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Back in the 17th century, when colonists first came to what would become the United States, the rocky terrain and cold winters didn’t make the New England coast an ideal place to live. “It was very cold in the winters, beautiful in the summers, [so] they had to make all their money in the summers and then survive through the winter,” Wright says. Most of the inhabitants were sailors, lobstermen, or fishermen, and their houses were designed to withstand the harsh temperament of the region.
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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. Some of them remain — think of our bits of Neanderthal genes — but they just aren’t contributing much to the gene pool, such as the 1920s craze for storybook cottages. You can see them on the streets of older cities like Glendale and Long Beach, looking for all the world like the front door will spring open, and seven dwarfs will head off to work in their diamond mines. “You could have balconies and verandas and patios and the indoor-outdoor lifestyle” — the kind of California living that would come to grace a thousand magazine covers and entice a million people to the lush L.A.
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These homes have low-pitched roofs with exposed rafters, wide front porches, and a mix of materials like stone, wood, and brick. Inside, expect to see plenty of natural light and an open floor plan, with built-in cabinetry and detailed woodwork adding to the charm. Whether you’re looking for a cozy bungalow or a larger, more spacious home, you’ll find options with the Craftsman style. Cape Cod house plans are characterized by their clean lines and straightforward appearance, including a single or 1.5-story rectangular shape, prominent and steep roof line, central entry door, and large chimney. Historically small, the Cape Cod house design is one of the most recognizable home architectural styles in the U.S.. A Cape Cod house is a low, broad, single or double-story frame building with a moderately-steep-pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney, and very little ornamentation.
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An unusual feature of this home, besides the slate roof and brick exterior, is the small, single window we see to the left of the door. As the symmetry is thrown off by this opening, this one window may be located in a stairway leading to a full second floor. The layout usually centers around a large central fireplace and the common room or kitchen, with the bedrooms, pantries, parlor, and rear entry branched off the central kitchen. While the traditional layout had rooms separated by walls and doorways to create a closed floor plan, the flow in a modern Cape can be similar to the traditional layout, where all rooms flow toward the kitchen. The style fell out of popularity temporarily but had a resurgence post World War ll, known as the Cape Cod Revival. These homes were built to help house families and veterans returning from war.
Adding Dormers
If owning a Cape Cod home is a dream of yours, start your home search now at eXp Realty. With our comprehensive filters you’ll be able to search for any architectural style in virtually any area across the United States. You can also sign up to get daily and weekly alerts of new property listings when they come on the market. Paired with white trim and muted fabrics, this design evokes Cape Cod’s salty sea breeze and coastal tranquility. Most concrete block (CMU) homes have 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 exterior walls on the 2nd story.
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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. Remember, you don’t need a Cape Cod-style house to achieve the Cape Cod look.
Choose pieces and accents that reflect the timeless charm and simplicity of this architectural style, while also expressing your personal taste and style preferences. When designing or renovating a Cape Cod house floor plan, it’s important to consider the needs of your household. Think about how spaces will be used and how they can flow together harmoniously. While Cape Cod houses have traditional layouts, there is room for customization and modern touches to suit individual preferences. The interior features of a Cape Cod house reflect a timeless and inviting aesthetic.
Cozy Living Spaces
Their unique character, homey feel, and shabby-chic aesthetic make them an appealing antidote to the cookie-cutter tract homes in subdivisions that first became popular in the 1950s. Many traditional Cape Cods will also feature exposed wood ceiling beams thanks to their simplistic, practical architecture. Cape Cod houses usually feature one-and-a-half stories, with a second floor often utilized as bonus space or extra bedrooms. The second-floor dormers help to increase the livable space and add to the architectural charm. Traditional landscaping, often featuring decorative shutters, cedar shakes, and symmetrical greenhouses, is carefully curated to mirror the house’s unique characteristics. Using native plants and stones is common, enhancing the natural connection between the home and its surroundings.
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Unlike the American Foursquare or other Colonial Revival house styles with one centered dormer on the roof, a Cape Cod style will often have two or more dormers. On the colonial East Coast, Cape Cod homes were heated by a single fireplace with a chimney rising from the center of the house. The Samuel Landon house shown here was built in 1750 in Southold, New York on Long Island, a boat-ride from Cape Cod. Remembering that the original colonists of the New World took the journey because of freedom of religion, we should not be surprised at the Puritan-stark nature of America's first homes. The home had to function in the heat of summer and bone-chilling New England winters.
The smaller size can be a positive attribute for Cape Cod homes, making them affordable, practical, and efficient – yet cozy and charming. There’s less space to clean, heat, maintain, or furnish, and many rooms are multi-functional, with built-in shelving and storage features. The exterior commonly features a smaller yard, which means less mowing and shoveling.
Colonial homes are historically considered an offshoot of the original Cape Cod homes and are usually bigger. They feature similar rectangular floor plans, though they often include at least two stories. Aside from the square footage, colonial homes typically employ gambrel roofs—a main feature of Dutch colonials—while Cape Cod houses traditionally make use of gable roofs. Colonial houses may also include more ornamentation, like the use of columns, which is less common on traditional Cape Cod homes. When choosing windows and doors for your Cape Cod house, consider maintaining the style’s traditional and symmetrical aesthetic. Opt for window and door styles that evoke a sense of timeless elegance while providing functionality and durability.
While Cape Cods first started sprouting up in Massachusetts, they were common in most of New England by 1740. By the 1830s, they had spread from southern New York to the upper portion of the state, where their popularity continued west into Ohio and Michigan. Today, Cape Cods can be found in most of the continental U.S., as the modern full Cape style had a resurgence during the 20th century. “There can be a very thick layer of aesthetics laid over the function,” Seifter says. “Each generation tried to be true to the original form, but these were more modern houses and they had to accommodate functions that were not in the original versions. On a Cape Cod house with side gables, the metal border on the roof looks anything but "colonial."
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