Architectural Design Styles Defined By Emily O Brien Boulder County is a melting pot of architectural styles and designs, often all can be found on the same street! It s just one of the many reasons that draws people to the area. But no matter what style your house is, there s usually a way to enhance the curb appeal and put your own unique flair into it. Here s a peek at eight styles found in Boulder County with inspiring ways to kick each up a notch. Melton Design Build 3082 Sterling Circle Boulder, Colorado 80301 303.473.9542 meltondesignbuild.com
American Bungalow Popular in the early- to mid-1900s, this architectural design was well-liked and widespread. While the house itself might be on the smaller side, it s typically big on charm. Natural materials are commonly used such as wood, stone and brick. The arts and crafts style homes have low-pitched roofs and front porches with tapered pillars and, at times, brick bases. Internal floor plans are efficient; the living area is typically in the center of the home and connects to other rooms, which eliminates the need for hallways. With American Bungalows, cedar shingles on the gables and clapboard siding on the rest of the home is common. Add pizzazz by wrapping brick pillar foundations with a modern stone façade. Melton Design Build Photo By: Studio Q Photography 2 Design Build Remodel Performance
freshome.com Adding an exterior horizontal wood treatment will help marry a low-lying linear deck to a home s sleek lines. Comtemporary Contemporary design indicates today s building styles or reflects the current time s style. They have simple, clean lines with large windows lacking decorative trim, which help connect the outdoors, internally. Roofs are flat, shed or gabled, or asymmetrical shapes. You ll see large windows or glass doors that lead to a private courtyard, providing an effortless way to carry daily life outside. Home energy efficiency is strongly emphasized with contemporary homes at the moment, usually with a focus on sustainable, recycled or reclaimed materials. Melton Design Build Smart, Sensible & Innovative 3
idesignarch.com Mid-Century Modern Forward thinking and new ideas laid the foundation for midcentury styled homes between 1945 and 1980. New building materials were brought to the forefront of architecture and design with World War II. Characterized by large glass windows, flat planes and open space, these homes were often built with materials such as plywood and steel. This popular design style trend inspired many ranch homeowners to remodel their house. In Boulder, you ll find many mid-century modern homes that feature a carport and one-car garage that have been renovated into an extra room. Transform your midcentury styled home s carport into a living space using vintage colors and period furnishings. 4 Design Build Remodel Performance
Mountain Modern Another design prevalent to Colorado is mountain modern. Lines between the indoors and outdoors are typically blurred with this style to capture the essence of the state s lifestyle. They are also designed this way to make the most of our 300+ days of sunshine. Mountain modern homes are either truly modern with sleek lines and progressive shapes or they are a clean-lined version of a rustic mountain home made substantially of wood and stone. Give your mountain modern home a pseudo industrial feel with the use of metal. Heavy metal beams and deck railings with extensive use of glass will help you achieve this look. Decoist.com Melton Design Build Smart, Sensible & Innovative 5
Melton Design Build Photo By: Studio Q Photography Queen Anne Occasionally you ll spot a Queen Anne home around Boulder usually in the Mapleton neighborhood. Coming into fashion in the 1880s, Queen Anne homes arrived at the height of the mass-production of architectural trim. They have asymmetrical shapes with round or square towers and steep roofs. Many also feature wrap-around porches, bay windows and decorative shingles. Often they have a wood or stone exterior and are two to three stories high. To make subtle colors pop, add hints of black to your paint palette. This will give a bold finishing touch to an intricate paint scheme. 6 Design Build Remodel Performance
To give your raised ranch an updated look, add landscaping to increase interest. Trees, flowers and stonework will all create a more welcoming and inviting feel. Raised Ranch You ll find many of these 1950s through 1980s raised ranch houses in Boulder. The lower level is partially below grade, and homes often feature large windows high on the wall that keep the area from feeling too dark and basement-like. Raised ranch homes have attached garages with low-pitched gable roofs. Commonly, large picture windows and sliding glass doors will lead to the backyard. While these homes are generally not decorative, they do offer a blank slate for adding your own flare and personality. dcgoose.com Melton Design Build Smart, Sensible & Innovative 7
Tudor This style was prevalent in the 1920s and 1930s and remains a suburban mainstay across the U.S. today. Defining characteristics of Tudor homes are patterned brick or stonewalls, rounded doorways, multi-paned casement windows and sizable stone chimneys. Cream, brown and white tones are typical color combinations for Tudor homes, and you ll often see brick on the front gable, stone trim and half-timbering with stucco covering the upper level. Redo the walkway with patterned brickwork to give it a fresh look. You ll be amazed at how much it enhances the front yard! freshome.com 8 Design Build Remodel Performance
cabinhouss.com. Liven up the roof or exterior walls with corrugated metal accents. As the metal rusts, it ll achieve a beautiful rustic patina. Mountain Rustic Heavy on wood and stone, mountain rustic style homes are native to Colorado and are designed to blend into natural surroundings. Typically, this is achieved by using heavy beams and dark woods. You ll find grand entryways laden with stone pillars and wood beams. Interiors feature heavy stone hearths and extremely high ceilings. In the main public areas, wood floors are common throughout. Outdoor livings spaces are often as rustic as their interior counterparts. Colorado buff stonework and slate tile are also common. Melton Design Build Smart, Sensible & Innovative 9