GIF illustrating the 450-year stylistic evolution of the average American home.

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What have homes looked like in America since the first mass arrivals of European colonists in the 1600s? Every era has its own influences based on global trends, the cultures of people who moved to particular regions, and the current events of the day. Now, American Home Shield (AHS) has visualized ten of the most popular styles we’ve seen over the past 450 years of American history. A series of renderings transforms the same home again and again, from the simplicity of early colonial designs to the artsy influences of Modernism.

Cape Cod (1600s – 1950s)

American Home Shield's re-creation of a Cape Cod-style home, popular from the 1600s to the 1950s.

As the name suggests, Cape Cod style originated in the Massachusetts colony, and its particularities revolve around the harsh New England coastal climate. It’s known for a steep roof that easily sheds rain and snow, a central chimney serving a large hearth that warmed the whole house, and a rectangular shape, with cedar shingles on the exterior. It fell out of favor by the 1800s, so most of the original Cape Cod homes were renovated beyond recognition or demolished long ago. What we see today is mostly the product of a Cape Cod revival that started in the 1920s and exploded just after World War II.

Georgian Colonial (1690s – 1830)

American Home Shield's re-creation of a Georgian Colonial-style home, popular from the 1690s to the 1830s.

One of America’s most consistently popular styles, Georgian Colonial spread across the entire country. It’s admired for its classic proportions, symmetrical design, and a lack of unnecessary ornamentation. Clean lines and shapes provide most of the appeal, with just a few flourishes here and there around the windows, doors, and fireplaces. They were mostly modeled after English estates with influences from classic Greek and Renaissance Italian architecture, and typically feature paired chimneys and windows in rows of five.

Federal (1780 – 1840)

American Home Shield's re-creation of a Federal-style home, popular from 1780 to 1840.

Born in the wake of America’s independence in 1776, Federal style reflects a desire at the time to shrug off European and British influences in favor of a uniquely American aesthetic. Some iconic examples include Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate, the White House, and other government buildings built in that era. Just as the country’s leaders looked to Ancient Greece and Rome as models for government, architects chose elements from those historical styles as Federal influences, as seen in the columns and colonnades.

Greek Revival (1825 – 1860)

American Home Shield's re-creation of a Greek Revival-style home, popular from 1825 to 1860.

The fascination with Greek culture continued into the 19th century with the Greek Revival style, which we can clearly see in the designs of plantations in the South, state capitol buildings, churches, and urban row houses built at the time. Colossal Greek temple-style fronts with Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns and details make these houses easy to identify.

Italianate (1840 – 1885)

American Home Shield's re-creation of an Italianate-style home, popular from 1840 to 1885.

Though no less grand, Italianate style represented a somewhat more relaxed approach to architecture. Nearly always two stories or taller, these homes featured low-pitched roofs, wide overhanging eaves, large decorative brackets, tall narrow windows with arches or curves, wrap-around porches, and sometimes even a cupola or tower. It’s meant to capture the informal yet picturesque character of Italian farmhouses.

Queen Anne (1880-1910)

American Home Shield's re-creation of a Queen Anne-style home, popular from the 1880 to 1910..

British influences came barging back into the country during the Victorian era, when Americans just couldn’t resist the ornate stylings of Queen Anne architecture. And who could blame them? Drawing from upper class and royal British style, what we commonly call “Victorian” architecture today is known for its turrets, gingerbread trim, complex interior layouts, steep roofs, bay windows, and decorative flair inserted at every opportunity.

American Craftsman (1905 – 1930)

American Home Shield's re-creation of an American Craftsman (Art & Crafts) home, popular from 1905 to 1930.

Often referred to simply as “Craftsman,” this style arrived along with a wider cultural backlash to the Industrial Revolution, as people began to prefer handcrafted elements in favor of anything mass-produced. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, which also included decorative arts, interior design, and landscape design, it was widely used to create bungalow-style homes from local natural materials. The over-decorated look of the Victorians was out and simplicity was in, and houses in this style featured thick square columns, overhanging eaves, and low-pitched roofs.

Art Deco + Art Moderne (1920 – 1945)

American Home Shield's re-creation of an Art Deco-style home, popular from 1920 to 1945.

More works of sculpture than conventional architecture, Art Deco and Art Moderne homes make use of materials like concrete, stucco, and glass to craft appropriately artsy structures with unexpected shapes and details. Art Deco is associated with more ornamentation, geometric shapes, and zigzag patterns, while Art Moderne houses often had flat roofs, horizontal grooves or lines in the walls, asymmetrical facades, and glass-block windows.

Ranch Style (1945 – 1980)

American Home Shield's re-creation of a Ranch-style home, popular from 1945 to 1980.

Apparently, Americans like their homes the way they like their salad dressing. Ranch is one of the nation’s most enduring and popular styles, partially because its simple single-story designs were so cheap and easy to build. Ranch houses typically have large open spaces inside, with galley kitchens, low-pitched gable roofs, brick exteriors, and large double-hung windows.

Prefab (1945 – Present)

American Home Shield's re-creation of a Prefabricated home, popular from 1945 to present.

Often called the architectural style of the future, prefabricated homes revolutionize the construction process by building most components offsite in a factory. That means homes can be built faster and with less noise, waste, and impact on the building site, often using modular components. That modularity makes it easy to create stacked configurations in clean, simple shapes, typically clad in low-cost and durable exterior materials like corrugated aluminum.