image/svg+xml
Heirloom logo

The Heirloom Guide to

Architectural House Styles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring two centuries of Canadian residential design styles.

"What kind of house is that?"

Whether you want to buy a property or are just interested in old (or new) home architecture,
you might wish to know more of the story… things you may discover here.

In Residential House design...

There are great architects, there are successful architects, and occasionally, architects who enjoy lasting fame. Primarily, it’s members of this last small group who developed Design Styles which contributed to the architecture that followed.

image/svg+xml

Successful Architecture is not only good design…

It also accurately expresses the prevailing social, economic and political mores of the day. Sometimes a style's popularity may last a couple of decades. In other instances, the style may have such innate strength and attributes that it continues to speak to people over centuries.

Georgian - 18th Century

Georgian - 18th Century

Georgian - 19th Century

Georgian - 19th Century

Georgian - 20th Century

Georgian - 20th Century

Georgian - 21st Century

Georgian - 21st Century

These Styles spanned continents…

No matter where you live, it’s likely you’ll find examples (classic or variant) of these styles. While the time at which a style was popular might vary from place to place, the primary design elements remain consistent. We have drawn most of our examples from the Niagara Region of Canada because a relatively stable economy since its settlement has made it a microcosm for over 200 years of architectural change. However, your neighbourhood may well hold a treasure!

 

 

Nova Scotia, Canada

Nova Scotia, Canada

Ontario, Canada

Ontario, Canada

British Columbia, Canada

British Columbia, Canada

Michigan, USA

Michigan, USA

Illinois, USA

Illinois, USA

Explore Houses and Styles...

To continue your exploration, you may make a selection from the Menu; or, click on a decade in the Timeline to visit a style popular in that period; or, choose one of our Main Sections from the following...

Abacus
Arch
Arch, Pointed
Arch, Segmental
Arch, Semi-circular
Bargeboard
Belvedere
Board & Batten
Bracket
Brick
Brick, Bond
Brick, Common Bond
Brick, Course
Brick, English Bond
Brick, Flemish Bond
Brick, Header/Stretcher
Brick, Queen Closer
Brick, Running Bond
Brick, Structural
Brick, Wythe
Building Form
Bungalow
Carport
Cladding
Clapboard
Classical Orders
Clerestory
Column
Column, Composite
Column, Corinthian
Column, Doric
Column, Ionic
Column, Solomonic
Column, Tuscan
Cornice
Cornice, Eave
Cornice, Raking
Cupola
Dentil
Door, 6 Panel
Door, French
Door, Garden
Door, Patio
Door, Plank
Dormer
Dormer, Arched-top
Dormer, Eyebrow
Dormer, Gabled
Dormer, Hipped
Dormer, Pedimented
Dormer, Recessed
Dormer, Shed
Dormer, Wall
Eave
Eave, Fascia
Eave, Soffit
Elevation
Entablature
Entablature, Classical
Entablature, Composite
Entablature, Corinthian
Entablature, Doric
Entablature, Ionic
Entablature, Tuscan
Facade
Facade Bay
Facade, 2 Bay (2 Ranked)
Facade, 3 Bay (3 Ranked)
Facade, 4 Bay (4 Ranked)
Facade, 5 Bay (5 Ranked)
Facade, Asymmetrical
Facade, Multiple Bay (6+ Ranked)
Facade, Symmetrical
Facade, X/Y Bay (e.g. 3/5)
Flushboard
Foursquare (American)
Framing
Framing, Balloon
Framing, Brace
Framing, Platform
Framing, Timber
Frontispiece
Gable
Glass
Glass, Crown
Glass, Cylinder
Glass, Drawn
Glass, Float
Glass, Stained
Half Timber
Lime Rendering
Lintel
Lumber
Lumber, Dimensional
Lumber, Rough Sawn
Modillion
Molding
Molding, Hood
Mortar Rendering
Mullion
Muntin
Nail
Nail, Hand-forged
Nail, Machine Cut
Nail, Wire
Pattress Plate
Pediment
Pediment, Broken
Pediment, Open
Pediment, Segmental
Pilaster
Porch
Portico
Portico, Flying
Quoin
Rafter
Rafter, Extended
Rafter, Overhanging
Romantic
Roof
Roof, Clipped Gable
Roof, Cross Gable
Roof, Cross-hipped
Roof, Eichler
Roof, Flat
Roof, Gabled
Roof, Gambrel
Roof, High Pitch
Roof, Hipped
Roof, Low Pitch
Roof, Mansard
Roof, Medium Pitch
Roof, Pitch
Roof, Truss
Shake, Cedar
Shingle
Shingle, Asphalt
Shingle, Cedar
Shingle, Slate
Stone, Ashlar
Stone, Rubble
Stone, Rusticated
Stucco
Transom
Usonian
Veneer
Veneer, Brick
Veneer, Stone
Verandah
Vernacular
Victorian
Voussoir
Water Table
Window
Window, 1 over 1
Window, 12 over 12
Window, 12 over 8
Window, 2 over 2
Window, 6 over 6
Window, 8 over 8
Window, Bay
Window, Casement
Window, Clerestory
Window, Dormer
Window, Double-hung
Window, Fanlight
Window, Leaded
Window, Oriel
Window, Paired
Window, Palladian
Window, Picture
Window, Porthole
Window, Ribbon
Window, Sidelight
Window, Single-hung
Window, Transom