What is a Dutch Colonial House? Facts About Dutch Colonial Style Homes
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British Colonial homes featured wood construction and simple designs, with the fireplace in the middle of the house. German Colonial homes also usually had a central chimney but were made of stone and had arches above the windows.French Colonial houses were two-story homes featuring wide, wrap-around porches. People would access lower-level rooms from the porch instead of interior hallways.
Common Characteristics of Dutch Colonial Architecture
The gambrel roof became steeper over time, creating more space inside homes. As you might be able to tell from the name, a Traditional style home has all the “typical” features of a home, like formal living and dining rooms, often a den, a master suite, and guest bedrooms. They also typically have the spacious porches and built-in fireplaces of Dutch Colonial style homes. Examples of hipped and not hipped roofs can be seen on the three examples provided above.
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The architect-designed houses built before World War I have a lot in common with the Shingle Style, another modern adaptation of Colonial-era building forms. Not so the symmetrical, suburban Dutch Colonials built during the 1920s and 1930s. A one-storey wing appended to one or both ends saw use as a breakfast room or carport, later a garage. Builders loved the historical associations, however tenuous, and buyers loved the sweet informality. Sears was a major promoter, featuring 10 or more “Dutch Colonial” kit houses. Most colonial homes shared some standard features, like symmetrical design, gabled roofs, and window shutters.
The Dutch Colonial House
A Gambrel roof is a roof with two sides, each of which has a shallower slope above a steeper one. A Dutch Colonial style home is actually one of the easiest to spot, even to the untrained eye. That's because modern builders still incorporate the style’s main features, just as they were almost 400 years ago.
House Styles: Shingle Style
It also allowed homeowners to conveniently get around taxes on two-story homes. Typically, walls were made of stone and a chimney was located on one or both ends. Common were double-hung sash windows with outward swinging wood shutters and a central double Dutch door. Even after the colonial era ended, these houses remained somewhat popular throughout the Northeast. Then, in the late 19th century, a colonial revival movement swept the country, as people developed nostalgia for simpler times in response to the rapid modernization of the Industrial Revolution.
Dutch Colonial Revival Vs. French, Spanish, And Georgian Colonial Homes
The façade, or face, of these homes is proportionate, which feels calming and pleasing to the eye. This means that these homes are often larger and have additional house wings, often sprouting from the sides or rear of the home. These newer homes tended not to revolve around the central hearth as much as their older counterparts because the new builders and residents had other sources of heat available. When purchasing (or building an imitation of) a true Dutch Colonial Revival home, there are a few classic things to look out for. It’s similar to what one sees along the canals in the Old Country – homes there were taxed based on their width, not height.
Influence on other architectural styles
As people began building more modern Dutch Colonial homes, the houses took on several new features. Mainly, they became more extensive, with the addition of extra rooms and wings. While most windows on original Dutch colonial homes are square, some designs featured one or two arched windows on the gabled end of the roof.
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These roofs are not just about looks; they offer more habitability within the upper levels of a home and have become a beloved feature for their blend of form and function. Dutch Colonial Revival architecture is distinguished by distinct features that have captivated the imaginations of homeowners and architects alike. Delving into these elements reveals a rich tapestry of design that echoes both artistic finesse and historical depth, setting the stage for an immersive exploration of its unique aesthetics. They borrow details from FederalandGeorgian styles too, which were popular when America was just starting as a country.
“There’s truly nothing quite as fulfilling as meticulously restoring an architecturally significant home to its original grandeur while elevating every exquisite detail to new heights,” she wrote. Barker bought the six-bedroom, six-bathroom abode in 1969 and hardly changed it during his 50-year tenure there. Tons of vintage charm and original features remain intact, including an original ceiling fresco, arched doorways, stained glass, and colorful tiles. Nowadays, you’ll see the Dutch Colonial style, but it’s very rarely an original. It would have to be incredibly old for that to be the case and would probably be on the National Historic Register. Instead, what you more than likely see are recreations, or revivals, which started popping up often in the early 1900s.
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But, there are several subcategories of colonial homes that each possess their own distinct characteristics. Other types of colonial homes are British Colonial, German Colonial, French Colonial, and Spanish Colonial. Then, you also have Neoclassical Colonial, Georgian Colonial, and Colonial Revival. In fact, gambrel roofs aren’t uniquely Dutch, though when the style reemerged in the suburbs of twentieth-century America, the gambrel roof had become standard in the Dutch Revival jouse. In contrast, the prototypical Dutch house in early America was one-and-a-half stories tall with a steep gable roof that flared toward the eaves. Such “sprung roofs” provided deep overhangs, often covering open porches.
Earlier Dutch Colonial Revivals usually had lap siding, a trait that still characterizes many homes of this style. Many have shutters, either ornamental or functional, emphasizing their windows. Green for trim, shutters, windows and doors was the most popular colour choice along with white siding. Some more upscale examples had foundations of concrete with a brick veneer. An eye-catching gambrel roof with flared eaves is among the defining features of this 1920s Dutch Colonial Revival-style residence in Lafayette Square. Delicate molding, mortise locksets and a brick fireplace are in keeping with the vintage of the Mongtomery & Nibecker-designed home.
They mimic many of the classic features but with more modern layouts and additions. American Colonial and Colonial-Revival architecture share the same roots. Homes built in both styles tend to have a rectangular footprint and a traditional approach to design, whereas Colonial-Revival style introduces elements and features not seen in the plainer American Colonial style. Most houses that survive from the Colonial era—such as early Capes, Saltboxes, and Georgians—are descendants of English styles.
Typically made from brick or stone, original Dutch Colonials were usually one room deep, maybe two or three rooms wide. Nowadays, the interiors often sport more modern fixtures and conveniences, but the gambrel roof style often remains. These houses, called Neocolonial or Neo-colonial, freely combine an assortment of historic styles using modern materials like vinyl and simulated stone. Garages were incorporated into the design — unlike the barns and storage structures of colonial days, modern Americans live in more confined spaces and want their vehicles close by. The Dutch Colonial Revival style has captivated homeowners and architects alike with its quaint, old-world charm that resonates through the ages. This architectural form has remained a beloved choice across America for its distinctive gambrel roofs and symmetrical aesthetics, anchoring neighborhoods in a sense of shared historical heritage while providing homes with timeless appeal.
These houses are still wanted today because they have a timeless appeal. Their nostalgic charm is strong; it's like taking a walk through history without leaving home. Dutch Colonial Revival buildings stand as landmarks in neighborhoods, telling stories of times gone by and offering comfort with their familiar shapes and materials. The design was a mix of what people remembered from historical architecture and new ideas that fit modern times.
Designers used what was nearby and made sense of the climate, making each building unique. The style began to gain popularity in the 1880s, as people looked back fondly on America's early days. Original Dutch Colonial buildings were simple and practical, with a focus on needs rather than fancy looks.
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