Colonial Revival: Beginning in the late 1800s, Americans sought to create an individual architectural style that honored their values and history, and drew inspiration from early American Colonials in creating the Colonial Revival style. Like their predecessors, Colonial Revivals are often symmetrical, 2-3 stories, and rectangular, but the Colonial Revival style allowed for less formality and more ornamentation. Trim details were heavily influenced by Georgian and Federal styles, and the houses often featured columned entry porticos and porches, and more elaborate front entries. Palladian windows were almost never present in the Colonials of the early 1800s, but became popular in the new style, along with double and triple windows. This style lasted well into the 20th century, making way for the foursquare and bungalow styles of the mid-20th century.

Mid-Atlantic: Historic Mid-Atlantic architecture encompasses a range of styles and influences from early English, German and Dutch settlers. This cottage exemplifies an early style of Colonial architecture found in Williamsburg, VA which draws on English medieval roots. The steep roof pitch, flush roof trim, exterior chimneys, exposed, elevated foundation and wide, simple mouldings around windows and doors are typical of the period. Although these homes are now beloved as iconic of early American architecture, Thomas Jefferson wrote disapprovingly of Williamsburg that "the genius of architecture had shed its maledictions over this land"!

Shingle Style: These houses became popular through use on the seaside retreats of the Northeastern United States between 1874 and the early 1900s. Although these houses derived many architectural details, such as wide, shady porches and asymmetrical designs, from the intricate Queen Anne Victorians of the same period, the monochromatic exteriors were refreshingly understated. By opening the floorplan using fewer, more loosely arranged rooms, a much lighter and airier interior was achieved. Complex details such as irregular rooflines, crossgables, rounded corners and eaves are all hallmarks of this style, but the rough hewn siding and natural colors enable it to blend peacefully into the natural landscape.

Southern Coastal: The Low Country architectural style was developed by French colonial settlers to the Mississippi Valley, who combined influences from France, the Caribbean, the West Indies and elsewhere to build houses that were well adapted for their new hot, humid environment. Elevated living quarters with exterior stairs, wide porches with thin wood columns, hipped or gabled roofs, and French doors were all common in Low Country houses, which were often finished with stuccoed or siding exteriors. The French Colonial style gave rise to the Creole Cottage, Creole townhouse and Plantation homes. Most Creole cottages, like this one, feature dormers above the porch. Cottages of a later period often feature Greek Revival details as well, such as the square porch columns on this home. Cottages of this style are most commonly found along the Gulf Coast.