The Most Popular Home Styles In North America

  You don't have to be a design expert to spot a Tudor house. Their distinct appearance makes them easily recognizable and unique among their more symmetrical, lighter colonial neighbors. These homes come in all sizes, and while smaller versions might have a quaint storybook appearance to them, larger Tudors more often embody the romantic ideal of an English country manor. That charming, old-world feel has appealed to many Americans over the last century and a half. As an architectural trend, Tudor-style homes originated in the United States in the mid-19th century and continued to grow in popularity until World War II. The Tudor style movement is technically a revival of "English domestic architecture, specifically Medieval and post-Medieval styles from 1600-1700," says Peter Pennoyer, FAIA, of Peter Pennoyer Architects. Because these homes mimicked a style designed to weather colder climates with lots of rain and snow, they were best suited for the northern half of the United States, though they're popular in other areas of the country as well.