Clean lines and geometric shapes are prominent in modern house design. Arches, elaborate columns, window shutters, and other outrageous embellishments are no longer permitted. Simple forms and purposeful asymmetry have taken the place of these elements that formerly spoke of luxury and affluence. The grandeur of the past has vanished. All that remains are clean, efficient houses that fulfill their functions well.
Modern architecture began in the United States around 1820. The new nation was in need of housing for its growing population. Cities were expanding outwards, building houses for themselves and for wealthy individuals who could afford to rent them. These were not simple structures; they were elegant townhouses with large rooms, many windows, and high ceilings. They used ornamental details on the exterior, such as Ionic or Doric order columns, to show off wealth and status. But aside from these decorative touches, which would come later, modern architecture does not resemble today's homes in any way. It is more of an attitude toward design than anything else.
The modern house emerged during America's Industrial Revolution. At this time, technology had advanced to the point where it was possible to make buildings with concrete, which is stronger than steel. The first concrete buildings were used for factories, but they also proved useful for houses because they did not require continuous maintenance like traditional wood buildings do. Concrete blocks were developed specifically for building houses; before this time, people built with timber, which was dismantled when needed for other uses.
The contemporary style emphasizes the creation of simple, clutter-free houses. Original traditional style residences (those built in the nineteenth and early twentieth century) are mostly located in city centers and well-established neighborhoods. Many freshly built homes, on the other hand, are made to resemble classic home designs and building processes. They often have more than one floor, an attic, and many windows and doors.
New houses tend to be smaller in space than old ones because people need less room for themselves and their possessions. Also, modern architects try to use as little material as possible to create a light structure that is easy to heat or cool. Homes with few rooms but lots of windows and doors can be hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
Old houses were usually built with wood as the main material used to construct them. The walls would be covered in plaster or painted, but the actual frame of the house would be made of wood. As you can imagine, a wooden house will get very dirty over time so it's common to see them painted white or another color to make them look newer.
Also, old houses had only one floor with a basement or ground floor. In more rural areas there might be no basement at all just dirt floors below ground level. In cities though, with its dangerous streets and pollution, this was not enough protection so buildings had staircases and fire escapes designed into them for emergency escape routes.
Some older homes have managed to retain features that are typical of the era in which they were built, such as original crown molding, herringbone-patterned hardwood floors, and built-ins. While modern houses will mirror current patterns, they will not please other varied tastes. Some people enjoy the challenge of fixing up old buildings; others would prefer to live in a brand new house every time they moved into a new location.
The main advantage of living in an old house is the quality of life you can offer your family. If you are able to fix things or have friends who can help out, the burden of maintenance is reduced. In addition, older houses tend to be less expensive to heat and cool than newer models, so moving into an old house can save your family money over time.
There is also a social aspect to living in an old house. It may be possible to find other families with children your own age who can play on the street outside your door or go to school together. This could make raising a family easier because you don't need to worry about privacy issues or needing to find time for yourself. Older houses may even have large rooms that can accommodate a lot of people at once!
Finally, old houses often have more character. There may be parts of the house that are known only to the previous owners, such as hidden rooms or passages.
Around the time of World War I, modern design was characterized by flat surfaces, geometric shapes, and little or no embellishment or adornment. Modern kitchen cabinets, for example, are frequently distinguished by a sleek, angular, and basic design that includes little or no hardware, flush doors, and smooth surfaces. The overall effect is clean and minimalist.
Counters in modern kitchens are usually made of white acrylic or vinyl and are typically flat. They may have a border around them to define space or they may be left plain. Glossy counters are becoming more common today while textured ones are returning again as popular options. Black-and-white checks are typical but other colors are available too!
Modern kitchen appliances are often designed with simple lines and easy-to-use controls. Early models had heavy metal bodies and some still do, but most now are made of plastic or other durable materials. These days, you will also find stainless steel appliances that look elegant in any home.
Conventional wisdom used to believe that gas ovens were not suitable for cooking food from frozen. However, modern ovens use heat efficiently and can be just as effective at thawing food as a conventional oven. This is particularly important when you are trying to avoid heating up your whole house during winter months!
Electric ranges used to be far more common than gas ones, but now we see more electric ranges than ever before.