Old House Styles

Old houses come in all shapes and sizes. The style of a house is greatly influenced by its location, when it was built and if it has undergone renovations. Explore Victorians, colonials, Greek and Spanish revivals, foursquares, Federals, bungalows and other design motifs.

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Old House Styles

The Bungalow, 1890–1930

The bungalow is a beloved type aligned with American Arts & Crafts.

Old House Styles

The California Ranch

Read how the ranch house came about and its traits.

Old House Styles

The Charm of Queen Anne Houses

The Victorian era’s most popular house style, the Queen Anne popped up across America in a dazzling array of shapes, sizes, and building materials.

Old House Styles

The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)

Born during the Great Depression, HABS is an essential research tool.

Old House Styles

The I House in Rural America

Old House Styles

The Mania for A-Frames

From its rediscovery in the 1930s to becoming the quintessential American vacation house in the 1950s, the A-frame represented the fun side of mid-century modern architecture.

Old House Styles

The Mansard Roof and Second Empire Style

A look at the origins and history of the mansard roof in Second Empire style houses and historical buildings.

Old House Styles

The Right Roof for the Right Style

The right roof is more than icing on the cake when it comes to architecture.

Old House Styles

The Shingle Style

A rarefied style in the 19th century, the Victorian-era Shingle Style is one beloved today.

Old House Styles

The Story on Sears Houses

For more than 30 years, the Chicago-based retailer was the king of catalog Sears houses.

Old House Styles

The Tudor Revival Style

1895–1945: from architect-designed mansions to planbook homes.

Old House Styles

Tudor Architecture and The Many Faces of Tudor Houses

These English-inspired houses are part of the same architectural movement that spawned the English Queen Anne style, the Shingle Style, and American Queen Anne houses. They mark a transition between late Victorian sensibility and the beginning of modern architecture, including Arts & Crafts.

Old House Styles

Victorian Brownstones

Many brownstone interiors are a Victorian wonderland.

Old House Styles

What Makes a Good Old House?

A home’s age often parallels the level of respect it receives in the architectural community. But is age enough to make an old house a good one?