Inside cape cod style homes
Cape Cod house style – the ultimate guide to what it is and how to get the look |
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(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
When it comes to architecture, Cape Cod house style is as all-American as a fresh slice of apple pie.
Dating back to New England during the 17th century, this classic style proves that keeping it simple is anything but boring. In fact, it’s not too hard to see how Cape Cod homes have deftly surpassed the test of time.
Want to get acquainted with the beloved architecture style? Keep reading for an in-depth look at Cape Cod homes.
- See more: House Styles - the complete guide to architectural styles and eras
What is Cape Cod house style?
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
Before you dive into all of the nuances and rich history surrounding Cape Cod house style, it’s important to understand how it is defined.
Generally, Cape Cod homes have a steep roof, shingled exterior, symmetrical façade, and large chimney in the middle. While Cape Cod houses can have multiple floors, most residences are single-storied. Additionally, Cape Cod house style is notoriously free of any superfluous ornamentation, making them versatile enough for a variety of homeowners.
Nowadays, Cape Cod house style falls into one of three categories: a full Cape, three-quarter Cape, and half Cape. While full Cape houses boast a picture-perfect symmetry that is commonly associated with the style, three-quarter and half Capes are smaller, not to mention their entryways and chimneys are slightly offset. (You can also think of it as three quarters or half of a traditional Cape Cod house.)
According to Barry Goralnick , a New York-based designer who grew up surrounded by Cape Cod houses in Massachusetts, these smaller iterations have their perks.
'They’re perfect for today’s younger buyers who don’t want the ostentation of a McMansion,' he says.
'They want to live honestly in multifunctional spaces. Not only are these homes space efficient, they are energy efficient – something we are all more conscious of these days. The rise of the "tiny house" culture is a perfect parallel.'
When did Cape Cod house style originate?
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
While Cape Cod house style is typically synonymous with American architecture, it actually dates back to the Puritan colonists back in the 17th century. When early settlers came to the United States, they decided to model their new abodes after their half-timbered homes from England — with a few upgrades to suit their new surroundings. Thus, Cape Cod house style was born.
'Their origins are practical, simply adorned and designed to stand up to the difficult weather of the climate,' says Goralnick. 'Pitched roofs shed snow. The shingles, which weathered to an earthy gray color, also shed rain and are sturdy and practical.'
But just because Cape Cod house style has been around for nearly 400 years doesn’t mean it's lost its luster.
While it fell out of trend in the 1850s, the style had a major resurgence between 1925 and 1955. According to the United States’ Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation , this style was the last type of colonial-era homes to be revived to modern times.
Why is Cape Cod house style so popular?
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
Since Cape Cod house style is typically free of any ornamentation, it’s easy to write it off as bland. But, as architect Kevin Lichten argues, its simplicity has made this a lasting home trend.
'The Cape Cod house endures because it is simple, inexpensive to build, directly responsive to its harsh New England environment,' he explains. 'It’s also flexible in how it can be configured and beautiful for all of those reasons.
'Thanks to its enduring versatility, Cape Cod houses are suitable for an array of regions, types of families, and, of course, materials.
'At its best, when it is properly proportioned and the right materials are handled correctly, it can be gracious, elegant, and even luxurious,' Lichten adds.
'It has dignity. Even at its worst, with bad proportions and vinyl siding, it provides an unpretentious and honest home to the average American family.'
Where can Cape Cod house style be found?
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
As its name suggests, Cape Cod house style is most common in Massachusetts and the greater New England region. While these types of residences are still be found in the Midwest and along the west coast, they might look different from their traditional, New England counterparts. According to ThoughtCo , modern-day Cape Cod spaces are often mixed with other architectural styles like Tudor, Ranch, Arts and Crafts, or Craftsman.
Though Cape Cod homes are known and loved for their simplicity, they were ultimately designed for colder, snowier climates — right down to their steep roofs. But, when you mix it with another architecture style, you can create a home that feels authentic to your neck of the woods.
What to look for in a Cape Cod home
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
When looking for a Cape Cod house, the façade is usually the first that will come to mind.
