House Styles - Just to Amuse Myself

[Terrel L. Shields]

Took a CE course on house styles - for you FNMA folk, good course (Calypso) - The instructor laid out the "Colonial" styles - and interestingly included the Cape COD and log cabin. Pointed out the simple square Cape COD was added on to become a saltbox or 'catslide' home and the styles generally morphed into farmhouses and eventually into what I always thought of as "Colonial" with columns - which then started adopting English and Dutch styling - "Georgian" became unpopular due to the Revolution and George not a very popular King, and so "Federal" became the new style despite similarity, on and on.

So, the question becomes how detailed do you get in describing "Style (design)" in the URAR? Do you call it "contemporary" and not "Post-Modern" or 'eclectic' or some more modern term? I mean todays houses are often a mix of those very old styles, and in that mix, are modified with modern materials (vinyl, lick and stick stone, non-functional fireplaces) for instance, a "Ranch" style - sort of an outgrowth of the FL Wright prairie style, might have columns or pilasters, side lines, Palladio style windows, etc. Or, do you call out something that might be a local name like the "Giraffe" homes with slab rock foundations. And in the case below a flat roof. Whatcha gonna call it?

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

Took a CE course on house styles - for you FNMA folk, good course (Calypso) - The instructor laid out the "Colonial" styles - and interestingly included the Cape COD and log cabin. Pointed out the simple square Cape COD was added on to become a saltbox or 'catslide' home and the styles generally morphed into farmhouses and eventually into what I always thought of as "Colonial" with columns - which then started adopting English and Dutch styling - "Georgian" became unpopular due to the Revolution and George not a very popular King, and so "Federal" became the new style despite similarity, on and on.

So, the question becomes how detailed do you get in describing "Style (design)" in the URAR? Do you call it "contemporary" and not "Post-Modern" or 'eclectic' or some more modern term? I mean todays houses are often a mix of those very old styles, and in that mix, are modified with modern materials (vinyl, lick and stick stone, non-functional fireplaces) for instance, a "Ranch" style - sort of an outgrowth of the FL Wright prairie style, might have columns or pilasters, side lines, Palladio style windows, etc. Or, do you call out something that might be a local name like the "Giraffe" homes with slab rock foundations. And in the case below a flat roof. Whatcha gonna call it?View attachment 86039

Modern Stonehaus? Sawed Off Castle with Shed? Whatever works. I'm about to take that class. I took the Victorian Architecture one last year when I had a bunch of them and found it really interesting. I love Frank Lloyd Wright houses too.

 

[RCA]

Took a CE course on house styles - for you FNMA folk, good course (Calypso) - The instructor laid out the "Colonial" styles - and interestingly included the Cape COD and log cabin. Pointed out the simple square Cape COD was added on to become a saltbox or 'catslide' home and the styles generally morphed into farmhouses and eventually into what I always thought of as "Colonial" with columns - which then started adopting English and Dutch styling - "Georgian" became unpopular due to the Revolution and George not a very popular King, and so "Federal" became the new style despite similarity, on and on.

So, the question becomes how detailed do you get in describing "Style (design)" in the URAR? Do you call it "contemporary" and not "Post-Modern" or 'eclectic' or some more modern term? I mean todays houses are often a mix of those very old styles, and in that mix, are modified with modern materials (vinyl, lick and stick stone, non-functional fireplaces) for instance, a "Ranch" style - sort of an outgrowth of the FL Wright prairie style, might have columns or pilasters, side lines, Palladio style windows, etc. Or, do you call out something that might be a local name like the "Giraffe" homes with slab rock foundations. And in the case below a flat roof. Whatcha gonna call it?View attachment 86039

House styles used to be more important than they are now. Functionality is far far more important nowadays.

1. Yea - a "comfortably acceptable" house style is needed. So, the house at least has to have acceptable appeal. But this should be easy to satisfy.

Then comes functionality, "In Use" value.

2. It allows for a good external and/or internal office with good electrical supply and protection. Including perhaps 240V, good wattage, the right wiring, A/C and Heat, water, space for refrigerator and bar and everything need. There is a host of functional requirements for many who work at home, or run an office out of the house.

3. It has to have a kitchen and bathrooms that meet the buyers requirements. This can be a big one as well.

4. The master bedroom may have a lot of requirements - as well as the guest and other bedrooms.

5. Entertainment/recreation facilities are needed throughout the house.

6. A decent size garage and workshop, plus adequate storage.

7. A "wine cellar" for keeping things cool.

8. A sauna is almost a necessity for many. What would I do without a sauna? The best nights sleep is only after a good 30 minutes in 140 degrees Fahrenheit (or hotter).

9. Security cameras and system - another big one nowadays. Cost range is enormous.

..... And so on ....

As for a super slick impressive design .... that would be nice, but NOT at the expense of the above.

 

[RCA]

... I kind of observe and notice how proud some people are of their homes. The proudest seem to be those with historic Craftsman style homes, with giant fireplaces still intact and taken care of over perhaps a century. The rest of the home may be a bit scuffed up. But on the side of a hill, with maybe 3-4 levels, multiple external entrances and walkways around the house - you can find a neat place for an office with a view .... of course being on the side of a hill, especially with bedrock poking through the ground in places, -you can have a very good wine cellar. San Anselmo comes to mind.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Modern Stonehaus? Sawed Off Castle with Shed? Whatever works.

I wonder if future architecture books will have the "McMansion".

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

I wonder if future architecture books will have the "McMansion".

The "dramatic 2 story entrance" on a 2400 square foot house? What a waste of potential closet space. And all the Assessor's offices always include it as GLA.

 

[Dublin ohio]

And all the Assessor's offices always include it as GLA.

Don't get me started on that. Years ago we had a new auditor elected. She decided to start including second floor GLA for 2 story entrances and 2 story great rooms. What a cluster. Magically homes had 400-500sf more GLA. They had to go back and look at the original property cards to correct the mess she made. Took them almost 6 months

 

[Charles West]

Whatever it is, it is stone ugly.

 

[RCA]

Whatever it is, it is stone ugly.

It is a square flat-roof design, which is "efficient" - i.e. cheap. I think it is too small to be very functional, especially at the front. But it expands at the rear - that could be good for some things. I would think an office up front and behind the office you walk into the living quarters. That might have a lot of appeal for some. You need to see the inside, you need to know the market. But the square design would generally not be attractive in California - which seems to still be somewhat in love with a good ranch style home or better yet a Mediterranean style home ... but I have seem some expensive square homes in Carmel.

I once did a "barn style" home in Carmel. It it was a nice property with a nice inlaw over the garage and a cottage in the backyard area. The main house was absolutely rectangular, two stories high with mostly larger rooms. The workmanship inside was very nice, although not the best. There were some problems with the size of a couple of smaller rooms. I wanted to discount for the style, but were no comps to support that. So, I said to myself that Carmel was a rather upscale community with European tastes and in Europe, many of the best homes have this rectangular layout - so I didn't discount. But in retrospect I should have. Carmel has its own style or rather set of styles. It's complicated. Its an area of artists, musicians, actors, attorneys, retired rich and regular people. It has its own thing.

 

[Fernando]

Doesn't really matter what style to describe in 1004 as long as it's reasonable (don't call a shack a modern style).
We can't adjust for Spanish or English style cause it's bias and subjective.
I personally don't like Victorians but others do.
Can't state it but curb appeal comes into play in my reconciliation.