The American Periods

American Colonial Style

    The American Colonial Style still prevails one of the most popular American architectural home styles. The exterior architecture of this style consists of symmetry, rectangular in shape, two stories high (sometimes three), centered front door, painted in muted neutral colors and lastly, chimneys in the center or double chimneys with one located at each end. Characteristics of the interior and design elements of an American Colonial Style home are, low ceilings, fireplaces made of clay bricks (or mix of stone and mortar), rough wood ceiling beams, single batten doors, balanced window placement, decorative entryway and pine paneled walls. Some motifs are unadorned walls, rustic furniture, painted lining papered walls with borders and garlands form of natural motifs of fruit and flowers. The American Colonial style bedroom consisted of often only a bed, it's bed hangings and coverings, and a lift-top chest for storage.

 

 

 

American Federal Style 

Federal comes from the period in American history when the Federal system of governance was being developed and perfected. The exterior of an American Federal style consists of a simple square or rectangular box, usually two or three stories high, two rooms deep, narrow, simple moldings and columns, windows are very symmetrical and are arranged individually in strict horizontal and vertical lines. The front door of an American Federal style home is usually the most decorated part of the home’s exterior. Lastly, American Federal style homes in the North were made of clapboard, and houses from the South were often made of brick. The interior of an American Federal Style muted wall colors, minimal trimwork painted white, and delicately carved or inlaid decoration. 

Federal-style decoration often showcases geometrical concepts. Elliptical, circular, and fan-shaped motifs formed by fluted radiating lines are common.

Americans were highly influenced by Robert Adam; he was Great Britain’s most popular architect at this time. Therefore, the American Federal Style can also be known as the Adam Style. The exterior of an American Federal style consists of