Though most residences often feature unpainted side shingles and a clapboard or cedar shake roof, its symmetry will likely catch your eye.
'Perfection of proportion is the key to a beautiful full Cape Cod,' Lichten explains. 'The roof’s slope can’t be too shallow and shingle exposure should be four to five inches, not the 10 inches of modern clapboard. The eaves must be low, so the building hugs the ground in defiance of northeasters. And, above all else, the chimney must be robust to anchor the entire building to the earth!'
Most Cape Cod exteriors have a similar look and feel, making them easy to spot in your neighborhood. And, as it turns out, their interiors are just as streamlined as their facades.
'A true Cape Cod home has four rooms downstairs and four rooms upstairs with a fat chimney anchoring it in the middle,' Lichten says. 'Its flexibility can allow a family to grow with simple additions. A full Cape has an entrance door in the middle with a staircase immediately inside.
'
Of course, different iterations of the Cape Cod home will feature varying layouts.
'For a half Cape, the front room is the living room and the back room is the kitchen,' Lichten explains. 'A three-quarter Cape has two windows to one side of the front door and one on the other. Upstairs, the attic-like bedrooms can grow with dormers. Ultimately flexibility: half-Cape, three-quarter Cape, full Cape!'
- See more: Modern farmhouse style: what is it, and how to achieve it
How to decorate with Cape Cod house style
As the old adage goes, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder – and your home décor is no exception. However, if you’re looking for ways to decorate your Cape Cod home, here are some stunning ideas to try.
See: Cape Cod living room ideas – elegant, timeless ways to decorate
1.
Opt for traditional accents (Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
Since Cape Cod house style is known for its rich history, why not lean into the style’s storied past?
If you fancy a walk down memory lane, consider pieces and elements that harken back to colonial America. From lantern pendants, to handsome wooden accents, to a stately grandfather clock, antiques and traditional décor will fit nicely with this beloved architecture.
2. Get creative with ship style
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
Cape Cod residences can be found throughout New England – and various parts of the United States – but the style feels most at home along the sandy beaches of Massachusetts.
We love how this space uses boat motifs to bring this space back to its coastal roots.
3. Keep it neutral
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
A fresh coat of paint has the power to make or break a space, but don’t worry; when it comes to Cape Cod houses, it’s perfectly fine to keep your color palette simple.
Not only do neutral colors pair nicely with Cape Cod’s simple structure, but they can also act as a blank canvas, ready to evolve as your style does. On the other hand, anyone who wants to embrace the style’s coastal roots will find a lot to love about a palette of light blues and soothing, seafoam greens.
4. Unexpected exteriors
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
If you want to breathe a new life into your Cape Cod property’s exterior, reconsider its color scheme.
White paint and black shutters was a popular pairing during the Cape Cod revival. However, you can always reinvigorate your façade with a different combination. The space here features natural siding and rich, forest green shutters.
5. Beautify your backyard
(Image credit: Kevin Lichten)
Don’t let their simple reputation fool you: Cape Cod houses offer plenty of opportunities to give your space some personality.
'Once the full Cape is achieved with four windows in the front, it can grow in the back with an extension or a connection to the barn or today to the garage,' Lichten says.
From matching Adirondack chair to a pristine picket fence, you can easily bring that Cape Cod charm to your backyard.
Kelsey Mulvey is a New York-born, San Francisco-based freelance journalist who covers lifestyle and design content. She started her writing career while studying magazine journalism at Boston University, where her work was syndicated by top digital publications like USA Today and MSN. Upon graduation, Kelsey covered lifestyle content The Wall Street Journal, Off Duty and Business Insider. In 2017, Kelsey started her freelance journalism career, where she contributes to design publications like AD PRO, Elle Decor, Wallpaper*, and more. W
Cape Cod living room ideas |
Homes & Gardens is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s why you can trust us.
(Image credit: Rockport Building Partners / Sarah Szwajkos)
Cape Cod living rooms have an enduring appeal, and no wonder – since the British settlers built them in the 17th Century, Cape Cod homes have been the crown jewel of American architecture.
