Portland Home Styles
When we are showing homes to prospective buyers, they often have many questions about the different architectural styles evident in our City. We've compiled a brief description of some of the common types of architecture to help build your real estate knowledge and design familiarity!
Tudor
This romantic home style evokes a sense of old England. American Tudor style homes are frequently built with visible timbers exposed as a design element (usually not structural, but decorative), with steeply pitched rooflines, and may have ornamental windows and leaded glass. These homes often have an exterior of stucco or brick. Tudor homes were built with spacious bedrooms and common areas, and are usually very private feeling. Typically built in the 1920’s through to the 1940’s, these homes are elegant and full of personality.
Old PDX - Foursquare
You’ve no doubt seen these big solid homes lining our streets. Two or more stories high, these homes are based on a square foundation, with a dormer window on the second story. They usually have a nice, broad covered porch. They were dubbed “foursquare” because of the layout of each level being typically broken into four rooms/quadrants - they have very predictable floor plans! Old Portland homes were typically built in the timeframe of about 1895 to the 1930s, and are one of our most beloved styles of home, with plenty of space and rich in character and warmth.
Cape Cod
A classic and popular style, the Cape Cod home is 1.5-2 levels high and typically has a steeply pitched roofline, which may include dormer windows. Often also referred to as “cottages” or “English style”, these cozy homes were typically built between the 1930s to 1950s and are simple and inviting.
Craftsman
This is a wonderful Portland style home that can be found in many neighborhoods. These houses look and feel solid and comfortable. With wide, low slung rooflines, and inviting overhung porches, these home are generally 2 stories high, and usually come with fireplaces and craftsman touches like built-in shelving and cabinetry.
Colonial
Colonial homes are impressive, solid, two-story homes, usually broad, symmetrical, and rectangular in design. They are often decorated in a classic style with pillars or pilasters over the door and entry, dentil molding, and shuttered windows. Featuring formal entries, grand staircases, and large rooms, colonial homes have wonderful character. These homes were built from about the late 1800′s to the mid-1950's, and share a common understated refinement of detail and a solid, conservative appearance.
Victorian
Depending on the period, there are several different Victorian-style homes, but they are typically ornamented and may include boldly colored paint and fanciful trim. Whimsical fretwork, gingerbread shingles, balustrades, spindles, turrets, and heavy use of ornamentation can be commonly found on this style of home. Inside, you’ll find tall ceilings, many smaller, single-purpose rooms, and beautiful features like ornate staircases and woodwork. Typically built around the late 1800s through to about 1910, Victorian homes in Portland are small in number and still well loved
Ranch/Mid-Century Modern
Mid Century Modern homes are typically one-story, ranch style homes (often with a basement) that have a sprawling, open layout with the common areas as the focal point. A daylight ranch is a home where the basement or lower story is partially underground and at least partially open to ground level – typically built on a slope or to take advantage of a view. The mid-century homes built in the 50’s and 60’s have become an extremely popular style of home, as our culture takes on a revitalized focus towards spacious, simple layouts and minimal, conceptual design. Homes built in this era were very solidly built, as people had a post-war mindset (hence the term Atomic Ranch). Additionally, as veterans came back from the war and resources could be allocated locally, there was a good pool of materials and workers once again.
