The Cape Cod house style originated in New England in the late 17th century, and is a modest one-and- a-half-story dwelling.  It is very common in New England, where it is called simply "Cape".  In its original form, the design is side-gabled with wooden clapboard or shingle siding, and a large central chimney allowed fireplaces in each room for heating.   Cape Cod houses have little exterior ornamentation.

This practical, economical style became one of the most popular in the United States. Foursquare provided roomy interiors for structures built on small lots.  American Foursquare houses have a simple box shape and are usually two-and-a-half stories high.  The roof is low-hipped with a deep overhang, and often has a large central dormer.  They have a full-width front porch with wide stairs.

The Craftsman Bungalow is an all American housing style, but it has its spiritual roots in India. They were built in this country from mail-order pattern books!  The design incorporates a low-pitched roof with wide eaves and exposed roof rafters. They are typically one and a half stories and have a porch with square or tapered columns and decorative braces, sometimes with a rubblestone foundation.

This is a Revival style of the early 20th century. French Provincial houses tend to be square and symmetrical. They resemble small manor homes with massive hipped roofs and window shutters. Frequently, tall second floor windows break through the cornice. More expensive materials were often used in this style, and the exterior cladding is usually stone, brick or stucco.

The French Renaissance Norman Cottage is a cozy and romantic style which features a small round tower topped by a cone-shaped roof. The central turret was originally used for the storage of grain or silage.   Other French  Renaissance homes resemble miniature castles with arched doorways set in imposing towers. Stucco or brick exterior, large chimneys and steeply pitched, high roofs are typical.

The key to distinguishing the Mediterranean from other Spanish Revival styles is the tile roof and the restrained ornamentation.  Another characteristic feature is the extension of a side or front wall to form an arcaded entrance or porch.  Windows are sometimes casements, framed by wooden or wrought iron grills or small second story balconies called balconets.

There was a resurgence of interest in Spanish style architecture in the Northern United States inspired by the opening of the Panama Canal.  The style uses a low-pitched roof with red roof tiles and little or no overhanging eaves. It typically has stucco siding and has arches, especially above doors, porch entries and main windows.  Courtyards and patterned tile floors are common.

Queen Anne homes frequently sport towers, turrets, wrap around porches and other fanciful details. The use of patterned shingles, spindlework, extensive porches, leaded glass and bay windows was made possible by the dawning of the industrial revolution and factory-produced architectural details.  Typically Queen Annes have steeply pitched,  asymmetrical rooflines.

This style was popular during the early 20th Century. The facade is symmetrical, and the accented front entry with has a decorative crown with fan and/or sunlights. Double-hung windows feature small, equally sized panes and are framed by shutters. Multiple front-facing roof dormers are common.  Clapboard siding and gabled roofs covered in shingles are additional hallmarks of this style.

The early eighteenth century Dutch Colonial house built in brick or stone was covered by a steeply pitched gambrel roof with flaring eaves extending over the front porch. The style really had nothing to do with the Dutch but came from the Netherlands. The double door, which is divided horizontally, was once used to keep livestock out of the home while allowing light and air to filter through the open top.

Tudor homes borrow ideas from late Medieval palaces. They may have overlapping gables, parapets, and beautifully patterned brick or stonework. Typical are decorative half-timbering and steeply pitched roof with prominent cross gables, with tall, narrow windows with small window panes. These historic details combine with Victorian or Craftsman flourishes.

Some houses of this style mimic humble Medieval cottages - they may even include a false thatched roof.  Some have massive chimneys, often topped with decorative chimney pots.  The style employs multiple gable ends and often the decorative half-timbering of the Tudor design.   This design has a steeply pitched roof, with a steeply pitched, projecting front entrance.

Frank Lloyd Wright attempted to refine American housing by designing houses with low horizontal lines and open interior spaces. His Prairie School plan included a low-pitched roof with overhanging eaves, an open floor plan, and often one-story projections.  Siding is brick or stucco with stone or wood trim. Interior rooms were frequently separated by leaded glass panels.