New England Colonial

New England Colonial

The New England Colonial house plan is inspired by architectural styles prevalent in America’s original East coast settlements ranging from the blustery New England coastlines to sultry Georgia swamps, and varies depending on regional flavor. The New England Colonial style simplified the picturesque Queen Anne design and appeared after the Queen Anne fell out of fashion. In general, New England Colonial house plans feature symmetry, with centered doorways and a balanced array of windows. All New England Colonial style houses feature gable roof, symmetrical placement of windows and doors, classical details such as columns, cornices, shuttered windows and a simple, rectangular shape in 2 to 2 1/2 stories. The second story takes up the same amount of floor space as the first, and the exterior is usually brick or clapboard siding. Another name for the New England Colonial design is four-over-four because of its basic rectangular floor plan of four rooms on the lower and upper levels.