House Styles

A DIYer builds her skills—and an online following—filling her family’s 18th-century saltbox with handmade charm

Clean, geometric lines, walls of glass that bring the outdoors in, and open floor plans that emphasize function over fuss are the hallmarks that make this postwar style truly timeless. These same elements make mid-century modern homes more affordable to build than many other styles. If you are building new, but covet life in a contemporary classic, check out these house plans from The House Designers.

A free-flowing 1959 house with a lofty interior rises to the next level in the hands of two detail-obsessed owners

A writer puts his creative energies—and practical building skills—to work, turning a weathered 100-year-old house in Savannah into a unique and magical retreat

A 1903 cottage gets a neat-and-trim makeover inspired by its bayside location

A young couple's elbow grease transforms a vacant brick house featured on Ask TOH into a comfortable home for a growing family

One of our most-loved architecture styles is also our scariest. Understand why the grand features of Victorians can also seem menacing.

Have you ever wondered why barns are red? These are the stories behind certain hues associated with Americana.

An imaginative tower addition enables a longed-for view of a nearby landmark

This Old House and Real Simple teamed up to highlight Blu Homes's Breezehouse for its innovative and sustainable—yet traditional—design

It took a pair of intrepid homeowners to see beyond the insults of the centuries and bring back the house's soul

This Old House's guide to the architectural elements and interior details that give any house, big or small, cottage character.

TOH readers took on another batch of rundown abodes and remade them into cheery and beautiful houses

This couple took on a crumbling 1901 Dutch Colonial Revival, adding vintage-look details, energy-saving systems, and cozy new living spaces inside and out

Tips from a pro on making compact rooms feel calming and comfortable

One look at the dilapidated 1926 foursquare—smack in the middle of beach-condo country—sealed the deal for this couple.

Get renovation ideas and see how these homeowners transformed a stuck-in-time 1950s Cape Cod into a comfortable home for today

How one family learned through trial and error—popping off baseboards while using floor jacks and sawing a hutch in half to get it in the front door—to turn a 1909 wreck into their dream home

Do you love the natural, handcrafted style of Craftsman design? Here's everything you need to know to bring it into your home.

America's first homegrown style, born out of Revolutionary pride, still resonates today with a timeless appeal and classic fixtures.

A rowdy fraternity had totally trashed the 1897 brick row house. Then a pair of professors bought it and set about restoring its architectural integrity

What we got was an 1895 Queen Anne with melted wiring and soggy plaster—a home in desperate need of some architectural TLC

It was moved, used as a house of ill repute, then chopped up into apartments. With its original details now carefully restored, this 1878 Italianate has once more claimed its place as a gracious family home

A kitchen and dining room remodel updates the Arts and Crafts style

Examine a historical timeline and distinguishing features of American house styles, from the Colonial era to the modern age.

Today, turrets serve more as decorative flourishes than guard towers. Learn how to match their style to the rest of the house.

Here's how to use natural materials, well-crafted details, and open plan spaces to make a minimalist house inviting.

In this guide, we'll explore the rich history, sustainability, unique characteristics, and enduring appeal of adobe construction.

Recalling the Good Old Days

A second story with cedar shingles endows a 1950s ranch with old Yankee spirit.