Colonial Revival styling gained popularity in the 10-15 years prior to the turn of the century with the introduction of influential Georgian Revival designs by McKim, Mead & White. The Colonial Revival vocabulary of white or light painted clapboards, brick and classical details came to be identified as the twentieth-century look with its unpretentious dignity evoking a sense of gracious living and good taste. The popularity of this style is still with us today.
Except for the rare examples which are historically accurate to their 17th and 18th century models, most Colonial Revival houses of this period are the interpretations of colonial motifs applied to Victorian or post-Victorian house types. For instance, the example shown here is basically an American Foursquare in the Colonial Revival style.
- Gable-end roof, often with pedimented gables and pedimented dormers.
- Entrance door often has fanlight and sidelights.
- Form and detailing displays symmetry.
- Classical details such as Palladian windows, quoins, garlands, heavy dentils, classical porch columns and pilasters.
- The popular Dutch Colonial variation is identified by a gambrel roof