If you're looking for a house that's big on symmetry, elegantly proportioned, spacious with high ceilings, and awash with light due to its many multi-paned sash windows, then a Georgian house might be for you. Ranging from simple wooden cottages to terraced townhouses and sprawling mansions, Georgian houses cover a range of styles.
Below we look at this most elegant of house styles in the US.
What is a Georgian style house?
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Georgian houses were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, during the reigns of the four King Georges of England, and were influenced by Palladian style, hence the emphasis on symmetry. In the UK they range from iconic terraced townhouses prevalent in London, Edinburgh and Bath to Cotswolds farmhouses and country mansions.
In the US, Georgian homes include a variety of styles including wooden New England homes through to Southern plantation houses. This also includes terraced townhouses such as Elfreth's Alley in Philadelphia (above), with its houses built between 1728 and 1836, making it one of America's oldest continuously inhabited residential streets.
'The popularity of US homes built in Georgian architecture’scharacteristic symmetrical style has risen, waned and rebounded since theearly 18th century. The two-story houses’ stone or brick construction, gabledroofs, evenly spaced multi-paned windows, central door anddecorativeornamentation make them easy to spot, primarily along the East Coast,' says Christina Dikas, an associate principal at historic preservation and architecture firmPage & Turnbull.
'Sometimes called Colonial, early Georgianarchitecture encompassed elements of Baroque, Palladian, Neoclassical design,' continues Christina.'After theheight of its 18th century popularity in the American colonies, themore refined Federal style took hold, and during the 19th century, Neo-Georgianor Colonial Revival architecture rose in popularity, bringing a blend ofclassic symmetry and detailed ornamentation.'
Where did Georgian style originate?
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Georgian architecture originated in England from 1714 to 1830 when George I, George II, George III and George IV, after whom the style was named, reigned.
'It was introduced to America by colonists during the18thcentury,' says Christina Dikas. 'Georgian architecture’s symmetrical style, classic decorative details and windowed rooms were especially popular amongthe North East’s colonists,whose earlier home designs were based on functionality.'
Why are Georgian style homes so popular?
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According to Christina, Georgian homes continue to be popular in the US largely because of their even proportions, symmetrical architecture andornamentaldetails, as demonstrated by the house above in Virginia. 'As with the colonists who were attracted to the style,today’s homeowners also appreciate how the architecture’s many windowsfill interiorrooms with daylight.'
The ground floor living spaces also make Georgian houses attractive, with family areas towards the back of the house andthe moreformal entry, living and dining spaces at the front, as well as second levelbedrooms. 'The style’s box-like rooms are easy to design, adapt orremodelaccording to a family’s lifestyle, with or without the interior’s characteristiccrown molding and other decorative elements,' says Christina.
Where can Georgian style homes be found?
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'In the US, Georgian-style homes are foundpredominately along the East Coast (such as the house above in New Hampshire), some with regional differences firstapplied by earlycolonists, such as the northern region's wood features,including framing, shingles, columns, decorative accents, and railings,' says Christina.
'Familiarbrickand stone construction characterize Georgian homes in the middle colonies,such as New York and Pennsylvania, and the southern states’brick construction includesdisconnected house wings.
'A larger number of 18th-century Georgian housesremain in rural areas or smallertowns on the Eastern seaboard, whereas mosthave been lost from colonial cities such as Boston, New York and Philadelphia,whichexperienced great change and expansion during later centuries.Neo-Georgian houses, also known as Colonial Revival houses, can be foundacross the US,' says Christina.
What to look for in a Georgian style home
Georgian house typically aretwo-story residences built of wood, stone or brick with a side-gabled roof.
'The houses’distinctive symmetry can be seen in the placement of a centeredsingle chimney or paired chimneys, multi-paned windows and acentered, paneledfront door with an overhead transom window,' says Christina. 'Commonly, a pointed or arched pedimentor a flat entablature crowns thedoor, which is further accented by flanking pilasters.The houses also may include terraces, dormer windows, painted shutters andornamental details, like cornices, dentils, arches and columns. Inside, highceilings with crown moldings add decorative details to square-shaped rooms,whose plentiful windows bring in natural daylight.'
