape Cod house is a small, rectangular, unadorned one to one-and-a-half-story cottage with side gables and a steeply pitched roof to keep snow from piling up. A traditional Cape Cod floor plan includes a living room, kitchen, and bath downstairs with two small bedrooms upstairs. The origins of Cape Cod houses date back to the 1600s when the first Puritan settlers arrived in America. The humble architecture is similar to an English cottage, but a few features were adapted to withstand the harsh New England climate better.
Many Cape Cod–style homes include decks or porches to make outdoor living more accessible. A fresh coat of paint has the power to make or break a space, but don’t worry; when it comes to Cape Cod houses, it’s perfectly fine to keep your color palette simple. Don’t be discouraged if the basement could not be your party place for this house as the other beautiful features of this style will definitely leave you feeling charmed. “There can be a very thick layer of aesthetics laid over the function,” Seifter says. “Each generation tried to be true to the original form, but these were more modern houses and they had to accommodate functions that were not in the original versions.
When dormers are added to an existing house, consider the advice of an architect to help choose an appropriate size and optimal placement. An architect's eye for symmetry and proportion will be a huge help when adding dormers. Its design is simple, compact, expandable, and, for mid-20th-century developers, the Cape Cod could be prefabricated. Most of the Cape Cod houses we see today are not from the Colonial era, so they are technically revivals. The style of picturesque summer homes has remained popular for the connection to warm months and seaside escapes.
Most of the inhabitants were sailors, lobstermen, or fishermen, and their houses were designed to withstand the harsh temperament of the region. “The houses reflected that; it’s a very efficient type of house,” Wright adds. Despite the common characteristic of a central door with two parallel aligned windows, these Cape Cod style homes vary in designs and features that mix-match and complement each other. Regarding scale and proportion, these homes range from plain square or rectangular structures to massive abodes.
With a house plan, one receives the floor plan layout, roof and floor foundation plan, elevations, wall sections and electrical and general notes. With this information you can hire a contractor in your area to build the design. Meanwhile, the bedrooms are low-height, supplemented with a dormer or a gable window projecting out of the façade to let it ample of natural light.
Additionally, Cape Cod house style is notoriously free of any superfluous ornamentation, making them versatile enough for a variety of homeowners. Similar to the exterior geometry, the interior layout is planned symmetrically with the front door opening into the majestic central hall. Most of the houses are comparatively smaller, ranging from 1000 to 2000 square feet in size. The half-Cape has a single, off-center door with two windows to one side. The layout usually centers around a large central fireplace and the common room or kitchen, with the bedrooms, pantries, parlor, and rear entry branched off the central kitchen.
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