Explore the most popular types of New England Style Homes, from cozy cabins to elegant coastal retreats that add to the region’s charm.
Diving into the vast world of interior design, I’ve often hit a crossroads. Why box our decor into a single category when our tastes, as complex as our personalities, crave variety? My journey in decorating is a living testament to this belief, always evolving, never confined to just “farmhouse” or any singular theme.
I have a soft spot for farmhouse charm, coastal views, and cottage coziness, blending them with touches of primitive, traditional, and rustic elements. In our new coastal cape cod-style home, my fascination with the Gilded Age’s elegance has become a surprising centerpiece. Yet, this seemingly odd piece of the puzzle fits perfectly within the New England backdrop I call home. Here, the architectural beauty and diverse landscapes embrace the eclectic, making what seemed like a mismatched decor find its rhythm in the rich melody of “New England Style.”
This exploration of architectural styles, from farmhouse simplicity to Gilded Age grandeur, has shaped my style and inspired this post. Let’s explore the characteristics of New England style homes together. From Maine’s coasts to Vermont’s cabins, we’ll uncover how to bring New England’s architectural charm into our spaces, celebrating its unique beauty.
Embracing shingle-style architecture is akin to weaving the very essence of the New England coast into the fabric of our homes. This distinctive style, characterized by cedar shakes, gabled roofs, and a deep connection to the surrounding landscape, captures the heart of coastal living. It reflects a harmony between the rugged beauty of the Northeast shoreline and the architectural tradition that has defined this region for generations.
I’ve always drawn inspiration from the rugged beauty of the weather-beaten coast, its stoic lighthouses standing guard over the salty cedar shingles. Now, living in a coastal-style cedar shake Cape Cod home in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire, my connection to these landscapes has only deepened. The charm of Nantucket, with its welcoming Adirondack chairs, lush gardens, and striking hydrangeas, the size of dinner plates, continues to influence my yard choices, embodying the essence of coastal living. The allure of Ogunquit, Maine, with its rocky cliffs, crystal blue waters, stunning homes, and the picturesque Perkin’s Cove, captivates me still. These places, along with the serene beauty of my New Hampshire surroundings, are what I envision when I weave shades of blue, both navy and lighter hues, into my home, creating a space that resonates with the tranquility and unique beauty of these coastal regions.
For those who are charmed by this aesthetic, you might find my article on “coastal grandmother style” particularly fun. It delves deeper into how to achieve a cozy, timeless look that evokes the spirit of New England’s seaside elegance in your own home and wardrobe!
via Sootheby’s Realty
“Modern farmhouse” has been all the rage in recent years, but here in New England, the word “farmhouse” tells a different story than perhaps it might in other places. Around here, the idea of endless fields stretching out from a grand front porch isn’t always our reality. Our ancestors generally worked smaller patches of land, their homes nestled close together, a testament to their unity in taming this wild, rocky terrain. They poured their hearts into the soil, hoping to feed their families and, on a good year, share the fruits of their labor with their parish.
There are moments when I catch myself dreaming of that big, airy farmhouse, with its tall ceilings, open floor plan, and wide porches set on acres of open land. Yet, our previous home, a cozy Massachusetts center hall colonial snug among neighbors, probably paints a more accurate picture of the traditional “New England Farmhouse” style.
What sold us on our former neighborhood wasn’t just the charm of our own home but the historic colonial homes with their timeless barns that melded so beautifully with the newer houses around them. And there’s nothing quite like a stone wall in your backyard to make it truly feel like quintessential New England. These farmhouses inspired the feel of our own renovations, including a farmer’s porch. What could have become a stuffy and cookie cutter colonial style MA home we instead transformed into a cozy and approachable New England farmhouse.
via Country Living
And then there’s New Hampshire, my beloved home state, where both sides of my family have lived in historic farmhouses that could fill storybooks. These homes, with their treasure troves of antiques, spooky barns, and old stone walls, were the playscapes of my childhood. Even though those old New England homes have since passed out of our family, their memory has seeped into my soul, influencing my style more than anything else. It’s a connection to the land and to my roots that I cherish deeply.
Strawbery Banke via Old House Journal
The Early American, or Primitive (“Prim”), style is a direct nod to the austere, functional aesthetic of the 17th century Puritan communities in New England. It’s seen as a precursor to the more developed New England Farmhouse style, emphasizing simplicity and the essentials of life.
My childhood home, a reproduction antique saltbox center chimney colonial, perfectly captures this primitive aesthetic. With its beautiful wood beams and tongue-and-groove ceilings, it echoes the architectural spirit of the earliest homes in America in places like Plymouth, Salem, Sturbridge, and Strawbery Banke.
Q: What does New England style mean?
A: New England style means an approach to design and architecture that reflects the historical and cultural heritage of the New England region of the United States. It’s known for its emphasis on classic aesthetics, comfort, and functionality, blending elements like wood and stone, colonial furnishings, and maritime decor to create cozy, inviting spaces.
Q: What is a New Englander house style?
