Best Collection Of 95+ Alluring Philly Historical Residential House Design For Every Budget

The Georgian architectural style was popular in the United States from 1720 to 1830. It is characterized by symmetry, and Palladian-style windows. Homes with this style were often made from brick and were adorned with small partitioned windows. Many homes with this style also featured a grand entrance, with detailed entryways, along with large columns and elaborate decoration. This style still influences home designs in Philadelphia today.

The Georgian-style is particularly distinctive in two-story homes, with nine-partizzard windows and symmetrically balanced design. This classic style emphasizes ornamental decoration, and contains features such as fanlights, corner skew-backs, string course, and window details. Many Georgian houses in Philadelphia also feature elaborated woodwork along doors and windows. This exquisite style brings a touch of classic elegance to the house.

The Victorian architectural style was popular from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Influenced by Greek, Gothic, and Renaissance revival styles, Victorian houses have a distinct look and were typically highly ornamental. You can identify Victorian homes by their intricate decoration, which may include stained glass windows, carpentry, and grand turrets.

The Victorian-style house tends to have a very traditional look. It can be a single-family, two-or-three-story structure, often with prominent front porches, and usually have steeply pitched gable, hip, and crossed-gable roofs. These houses also tend to have elaborate second-floor balconies, and include a variety of wall textures and materials. Victorian houses come in a variety of styles and can evoke nostalgic feelings of beautiful classic houses.

The Federalist style of architecture was prominent in Philadelphia during the early 1800s. Its most recognizable features are symmetrical windows, wider doors, and marble or stone ornamentation. Other distinctive features include a large pediment along the roofline, stately white iron fences, and cantilever stone balconies.

These houses tend to be interior-oriented, sacrificing garden space for more room in the home. They are also noted for their cool, muted colors, often with soft pink walls and ivory trim. Though this style isn’t as common today, many Federalist-style homes are still visible in Philadelphia, some even going back to the 1700s.

The Greek Revival style is typically identified by its strong lines and strict symmetry. This style was heavily used in American housing from 1820 until the mid-19th century. Homeowners often identified Greek Revival homes as a sign of sophistication and wealth, and it was popular in Philadelphia during the post-Revolutionary era.

The Greek Revival style often corresponds with the Federalist-style, utilizing similar window and door frames, but with much more ornamentation and embellishments. Greek Revival homes tend to have an open floor plan, with the living areas and bedrooms connected to each other. Other classic features of these homes include stone or stucco facades, imposing colonnades, intricate entryways, and Doric columns.

The Italianate architectural style was popular among wealthy families in Philadelphia from the 1840s to 1885. It has some similarities to the Greek Revival style, but incorporated more decorative flourishes and elaborate details. A key distinction of Italianate architecture is the bracketed cornices, which further compliment the exaggerated form of the home.

The proportions and details of Italianate homes are often based upon classical designs, which include multiple balconies, porches, and arcades. Windows in Italianate homes are often divided by decorative frames organized into patterns. These windows are also typically surrounded by wood shutters or decorative iron railings. The overall effect of an Italianate-style home is an elegant, grandiose look.

From the mid-1800s to the late 19th century, the Second Empire style was popular in Philadelphia. During the Civil War, the Second Empire style was heavily favored for its modern elements and luxurious design. This style was characterized by polychromy, those utilizing multiple different colors in the design, including richer tones of pink and red, as well as deep green and gray.

Homes with the Second Empire style often have complex roofs made of slate or wood tiles. These roofs display intricate patterns, including various sized dormers, turrets, and corners with subtle tympanums or balconies. Ornate chimneys with decorative tops, balusters, shutters, and window moldings were some of the other features that helped to define the Second Empire style of the late 1800s.

The Queen Anne architectural style was a popular choice in Philadelphia for the late 19th to early 20th century. Queen Anne homes often had a variation of the cross-gable roof, with elaborate gables and eaves. These houses often had heavily decorated entranceways, including intricate woodwork, stained glass, heavy moldings, and detailed entryways.

The Queen Anne style also has a variety of window shapes. These windows were often grouped, with patterned muntins and diamond, ellipse, and hexagonal panes. Brick and sandstone were some of the predominant materials used in these homes. This style was also made popular in part due to the high-quality craftsmanship, often associated with queen Anne style homes.

The Beaux Arts style first appeared in Philadelphia during the late 19th century, especially during the city’s ‘Centennial Wave’ of construction in the 1890s. Distinguishing features of this style include grand entryways, Mediterranean-style balconies, terracotta tiles, and ornate pediments.

Beaux Arts homes often incorporate elements of Italian and French Renaissance designs. The open entranceways tend to give an impression of grandeur and stateliness and are often flanked by columns or pilasters. These homes often utilize classical-inspired interior and exterior ornamentation, which has become a hallmark feature of Beaux Arts style.

The Colonial Revival architectural style became popular in the United States during the late 19th century. This style, which celebrated the nation’s heritage, drew inspiration from earlier periods of Colonial-era architecture. This style often combines the traditional with the modern, as it utilizes classical designs and stately aesthetics.

The Colonial Revival styed would be easily identified by its symmetrical design, with shuttered windows and double-hung sash. Asymmetrical sections, with one side slightly higher than the other, help to create a balanced and harmonious look. Key elements such as recessed entries, pediments, porticos, and dormers can also help to identify authentic Colonial Revival houses in Philadelphia.

The Arts and Crafts architectural style rose to prominence during the mid-to-late 19th century in the United States. This style combined a variety of textures and materials to create a unique look. The main objective of the Arts and Crafts style is to convey a sense of home, which can often be found in traditional American residences.

These homes have a variety of characteristics, such as wood shingle siding, multi-paneled doors, and large front porches. Bold eaves, exposed rafters, and decorative brickwork can also be used to define an Arts and Crafts home. The resulting look offers a timeless design that both classic and modern, with various elements incorporated from previous eras.