Top 85+ Striking Historic Appalachain House Design You Won't Be Disappointed

Early settlers of the Appalachian Mountains commonly built log homes that featured walls made from round logs or squared logs. For insulation, it was common for the gaps between the logs to be filled with clay. Plastered interiors and gabled roofs often gave the log homes a traditional Appalachian character. Log homes inspired by traditional Appalachian art deco styles, such as the Dogtrot, the Pennsylvania Dutch, and the Colonial, are now frequently seen in modernized form, combining both old and new construction materials with historical architecture.

Stone houses are a unique form of Appalachian architecture that has been around since settlers first stopped in the Appalachians and began to build Stonehenge-style dwellings. These stone houses commonly featured double-cell construction and were built from locally sourced limestone. Interiors of these dwellings often featured wainscot or basket-weaving along the walls, while exteriors often featured large, arched windows. In more recent times, art deco styles have been incorporated into the stone house designs, completing the Appalachian look.

Board-and-batten house designs were an early form of cabin construction that was widely used in the Appalachian region. Board-and-batten construction incorporated large wooden boards joined together with a stronger material such as copper nails or even leather straps. The boards were then covered with wood slats known as battens, giving the structure a sleek, modern look. Often, the exterior of the structure was painted or stained to create a patterned look that was popular in the art deco era.

Dovetail houses are constructed with a special form of joinery that creates a strong, sturdy structure from small pieces of wood. The interior structure of these houses are typically built with round logs, which are then pinned together with the dovetailing joinery. The construction is often topped off with a gabled roof and a trim of decorative detailing, such as arched windows and doorways. In addition to its classic Appalachian style, the steeply pitched gabled roof of a dovetail house provides excellent ventilation.

The I-House is an iconic form of Appalachian architecture, characterized by its two-story façade with a steep, gabled roof. These dwellings were typically constructed in an inexpensive but durable fashion, using logs and local stone, often composed in a simple rectangular shape. Although the I-House design was simple and efficient, certain features, such as dormer windows, wide porches, and shuttered windows, often gave the dwelling an art deco flair, suggesting that the homeowner had an eye for style.

The saltbox house design was a form of Appalachian architecture that was widely used in the eighteenth century, and often included an asymmetrical roofline that sloped towards the rear of the house. In contrast to the symmetrical I-House, the saltbox house was often more ornate and grand in style, as was often seen in the homes of well-to-do timber merchants and other Appalachian citizens. Depending on the region, these structures often featured cornices, dentils, pilasters, or other decorative details that set the saltbox style apart from other Appalachian house designs.

The shotgun house is a traditional form of Appalachian architecture that was commonly built in the mid-1800s. Typical shotgun houses were long and narrow, and could range in size from one room to five or more. To keep costs low, the exterior of the house was typically made of wood, while the interior was often constructed with more durable brick or stucco. The shotgun house was also notable for its slanted, double-gabled roof, which allowed more natural light to enter the dwelling in a style reminiscent of art deco.

The Greek Revival style of house is one of the more modern forms of art deco architecture in the Appalachian region. These structures were usually grand in stature, often with a hip roof, intricate courtyard, and large arched windows. Ornamental features and Greek-inspired columns were often used to frame entrances and decorate the façade of the house, while interior features, such as open kitchens, wood accents, and vaulted ceilings, often added to the classical feeling of the home.

The Cape Cod house was a popular style of vernacular architecture in the early nineteenth century, and is now one of the more iconic art deco house designs in the Appalachians. The style often featured wide porches, symmetrical facades, and shed roofs that extended from the central façade. At the peak of the roof, a central gable was often placed, creating a peaked roofline that suggested an air of grandeur. Interior features of these homes often included bay windows, open kitchens, and timeless trims.

Gothic Revival cottages were an increasingly popular form of vernacular architecture throughout the nineteenth century in the Appalachian region. These homes typically featured steeply pitched, asymmetrical gables, small porches, and exaggerated, pointy-tipped trims. Common interior features include vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and brick fireplaces, while exterior features are usually characterized by decorative shingles, arched windows, and turned porch columns.

Georgian house designs can be found throughout the Appalachian region, although the style arrived somewhat late in the region, due to the limited resources and construction materials available. These dwellings often featured a double-pitched roof that evened out gradually with wide eaves and small dormer windows. Ornamental decor such as Greek-style architraves and limestone surrounds were common elements of art deco Georgian house designs. The Georgian style was unique in that its symmetrical features suggested a formality that was popular among eighteenth-century Appalachian settlers.