These residences have persisted in popularity, offering a home that’s both simple and resistant against inclement weather. But, just because Cape Cod house style is simple in form doesn’t mean it is boring. In fact, quite the opposite. There are plenty of ways to decorate a Cape Cod home and, if you’re in need for a great place to start, where better place to look than your living room?
Cape Cod living room ideas: the fundamentals
For many, the living room is the heart of any home, offering a place to gather with guests, spend quality time with family, or unwind after a particularly long day. And, as the focal point of your home, the living room can lay the groundwork for the rest of your space.
We've spoken with interior designers for their Cape Cod living room ideas – and how to get the look in your own home. And for even more inspiration, our Living room ideas feature has even more ways to update your social space.
1. Make the most of the view
(Image credit: Rockport Building Partners / Photo by Sarah Szwajkos)
If you're fortunate enough to have a home with ocean or lakeside views, then reconfiguring the architecture can maximize the benefits.
Open plan kitchen ideas can be a great place to start, as they incorporate living and dining areas at the heart of your home.
'The key to creating this living room was to make an incredibly inviting space that would feel cozy without detracting from those jaw-dropping ocean views.' explains Casey Leonard of Rockport Building Partners in Maine.
'We took the warmth of the wood to the floors and ceilings and then went floor-to-ceiling with windows. The contrast between the lighter-toned, warm woods and crisp white architectural details makes for a great balance between the traditional and modern cottage.'
(Image credit: Whittney Parkinson)
The centerpiece of this stunning room by Indianapolis-based designer Whittney Parkinson is the statement light fixture. Positioned at the apex of the room, the furniture pivots around this to create a beautifully ordered scheme that suits the simplicity of Cape Cod living room ideas and style.
'Positioning the vase, with its tall foliage display, beneath the light is very clever, as it creates a connection between the two and draws the room together visually,' says Andréa Childs, Editor of Country Homes & Interiors magazine.
'It's a great example of how living room lighting ideas can transform a space.'
3. Make it monochrome
(Image credit: King)
By picking out architectural features such as windows and fireplaces in black, then combining them with white walls and ceiling, you can create a chic monochromatic background to your Cape Cod living room ideas.
Pared-back furniture pieces, such as these chic sofas and ottoman from King , keep the look sleek but still with an element of softness and easy comfort, which is key to the Cape Cod style. Minimalist living room ideas like this are best achieved if you're the clutter-free type – or have great storage!
4. Create a library-style living room
(Image credit: Maine Oceanfront Library / Sarah Szwajkos)
Dedicate a wall to library shelving and position a reading chair in front, to create a book nook area in your New England coastal style living room. It's just one way to bring to life your home library ideas.
This seaside home in New England has white wood walls with shiplap-style planks, trim and ceiling, along with the wood-burning fireplace. The built-in bookshelves beneath the stair create a beautifully tucked-in library.
5. Paint fitted cabinetry in shades of blue
(Image credit: Emma Sims-Hilditch)
This smart-casual sitting room created by British interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch shows the benefits of built-in cabinetry and living room storage ideas for making the most of a space.
'The unit has been designed and measured to fit around the original ceiling beams and to accommodate the couch and artworks perfectly,' says Country Homes & Interiors Editor, Andréa Childs.
'Choosing a mid-blue tone introduces a classic Cape Cod color scheme to define the look.'
6. Add in antique pieces
(Image credit: Georgia Zikas Design / Jane Beiles)
New England coastal style is more of a feeling than an exact formula for design, which means you can interpret your Cape Cod living room ideas in a truly unique and personal way – such as decorating with antiques.
'It's a mix of laidback luxury, historical charm and modern-day touches that create an overall calm and approachable environment, evocative of the way people live when near the beach or a body of water,' explains Georgia Zikas of Georgia Zikas Design .
'There is an overall easiness to the design; no fuss and an emphasis on liveable fabrics, furnishings, and color palettes. This, alongside the incorporation of antiques or any pieces that connect to the history of New England, creates a truly unique and inviting design.'
7. Surprise with a playful element
(Image credit: Kirsten Conner Interior Design)
'Classic architectural features like built-in shelves and a mullioned window create an inviting space that resonates with our need for familiarity and calm in changing and chaotic times,' says Kirsten Conner, Founder of Kirsten Conner Interior Design in Seattle.
