A Cape Cod home is a modest, single-story frame structure with a somewhat steeply pitched gabled roof, a big central chimney, and little decoration. The area above the first floor was frequently left unfinished, with or without gable end windows. Inside, the house was generally divided into four rooms: a parlor, dining room, kitchen, and master bedroom.
Cape Cods were popular from about 1750 to 1850. They are named for Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but many other places in the United States have towns that are similar in size to Cape Cod. These include Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Block Island. There are also small villages with this same general appearance in Canada and Europe.
The typical Cape Cod house was built by local builders using locally available materials. The most common type of wood used for framing was pine, although some houses used oak or hickory instead. The roofs were made of tile or shingles. The walls would be painted white or stained various colors. Sometimes there would be a porch or balcony at the front door, a good place for visitors to leave their shoes (or not). Gardens might be planted out back.
There are actually several different styles of Cape Cod homes, but they can all be classified as American Victorian. This particular style became popular around 1875 and 1880 and it can be seen in many cities across the country.
Capes' roofs are tiny and simple in design since they are shaped like basic boxes. This makes their roof simple and inexpensive to replace, saving you money in the long term. Furthermore, the roofs of Cape Cod are slanted to allow snow and ice to fall off in the winter. This also saves money on repairs since there's no need for metal or plastic to be used in the construction of these roofs.
Cape Cod homes usually have two stories with a porch or balcony on at least one side. The sides of the house are generally not painted, instead they're covered in clapboard or other similar material. The bottom of the house is typically made of stone or brick while the top can be wood or concrete. Some homes have a tiled or asphalt driveway and some have a grassy yard. Most houses were built after 1960, but some pre-1900 structures still stand today. There are many different types of houses in the Cape region including Nantucket shacks, 1640s-1700s saltbox houses, 1820s-1850s Greek Revival houses, and 1860s-1880s Italianate and Victorian houses.
Cape Cod was originally settled by Europeans about 200 years ago. At first, these people built only simple one-room log structures because they could not afford anything else. As time went on, they became more wealthy and were able to buy larger houses with multiple rooms.
Modern-day Cape Cod homes may be found in practically every corner of North America, and they are based on the rough architecture of colonial New England. The design is straightforward, almost rudimentary, with a rectangular footprint and a gable-pitched roof. But even though it may look easy to build, a colonial home requires significant skill and expertise to create a structure that will stand for many years to come.
Cape Cods were not just any old colony either. They were well-educated people who wanted to be surrounded by books and authors. So the homes they built were spacious and elegant, with high ceilings and large windows. These are some of the reasons why Cape Cods are considered to be among the most sophisticated houses in America.
Colonists working on the land had little opportunity to explore or expand their knowledge. But when they went to sea, they were free to go anywhere in the world and see things that no other person had ever seen before them. This is how the ancient culture of Greece and Rome came to know about America long before it was discovered by Europeans. As part of the British Empire, Americans also learned new technologies from Britain that were then applied to their own society.
The modern term "colonial" was first used to describe the American colonies. But they weren't the only place where these buildings are found. Similar houses can be found in Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia.
From 1690 through 1850, the first wave of Cape Cod home construction occurred. The Depression and Colonial Revival collaborated in the 1930s to resurrect Cape Cod style homes as an affordable construction style. Cape Cod houses were a popular response to the postwar housing boom in the 1940s and 1950s. They continue to be built today in the warmer climates where they are most desired.
Cape Cod architecture is known for its simple elegance. These homes feature straight lines, flat roofs, glass windows, and white paint. There are two main types of Cape Cod homes: those with front-facing gables (pictured below left) and those without (below right). Both types share similar design features including wide porch swings, small front yards, and large back yards. The difference between the two types is that gable-front houses have hipped roofs with overhanging eaves and skylights, while bay windowed kitchens are found in some bayside homes (not pictured).
Cape Cod homes are considered transitional styles because they combine traditional New England features such as clapboard siding and shutters with more modern amenities like indoor plumbing and central heating.
The popularity of Cape Cod homes can be attributed to their ability to meet different needs while still maintaining a sense of tradition and luxury. They are able to do this by having one floor living space with separate rooms for eating, cooking, and sleeping.
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