Residential Architecture Snapshot: Cape Cod

Cape Cod style homes were one of the first styles built in the United States. Original Cape Cods built by the colonialists were one-story, sided with shingles and did not have dormers. As the style became more popular in urban developments during the mid-20th century, the houses retained their original style with only a few embellishments. A more contemporary Cape Cod is square or rectangle with one or one-and-a-half stories. The roof is gabled, steeply pitched and may have dormers. I realize I've used some obscure architectural terms in this post...so here are a couple definitions important to residential architecture:

Gable: A gabled roof line describes the upside down "V" shape to the ends of some houses. A basic house might be a square shape with two gabled roof lines. Where as more complex designs can have several roof lines. Here is a picture of a cross-gabled roof:

Dormer: Dormers are windows that jut out from the roof of a home, and have a roof of their own. The word comes from the Latin dormitorium meaning "sleeping room," because dormers often bring space and light to bedrooms. For decorating purposes, a dormer creates a cozy spot for a reading chair or a desk.