In a world where information flows it can be overwhelming to decide which style of house to build.
In this article, we will help you decide which architectural style is best for your custom home build. The different American architectural styles provide timeless looking and feeling homes that aren't trying to keep up with the latest trends.
Our goal in this article is to aim you towards (and away from) specific architectural styles that we believe are best suited for Tennessee and will look beautiful in 100 years. This step is often ignored as people simply look for house plans they like without thinking about architectural style. Here's why its so important to us:
Read about Why We Build if you'd like to know why we care so much about building the perfect home for you...
Here is the TLDR of this article...
The modern homeowner and homebuilder alike have all but forgotten the classical architectural styles of the last 250 years of America. Most new houses are a mix of all sorts of different home styles that leave people confused and unsettled.
We believe that Architectural Style is a FOUNDATIONAL decision when designing your dream home, even more than the house plans and layout!
Those who take the time to choose an architectural style are more likely to build a home that has lasting beauty and curb appeal. Our vision for our clients is to take classical home designs, build them to modern comfort and luxury standards, and make them last 100 years or longer like these classical homes used to last. These architectural styles are objectively beautiful and reflect human scale and the nature of the world God has created for us.
When we design your custom home, we want the home to be beautiful just as much as it is functional. If you can choose an architectural style and stay within its parameters, your home will be a timeless architectural masterpiece.
Further down in the article we have some visuals for you to compare different house styles to begin to think what your custom home build might look like! But first we will define what an architectural style is and why it is important to building a timeless and beautiful custom home.
Architectural style is nothing more than a set of parameters that guide home design decisions based on homes that were built in the past. Every home has its own unique touches, but you can categorize a home by architectural style by seeing which rules it's following and which rules it's breaking.
Architectural style is like guard rails on a mountain road: it keeps you from going off the edge of the road into a steep and treacherous valley. We do believe in objective beauty and that a home's beauty is determined by how closely it adheres to human forms and the created order.
So far we have been talking about architectural style from a philosophical perspective. Here are some factors that determine architectural style practically when looking at a home:
Some of the styles that we see today borrow elements from timeless architectural styles but would still be considered trendy when looking at the bigger picture. There are a few things to consider when designing a home that is timeless instead of trendy.
Most of the homes built in the past 50 years have followed trends and strayed from timeless design principles. Your home is an expression of who you are and should be designed to be beautiful throughout time.
Trendy design is an attempt to break through the guardrails of architectural styles, which is why many homes end up in the deep valley of short-term beauty. For those of you who want a timeless home that is still elegant in 100 years, the key is to working within an architectural style when designing your home.
The earlier in the design process you choose your home architecture style the better. This clarity will be crucial in designing a beautiful home that outlasts you and actually holds its beauty and structure over time.
Timeless homes are still unique and have things that may stray outside of an architectural style or push the limits of the style. This is part of personal expression and is expected to happen when building your home. As long as 90% or more of the design choices fit inside of the architectural style, your home will be timeless and beautiful.
Material selections and overall durability are a huge factor that contribute to whether a home is timeless or trendy. Your material selections and quality of construction must also match the architectural style you are adhering to.
Classical architecture and traditional homes are very compatible with modern building methods and modern living. A home that matches a 250 year old plantation home isn't going to have an open floor plan, but it will have air conditioning and good insulation.
Timeless design is removing all distractions and excess creativity and getting back to building beautiful homes that outlast us. If you care about your people, you will leave them a home that is still beautiful and strong in 2125.
Architectural styles are very regional within the U.S., so we are going to discuss which ones make sense and work well in Middle Tennessee.
This diagram below is an exhaustive survey of all the different styles of houses America has seen since the 1600's. I will warn you that any of the Modern or Neo-Eclectic homes we avoid and stay away from. We are not interested in modernist architecture as it erodes the foundations of beauty and order in the world around us.
That being said, take a look at the diagram below and you will see a lot of similarities between different styles and different eras. We must remember that not all of these styles would have been built in Tennessee historically. Our aim is to build homes that have timeless beauty and fit the regional distinctions of Tennessee and the Appalachian South.
Here is a list of the styles we encourage our clients to choose from when designing their dream custom home:
Our goal is to guide and direct you towards a great home that you love and that is beautiful. We will consider building other styles, but these are the primary styles that we believe produce a timeless and beautiful home that fits in well in Tennessee.
This can all seem overwhelming. That is why working with a design-build team will help you design a truly timeless home that you love.
This is an outline of our design process that we use to help clients decide which architectural style home will be best for them.
Our comprehensive design + preconstruction process was created to bring clarity to our clients to make sure the home we build for them exceeds their expectations in beauty and longevity.
Our role as a design-build firm is to help guide you between the guardrails of architecture to make sure your custom home is more beautiful than you ever dreamed of. We guide you through every detail of home design so that you build a home that is timeless and transcends modern architecture.
We ask the right questions to help you choose the best architectural style for you. That means that we lead the design process with the goal of knowing you well enough to help design a home specifically to fit you. We want to leave you now with a simple framework for choosing the right architectural style for your custom home build.
What is the best way for you to prepare for custom home design? How can you figure out which style is best for you? We are going to leave you with a simple framework for choosing the right architectural style for your dream home build.
This is a 5 Question Framework that will provide clarity for you regarding what type of home fits you best.
1. Which type of home gets me the most excited when I'm out driving around and I see it?
2. What are my non-negotiables for the exterior of the home? Windows? Porch? Roof Pitch? Symmetry?
3. What materials do I want to use and what overall aesthetic am I going for?
4. If I had to pick an era to go back in time and live in the past 300 years in America, which one would it be?
5. Which architectural style draws my eye and gets my brain going when I see it?
This 5 question framework will reveal to you which 2-5 types of homes fit you the best. As long as you narrow it down to 2-3 architectural styles, your design team will be able to give you options and talk through which one is the best for you based on your goals and style.
These questions are meant to be meditated upon with a clear mind. Try writing down answers to these after thinking on them during a long walk outside. A little mental clarity goes a long way to knowing which type of home is best for you.
We believe that Architectural Style is a FOUNDATIONAL decision when designing your dream home, even more than the house plans and layout!
Those who take the time to choose an architectural style are more likely to build a home that has lasting beauty and curb appeal. Our vision for our clients is to take classical home designs, build them to modern comfort and luxury standards, and make them last 100 years or longer like these classical homes used to last. These architectural styles are objectively beautiful and reflect human scale and the nature of the world God has created for us.
The most important thing is that you design a home that you are proud to live in, one that is built for you and makes you feel loved and excited to live there. Home is beauty, home is safety, home is comfort. Your home is something you will steward and its easier to do that well if you the home is truly lovely and exciting.
In Cookeville, Lebanon, + Murfreesboro, we have a good mix of different types of builders and designers. The question you have to decide for yourself is "Which type fits me and my home the best?". A truly custom home built to last 100 years requires more detail in planning to execute well.
If you’re dreaming about a home that is built to last 100 years or more, our team at Doxa Custom Homes is ready to guide you through every step of the design and build experience. We believe this is the best option for those looking to build family legacy homes in Cookeville, Sparta, Crossville, Lebanon, and Murfreesboro.
Reach out today to begin the design process for your dream home build.