'In this room, I brought in a classic traditional Chesterfield sofa in an enveloping sapphire velvet and paired it with fawn leather armchairs that beckon you to sit.
'Modern Traditional elements such as strong primary colors, abstracted Persian rug motifs and punchy crimson Currey & Company lamps modernize the feeling.
An unexpected element – a faux mohair upholstered bench in front of the fireplace – also adds an electric synergy to the mix.'
8. Pull in an accent color
(Image credit: Georgia Zikas Design / Jane Beiles)
In this elegant Cape Cod living room designed by Georgia Zikas, small touches of blue lift the softly tonal scheme.
Just a few blue touches – the base of the coffee table, a single throw cushion, and some subtle stripes – are all it takes to introduce a New England vibe to the room.
9. Include ample seating
Photography/Eric Roth
(Image credit: Liz Caan)
Since the living room is the epicenter of many homes, it’s important to have ample space for the entire family – plus a few guests.
This space doubles down on seating, thanks to a set of couches and a few stools.
With a palette of subtle neutral hues – plus the occasional woven materials – this living room strikes a nice balance between practical and coastal.
The throw pillows and rug also introduce warm, cozy living room ideas to make this a comfy and inviting space.
10. Remember the details
Photography/Dawn Yiannoullou
(Image credit: Havenly)
As the adage goes, the devil lies in the details — and your living room décor is no different.
This light and bright room is a perfect example of white living room ideas , but Havenly designer Lisa Marie Driscoll infuses this space with subtle touches like caned cabinets, a light wood coffee table, and a chevron-tiled hearth for extra interest.
The result? A cozy and comfortable living space that emulates the traditional Cape Cod-inspired aesthetic.
11. Make it symmetrical
Photography/Eric Roth
(Image credit: Liz Caan)
Tap into the architecture style’s rich, traditional history with some textbook design rules.
This space is anchored with a wicker couch, plus symmetrical armchairs, side tables, lamps, and geometrical stools.
Although this seating set-up is part of a larger open-concept space, it's actually a great example of small living room decor ideas as it takes up just a small area of the larger room.
12. Source wicker furniture
Photography/Tria Giovan
(Image credit: Amanda Lindroth)
Another way to bring the coastal spirit to your Cape Cod living room? Wicker furniture.
Though this material dates back to the Victorian Era, it does have a beachy reputation which makes it ideal when you're considering coastal living room ideas. Plus, wicker woven is incredibly popular nowadays, making this living room décor idea equal parts traditional and trendy.
13. Add in contemporary accents
Photography/ Kylie Fitts
(Image credit: Havenly)
Just because Cape Cod homes date back to the 17th Century doesn’t mean they can’t look and feel contemporary.
Shelby Girard, vice president of creative and design at Havenly, struck a nice balance with streamlined sofas and sleek, modern accents.
It's the blue couch that forms the centerpiece of this scheme; a design classic that you can see more of in our blue couch living room ideas.
14. Use coastal blues
Photography/Michael J. Lee
(Image credit: Liz Caan)
Though Cape Cod homes can be found all across the United States of America, they’re most common along the sandy beaches of New England.
If you want your Cape Cod living room to pay homage to its beachy roots – without festooning the space in sailboat motifs and artificial seashells – stick with a coastal blue and white color palette.
Decorating with blue and white is about finding the balance between the two colors, and deciding which will be the hero shade in your scheme.
15. Keep it cozy
Photography/Tria Giovan
(Image credit: Amanda Lindroth)
Cape Cod-style homes aren’t all about looks; in the colonial era, they were designed to fend off harsh, winter weather.
If you’re looking to create an inviting, cozy retreat during a rough snowstorm, consider experimenting with different materials. With a tactile sofa, wooden accents, and a plush rug, this room is no match for a whirling blizzard.
For more cozy and chic rooms, this time with a rustic twist, our country living room ideas is a packed gallery of design inspiration.
16. Mix and match
Photography/Don Freeman
(Image credit: Kevin Isbell)
Cape Cod homes are known for their simplicity, making them the perfect blank canvas to display your design style. If you don’t want to settle for a single look, take a cue from Kevin Isbell .
Here, the designer deftly mixes a wicker couch with a rustic table, living room paneling ideas, and rich, upholstered armchairs. In order to keep the room cohesive, Isbell sticks with a subdued palette.
17. Try a preppy palette
Photography/Allie Weinstein
(Image credit: Havenly)
From polo shirts to monogrammed-mania, New England is known for its preppy flair.
So, why not bring that spirit into your Cape Cod living room?
This space blends preppy patterns, a playful navy and coral palette, and traditional forms for a fresh take on coastal design.
Living room paint ideas has more stylish ways with paint, and will answer your questions about the best paint designs for your living space.
18. Keep it neutral
Photography/Morgan Levy
(Image credit: Havenly)
As this Cape Cod living room proves, you can never go wrong with an all-neutral palette. Versatile and easy to switch up with seasonal accessories should you choose, neutral living room ideas are the ultimate in no-fuss styling.
The undeniably classic scheme, timeless silhouettes, and cheery detailing makes for a relaxed, yet refined, living room that pays homage to life along the coast.
Cape Cod style dates back to New England in the 17th century, when Puritan settlers first arrived on US shores. They based the homes they built on those back in Britain, so Cape Cod homes tend to have a single story, with a steep roof, shingled exterior, symmetrical façade, and large chimney in the middle.
How do you style a Cape Cod house?
Cape Cod house interior style is informed by its New England setting, it's historical ancestry, and a nod to nautical colors and themes. The look tends to neutral schemes, with white, cream, taupe and shades of blue, from sky blue to navy, coming into the palette.
Furniture is simple and comfortable but elegant, with a mix of upholstery and wood.
Kelsey Mulvey is a New York-born, San Francisco-based freelance journalist who covers lifestyle and design content. She started her writing career while studying magazine journalism at Boston University, where her work was syndicated by top digital publications like USA Today and MSN. Upon graduation, Kelsey covered lifestyle content The Wall Street Journal, Off Duty and Business Insider. In 2017, Kelsey started her freelance journalism career, where she contributes to design publications like AD PRO, Elle Decor, Wallpaper*, and more. W
American Cape Cod Home Interior: Warm Eclecticism and Cosiness
After numerous trips to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a couple from California approached interior designer Phil Norman to recreate the mood inherent in the residential buildings of those places, in their own home.
"No problem," Norman told them without batting an eyelid. And what if they all live almost five thousand kilometers from the Atlantic coast, in Southern California?
According to the designer, the idea was not at all as crazy as it might seem at first glance. The home of his clients is located in Palos Verdes Estates, a town located on the Pacific coast, west of Los Angeles, so the atmosphere and lifestyle there are generally similar to those in Massachusetts. Norman quite easily decided on the aesthetic component of the future project. Both natural wood and stucco are very popular in California, and at the same time, they can be found in any traditional Cape Cod home.
The key to ensuring the elegance and freshness of the interior, according to the designer, was the desire to avoid an obvious seaside entourage (provoked by the presence of shells, for example), and to create an entourage subconscious, emotional. This was helped by the inclusion of unpretentious antiques and reclaimed wood elements that could fill the space of the house with a sense of near antiquity and rich history.
Object parameters
Owners : Married couple with two children
Location : Palos Verdes Estates, California
Dimensions : Approximately 380 sq. meters (four bedrooms, three bathrooms)
Clients wanted more historical references to Cape Cod, so Norman decided to include flooring and ceiling beams made from reclaimed wood brought in from Connecticut specifically for the project.
One owner leaned towards warm Ralph Lauren-inspired looks, but with a hint of Tommy Hilfiger's casual style. To meet this desire, the designer chose white and blue as the main decor shades, but made them side by side with rough wood, vintage brick and raffia wallpaper. Wide stripes on the carpet and stucco stars on the fireplace portal are a tribute to the patriotism of the owners. There are also antique clocks from Sweden and old maps hanging on chains, which emphasize the historical character of the interior.
