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arches and the use of stone at the ground story from the concurrent
Richardsonian Romanesque style.
The Shingle Style was never adopted or adapted for mass or
vernacular housing, remaining a largely high-style, architect-designed
aesthetic. As a largely architect-designed style, it was a consciously
created American form and a reaction to the mail-order architecture
that was popular during the 1880s.
The Shingle Style reached its highest expression in seaside resorts of
the northeastern United States - summer destinations such as Newport,
Rhode Island; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; eastern Long Island; and
coastal Maine. Scattered examples were constructed in all regions of the
country though few vernacular examples exist. Despite being well-
publicized in contemporary architecture magazines, the Shingle Style
never gained the popularity of Queen Anne designs and thus surviving
examples are unusual outside of coastal New England. It was also
unsuitable for dense urban areas because of its typically expansive floor
plan and wood construction.

Colonial Revival: 1880-1955
A rare surviving example of late nineteenth-century architecture and design.
Designed by renowned Boston architect William Ralph Emerson and built in 1878.
photo: Historic New England

of varied wall planes and forms using bays, towers, overhangs, wall
projections, and multiple wall materials and textures to avoid any flat
or plain expanses.
Queen Anne homes are nearly ubiquitous throughout the country,
particularly west of the Appalachians and prominently in California
from San Diego to San Francisco, with both townhouses and
free-standing examples.

Shingle Style: 1880-1900

An example of a Cape Cod style Colonial Revival home.
photo: housekaboodle

The Philadelphia Centennial of 1876 is usually credited as the starting
point for a rebirth of interest in the colonial architectural heritage of
this country. It is not surprising that in celebrating one hundred years
as an independent nation Americans proudly looked to the past for
inspiration. The simplicity of colonial designs and honest use of
materials with more economical plans than the recently popular
Picturesque homes also contributed to the growing popularity of
the style.
Early Colonial Revival examples were rarely historically accurate,
with exaggerated forms and elements that took inspiration from the
details of colonial precedents. Georgian and Federal examples had the
largest influence on the revival with elements such as colonial door
surrounds, multi-pane sash windows, and cornice dentils on a
symmetrical façade. Secondary influences came from Post-Medieval
The Isaac Bell House located in Newport, Rhode Island, 1883, designed by
McKim, Mead & White, considered one of their most sophisticated and unified English and Dutch Colonial examples, evident in gambrel-roofed
examples or later Colonial Revival examples with second-story
designs. photo: Historic New England
overhangs. More researched and accurate examples appeared between
Unlike preceding architectural styles, the Shingle Style is not 1915 and 1935, aided by the publication of a large number of books
defined by applied decoration, and therefore there is little in the way of and periodicals on the subject of colonial architecture; however, the
applied detailing at the doors, windows, cornices, porches, or on wall economic depression of the 1930s followed by World War II led to a
surfaces of Shingle Style homes. Instead, the focus of the Shingle Style simplification of the style in later examples with stylized door
aesthetic was complex shapes and forms encased within a smooth surrounds, cornices, or windows merely suggesting a colonial precedent.
surface of wooden shingles meant to unify the irregular outline of the
house. Also unlike preceding styles, the Shingle Style was uniquely Historic New England is the oldest and largest regional heritage
American. Even so, it borrowed certain design elements from a organization in the nation, with a mission to save and share New
variety of contemporary styles, such as the wide porches, shingled England’s past to engage and inform present and future generations. Its
surfaces, and asymmetrical forms from Queen Anne designs. It also more than three dozen museum properties span five states and four centuries
adapted gambrel roofs, lean-to additions, classical columns, and of New England life. For more information, visit historicnewengland.org.
Palladian windows from the Colonial Revival movement and Syrian

28 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles