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Many Cape Cod–style homes include decks or porches to make outdoor living more accessible. The style of picturesque summer homes has remained popular for the connection to warm months and seaside escapes. But just because Cape Cod house style has been around for nearly 400 years doesn’t mean it's lost its luster. While it fell out of trend in the 1850s, the style had a major resurgence between 1925 and 1955.
Materials Used in Cape Cod Style Homes
The Cape’s steeply pitched, side-gabled roof was designed to shed ice and snow. In the 19th century, dormer windows appeared on the second floor to add light and space. Historical Capes were clad in long-lasting cedar shingles, sometimes with clapboards on the facade. The rectangular interior could be divided or not, with a large central chimney linked to a fireplace in each room.
Characteristics of a Cape Cod Style House
There’s less space to clean, heat, maintain, or furnish, and many rooms are multi-functional, with built-in shelving and storage features. The exterior commonly features a smaller yard, which means less mowing and shoveling. The steep roofs also prevent heavy snow from accumulating over the winter. Overall, the Cape Cod-style house is an excellent choice for homebuyers searching for a modestly sized home, whether as a starter home or when it’s time to downsize.
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With its symmetrical facade, steep gable roof, and classic features, Cape Cod houses have stood the test of time and continue to be cherished by homeowners and architecture enthusiasts alike. Cape Cod architecture is one of the most instantly recognizable home styles in the United States. At its core, an original Cape Cod house is a small, rectangular, unadorned one to one-and-a-half-story cottage with side gables and a steeply pitched roof to keep snow from piling up.
It strays a bit from what we consider a common Cape style home today because it isn't as perfectly symmetrical — instead, it features the front door on one side, with two traditional windows to the other side. These were often the jumping off point for new, middle class homeowners to add on to as their families grew. These exterior features collectively contribute to the timeless and picturesque charm of Cape Cod houses. Whether located by the sea or in a suburban neighborhood, these architectural elements continue to captivate homeowners with their classic and enduring design. Named after the Cape Cod peninsula in Massachusetts, this architectural style originated in the 17th century and has since become synonymous with coziness, charm, and a sense of history.
A Facade of Stone Siding
They quickly became a staple starter home for middle class couples and families looking to get their foot in the real estate market door, thanks to their simple style (which translated directly into a cheaper cost). Nowadays, newer, bigger builds of this timeless, budget-friendly option are still popping up along the shores and in the suburbs, it's safe to say this style isn't going anywhere. If you're in the market for a Cape Cod home, a full Cape is the largest (and most functional) variation to serve as a family home. Remember, the goal is to create a space that evokes a sense of tranquility, where you and your guests can escape and enjoy the timeless beauty of the Cape Cod house style. The Cape Cod house style has a rich history that dates back to the early colonial era in America.
Originally, Cape Cod homes were often built to maximize available sunlight, with the largest and tallest windows facing south. This positioning helped minimize heating costs while taking advantage of natural light. You’ll typically see double-hung windows with shutters on the main floor, and dormers on the second to increase light and air circulation. Modern Cape Cod homes also feature beadboard or board-and-batten elements, along with functional built-ins to add storage. Because many Cape Cods are only 1,200-1,800 square feet, it’s essential to make good use of every square inch. These homes often include built-in bookshelves, china cabinets, beds, reading nooks, and decorative shelves, with beadboard paneling commonly found on kitchen cabinets and ceilings.
Practical proportions
Cape house plans are generally one to one-and-a-half story dormered homes featuring steep roofs with side gables and a small overhang. Using local materials—cedar for roofing and siding shingles, oak and pine for framing and flooring[2]—settlers built houses locally adapted to New England's extreme winter climate. Finally, colonists installed shutters on the windows to hold back heavy winds. This time around, Cape Cod houses were larger; the second story was typically larger, with additional bedrooms and dormer windows projecting out of the roof. There was often more ornamentation on the exterior, like more ornate molding with trim around the front door, windows, and along the eaves under the roof.
Floor Plans in Cape Cod Houses
In contemporary design, Victorians work well with Boho decor since both include lots of details and multiple colors and patterns. Originally Cape Cod homes could be heated efficiently because of their small size. In modern versions of the style, the chimney was often positioned just to one side or sited to both ends of the home. Most Cape Cod-style homes have a plain front entry with little to no trim or details. Later versions became more decorative, sometimes featuring a small portico. Some also have painted pilasters or, in the case of very elaborate setups, porch columns.
Remember, the essence of the Cape Cod house style is about embracing classic design, paying attention to detail, and fostering a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Remember that the landscaping should reflect your personal taste and style, while also considering the climate and geographical characteristics of your area. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a beautiful landscape that enhances the curb appeal of your Cape Cod house and showcases its timeless charm.
These modest and practical homes have been around for more than 3 centuries without having lost their appeal. Share your thoughts about how you’ve overcome the drawbacks in the comments box below. Nowadays, original Capes like those have sometimes been added onto so often that they have a kind of “Russian doll” look, Seifter says. But these houses built by the early American settlers were not named after their locale, at least not initially. Early iterations were often just one- or two-room cottages with a fireplace in the middle—the room with the fireplace always doubled as the bedroom—but the style has continued to evolve in accordance with the times.
“It was very cold in the winters, beautiful in the summers, [so] they had to make all their money in the summers and then survive through the winter,” Wright says. Most of the inhabitants were sailors, lobstermen, or fishermen, and their houses were designed to withstand the harsh temperament of the region. “The houses reflected that; it’s a very efficient type of house,” Wright adds. “Cape Cod is a seasonal destination where the summer population increases by at least 5–10 times than that of the year-round population,” McDonald adds. Like many beach towns throughout the northern coast, plenty of the homes are only used 12 weeks out of the year—and even those that are used year-round get the most action in the summer months. “Seasonal homes like many of these are designed for outdoor and beach living.
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