The kitchen not only looks amazing, it is incredibly functional and comfortable, which is very important for the hostess of the house, who calls herself “an avid cook”. Countertops are made of polished black granite. The only exception is the wine rack adjacent to the side of the island. It is crowned with a massive slab of Carrara marble, very convenient for rolling out dough. Its pattern echoes the decor of the tile, which is lined with part of the wall above the slab.
Small ventilation windows are located directly above wall cabinets with glazed doors. They contribute to providing daylight to the space, while pendant lights from Restoration Hardware provide artificial light. The range hood and fridge are carefully disguised so as not to disturb the harmony of this vintage space.
Initially, the owners wanted three stools near the island, but Norman convinced them to opt for just two, but very comfortable chairs.
Only the dining room is in the same space as the kitchen.
19th century Windsor chairs surround a dining table dating back to the turn of the last century. The custom bench in the background is brand new, as is the Visual Comfort chandelier.
Informality reigns in this small living room. The coffee table has a spacious storage shelf and a soft surface on which to rest your feet. Some of the accessories were purchased on Cape Cod through online stores.
Playroom can be used as an extra bedroom. When there are guests in the house, the table and chairs are pushed aside, and the front panel of the closet, which is actually a raised bed, drops down.
The dressing room is decorated with alder paneling and paisley wallpaper. The owners themselves purchased the old porthole in one of the antique shops. To match it, Norman installed a wrought-iron copper sink and bar doors, paying respect to the male half of the family.
Wind rose inlay brings a nautical mood to the interior of the entrance area.
It took at least six hours to complete the mini-gallery decorating the landing.
There are photographs from different periods, a showcase with memorabilia (the so-called shadow box) and even a few souvenirs.
Norman tried to make the interior of the bedroom airy and bright, for which he painted its walls in pale blue, and then complemented it with a mix of different fabrics and patterns to add ease. The focal elements of this space are a bedspread with floral ornaments and antique lanterns.
A series of reclaimed timber trusses visually reduces the height of the vaulted ceiling, making the interior more inviting.
This bathroom is more like a spa than a beach house. It's all about marble floors and an exquisite chandelier from Currey & Company. The circular motif carved on the facade of the bath is repeated many times in different parts of the house.
A weather vane in the form of a whale crowns the roof of the house. Oval-shaped skylights, a stone chimney and rectangular bay windows create a nostalgic exterior. The retro-style covered veranda is perfect for spending evenings enjoying the refreshing breeze, no matter which ocean it blows from.
Can you imagine a better interpretation of the Cape Cod style? Created by Phil Norman, the design is completely unobtrusive, elegant and natural. The thing is that every element of this interior carries a piece of history, even if it was made specifically for this project.
Turnkey Style Country Homes · Lucky Home Company Blog
By Jackie Craven, Updated December 1, 2018
The Cape Cod Turnkey Country Home is one of the New World's most recognizable and beloved architectural designs. When the British colonists set off for the "New World", they brought with them a practical style of housing that lasted for centuries. In the modern day, Cape Cod houses you see in almost every part of North America are modeled after the enduring architecture of Colonial New England.
The style is simple - some might call it primitive with a rectangular buttress and a gable pitched roof. You rarely see a porch or decorative pieces in a traditional Cape Cod home.
These houses were designed with ease of construction and efficient heating in mind. The low ceilings and central chimney kept the rooms comfortable during the cold winters in the northern colonies. The steep roof helped the mountains of snow to slide off. The rectangular design makes superstructures and extensions an easy task for growing families.
Quick Facts: Characteristics of the Colonial Cape Style
Pillar and Beam, Rectangular Support
One Story with an Additional Half Story Under Roof
Side Gable Roof, Quite Steep
Central Chimney
Exterior Trim of Biting Tiles or Clapboard
Central front door, two double windows on each side
Some decorations
History
The first Cape Cod houses were built by Puritan colonists who came to America in the late 17th century. They modeled their houses after the half-timbered houses of the English homeland, but adapted the style to the inclement weather of New England.
