Know thy Architecture
Who does your house say she is?
Last week I shared about respecting our house. I talked about what the architecture of our home is, and how I used it to inform the design choices I made.
It goes without saying that my builder grade home is not any one architectural style, but rather is a kind of Frankenstein house; a clumsy amalgamation of various design styles.
This may or may not be the case in your house, but you’ll have to do some work to figure it out. Here are a few questions you can ask to identify the architectural styles stitched together in your home:
What is the shape of the roof?
What kind of materials are used on the outside? (Stucco, brick, siding, etc.)
What kind of windows does it have?
Is the molding flat or ornamental?
What is the original floor plan?
What is the profile of the fireplace?
One of my favourite, easy-read architecture books is “A Field Guide to American Houses” by Virginia McAlester. It uses a lot of images, which make it easy to understand, but goes a long way in being comprehensive about which features indicate the various architectural styles. With a book like this one, you can answer the questions above about your home, and then easily compare your answers to what you find in the book.
Knowing the architectural style of your home makes it easier for you to make informed decisions about how to design, furnish, and decorate your space. It should never dictate the choices you make, but it should inform them.
Tile, toilets, temperance
Remember two weeks ago when I talked about making the right compromise?
We weren’t done compromising once we selected a carpet.