A: The New Englander house style is an informally recognized architectural style that came into prominence in the late 19th century, appreciated for its practical design and unassuming elegance. Characterized by a layout featuring a staircase directly facing the entrance to maximize interior space, these homes typically present a symmetrical facade, complemented by a pitched or gabled roof and a central chimney, showcasing the enduring architectural traditions of New England. Notably, New Englander homes often extend backward, creating a longer, narrow shape that adds living space while retaining a modest front appearance. This extension strategy is emblematic of the style’s emphasis on functional, efficient use of space. Many New Englander homes also include a front porch, adding to their charm and providing a welcoming outdoor space for relaxation and community. Finished with clapboard siding and simple trim around windows and doors, the New Englander house style embodies the region’s fondness for practical beauty and historical resonance. Here’s an example with interesting comments!
Q: What were the types of housing in the New England colonies?
A: In the New England colonies, housing types varied from simple, one-room cottages to more elaborate Georgian and Federal style homes as the colonies grew wealthier. Early homes were often constructed with wood, featuring steep roofs, central chimneys, and small windows. The Cape Cod-style homes, with their simple, symmetric design, were also common.
Q: What is the most popular style home in New England?
A: The most popular style home in New England is arguably the Colonial style, known for its symmetry, central front door, gabled roof, and double-hung windows. This style’s enduring popularity stems from its historical roots in the region and its adaptability to modern living while maintaining its classic charm.
The Rustic style is a quintessential element of New England’s aesthetic, especially prominent in mountain homes and ski cabins. It’s characterized by a hearty embrace of natural materials and textures that reflect the rugged beauty of the outdoors. While I will admit I don’t gravitate toward this style, its warmth and earthiness hold undeniable appeal for many, especially in settings like cozy mountain retreats.
The rugged Maine coast may inspire me, but the Lakes Region of New Hampshire is my home. The New England Lake Cottage style embodies a harmonious blend of the diverse styles I cherish: a testament to the rich tapestry of my family’s heritage and my own aesthetic leanings. This style resonates deeply with me, thanks in large part to my grandparents’ A-frame lake cottage—affectionately known as “The Cottage”—and Mack’s family legacy rooted in the century-old history of “Camp.”
Cottages and camps are quintessential to the New England lifestyle. Unfortunately (but understandably), they’re becoming rarer, often replaced by larger, more modern and energy-efficient homes. Despite their humble beginnings and lack of winterization, there’s a certain charm in updated cottages, especially those with their interiors painted a refreshing white, that I simply can’t resist.
In our homes, the presence of planking, board-and-batten, and the choice of light, airy colors are direct nods to this beloved style. It’s a homage to the cottage aesthetic, blending the simplicity and warmth of lakeside living with a bright, welcoming ambiance.
Seaport Style: Celebrating New England’s Coastal Legacy
Seaport Style is deeply rooted in the unique charm and maritime heritage of New England’s historic port cities, with Portsmouth, New Hampshire, standing as my beloved favorite. This style distinctively moves away from the broad coastal design often seen in expansive seaside homes, drawing instead from the rich tapestry of urban maritime life found in Portsmouth, as well as Newport, Boston, Newburyport, and Portland (among others).
Characterized by its brick and cobblestone streets, brick facades, and waterfront ambiance, Seaport Style embodies the intersection of maritime history and urban elegance. Portsmouth, in particular, serves as a vibrant showcase of this style, blending its significant historical roots with a lively, modern ethos.
New England Traditional Style: A Modern Take on Classic Elegance
New England Traditional Style masterfully merges the region’s rich history with the modern and vibrant “Trad” and “Prep” styles, transforming its historical elegance into a dynamic and accessible charm. Moving beyond its origins marked by stuffy patterned furniture, heavy wood finishes, and paneling, this style now adopts a fresher, more current approach. It infuses spaces with fun patterns, lighter finishes, and a mix of textures, rejuvenating classic design principles with a modern twist.
This evolution represents more than just a nod to the past; it’s a spirited reinterpretation that injects playful textiles and modern sensibilities into timeless design. Embracing both New England’s heritage and a contemporary lifestyle, the updated New England Traditional Style is a testament to understated elegance, re-envisioned to celebrate tradition with a joyful, modern flair.
Gilded Age New England Style embodies the pinnacle of architectural elegance and opulence from the late 19th to early 20th centuries—a period marked by rapid industrialization and the emergence of a wealthy class. This era’s iconic New England landmarks, such as the Omni Mount Washington Hotel, Wentworth by the Sea, the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island, and the enchanting Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), serve as testaments to the era’s luxurious lifestyle and architectural grandeur. Today, elements of this style, like brass hardware, intricate wallpapers, and lavish materials, are on trend, yet the essence of Gilded Age design remains timeless.
My love for the vast and varied New England interior design styles has really shaped how I decorate our home, mixing a bit of the old with the new to make something that’s truly our own. From the cozy vibes of mountain cabins to the classy feel of coastal towns, each style adds its own flavor to the mix, making our home a patchwork of New England charm. As someone who’s completely in love with this region I call home, I’m all about bringing the New England spirit into our space. How about you?