A few generations later, a modest one-and-a-half-story house with wooden shutters arose. The Rev. Timothy Dwight, president of Yale University in Connecticut, recognized these houses while traveling along the coast of Massachusetts, where Cape Cod juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. In an 1800 book describing his travels, Dwight is credited with coining the term "Cape Cod" to describe this prolific class or type of colonial architecture.
Traditional houses of the colonial era are easily recognizable - rectangular shape; moderately steep roof slope with side gables and a narrow roof overhang; one floor of living space with half a floor of storage under the roof. Initially, they were all built of wood and sheathed with wide sheathing or tiles. The façade had an entrance door located in the center or, in some cases, on the side - multi-layered, hinged windows with shutters, symmetrically surrounding the entrance door. The exterior walls were initially left unpainted, but later white with black shutters became standard.
The houses of the first Puritans had no external decoration.
The rectangular interior could be divided or not, with a large central chimney connected to a fireplace in each room. Undoubtedly, the first houses had one room, then two rooms - the main bedroom and living room. After all, the floor plan of the four rooms may have had a central hall with an annex to the kitchen at the back, separated for fire safety. Of course, in the Cape Cod house, hardwood floors replaced the original dirt floors, and the interior had to be painted white for cleanliness.
20th Century Adaptations
Much later, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, renewed interest in America's past inspired many colonial revival styles. Colonial Revival style homes on Cape Cod became especially popular in the 1930s and beyond.
Developers and architects anticipated a building boom after World War II. Patterns and catalogs flourished, and competitions were held in the publications to design practical and affordable dwellings that the growing American middle class could buy.
The most successful Cape Cod marketer is Royal architect Barry Wills, a marine engineer with a degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). "While Wills' drawings do breathe feeling, charm, and even sentimentality, their dominant characteristics are restraint, modesty in scale, and traditional proportions," writes art historian David Gebhard. Their small size and scale exuded "puritan simplicity" on the outside and "tightly organized spaces" on the inside, a combination that Gebhard compares to the interior of a sea vessel.
Wills has won many competitions with his practical home plans. In 1938, a Midwestern family chose the Wills design as more functional and affordable than the competing design of famed Frank Lloyd Wright. Homes for the Good Life in 1940 and Better Homes for Parrots in 1941 were two of Wills' most popular books, written for all the dreaming men and women waiting for the end of World War II. With floor plans, sketches, and "architect's handbook savings dollars," Wills reached out to a generation of dreamers, knowing that the US government was ready to support that dream with GI Bill benefits.
Inexpensive and mass-produced, these 1,000-square-foot homes filled the needs of soldiers returning from the war. In New York City's iconic Levittown apartment complex, factories turned out up to 30 four-bedroom Cape Cod homes in a single day. House plans on Cape Cod were marketed heavily in the 1940s and 1950s.
Twentieth century Cape Cod houses share many features with their colonial ancestors, but there are key differences. A modern house usually has finished rooms on the second floor with large skylights to expand the living space. With the addition of central heating, the 20th-century Cape Cod chimney is often more conveniently placed on the side of the house rather than in the center. Blinds in modern Cape Cod homes are strictly decorative (they cannot be closed during a storm), and double or casement windows are often single, possibly with artificial bars.
As the 20th century industry produced more building materials, exterior finishes changed over time, from traditional wood shingles to clapboard, board and batten, cement shingles, brick or stone, and aluminum or vinyl siding.
The most modern fixture for the 20th century would be a front-facing garage to let neighbors know you have a car. Additional rooms attached to the sides or backs created what some people have called "minimal traditional", a very rare combination of Cape Cod and Ranch style houses.
Cape Cod Bungalow Cottage
Cape Cod's contemporary architecture is often combined with other styles. It's not unusual to find hybrid homes that combine Cape Cod features with Tudor cottage, ranch styles, arts and crafts, or craftsman's bungalows. "Bungalow" is a small house, but it is often used to create arts and crafts. "Cottage" is more often used to enhance the style of the house described here. The Dictionary of Architecture and Building defines a Cape Cod cottage as "a rectangular frame house with low, one-story eaves, a gabled roof, a large central chimney, and an entry door located on one of the long sides, a style often used to build small houses in the New England colonies in the 18th century" .
