The Colonial Styles: Georgian and Federal

J. M. Edgar, CRC

Colonial Style House A symetrical facade around a central entry, a simple but elegant portico, a chimney at one end, a steep roof and doghouse dormers identify this Irvingdale area house as Georgian colonial. Colonial styles developed in the 1700s. Among the most long-lived styles of American building, the Georgian style, named for King George III of England, was intended to reflect Renaissance ideals made popular by Sir Christopher Wren. It was a simplification of earlier, more ornate Baroque styles. Typically rectangular and symmetrical, two rooms deep and two stories high (Four over Four) with one or more chimneys extending through the roof or at either end. Brick or clapboard with the rarer shingle siding are the usual exterior finishes. The classic double-hung window was first used with this style. English Georgian featured hip roofs while in Photo: Lancaster County Register of Deeds. Federal Style A Federal style brick house on Sheridan Boulevard. Note the small Palladian window above the elaborate entry typical of the style. American the gable-end roof was more common. High-style Georgian/Federal homes often contained an oval or round parlor, the most famous of which is the Oval Office in the White House — originally intended as a sitting room or parlor.

The Georgian variation known as the "Federal style" was developed in Scotland by architect Robert Adam. It became known as "Federal" by Americans eager to divorce themselves from everything British after the American Revolution. In England it is remains the "Adamesque" form of the Georgian style. Its main identifying feature is an elaborate entryway with classical detailing and commonly a Palladian window at the center of the second story. The front door is usually centered on the front façade with a semi-circular or elliptical fanlight window above it. The main entry door is flanked by leaded glass sidelights. The door is often framed with simple pilasters and a broken triangular pediment. The entry pediment was often extended to create a porch. The porch may be rectangular or elliptical and is often supported by groupings of slender, simple Doric columns. The use of classical elements such as columns and arches is typical of the Colonial period.

The single story versions of the Georgian/Federal styles are commonly referred to as "Cape Cod" houses. Federal style houses are still being built, and the Cape Cod Revival became nearly ubiquitous as the most common postwar house built in America. The Colonial style common in modern housing is the current form of the Georgian house — although usually stripped of most Georgian style elements.

Colonial Interiors

Wing Chair The wing chair. Almost required in the Colonial living room. You would not want to live in an actual colonial house. With no kitchen, no bathrooms, and no closets (See Beyond the Closet — 21st Century Storage Solutions) life would be a little more challenging than we Colonial Window Typical colonial window with stool and apron. The simple painted crown molding and paneling with integrated chair rail is also typical. like today. While we know what a colonial parlor probably looked like since they are represented in period images. But the kitchen and bath are modern interpretations. Since there were no kitchens or baths as we know them today, we have to imagine what the rooms might have looked like if our Founding Fathers had owned toilets, microwaves and dishwashers.

American colonial style blends English Georgian elements with American informality for a more relaxed atmosphere than the stilted English parlor. Decoration is spare, and primarily relies on paint for color and plaster for texture. Paneled walls, wide moldings, oriental rugs, wing chairs, Chippendale and Queen Anne furnishings, damask fabrics and elaborate draperies (needed to keep out drafts) are the hallmarks of the Colonial interior style. A grandfather clock fits in very well.

Moldings are usually wide, deep and painted. Painted crown and chair moldings are common. (Stained woodwork is a modern interpretation -- but still fits well.) Ceiling beams would not be out of place. Door and window trim is simple with flat or gently curved moldings suitable for hand shaping. All windows were trimmed with a stool (inside sill) and apron. Floors are oak (for parlors and "public" rooms) and pine wide-plank wood. Tile and stone are common in entries, kitchens and baths. Photo: Black Cove Cabinetry Colonial Kitchen A Colonial or Traditional style kitchen with mixed stained and painted cabinets.

The Colonial Kitchen

The kitchen style most compatible with this architecture is, naturally, a Colonial or Traditional style. This style includes a wide range of features and finishes and is very adaptable to your personal tastes. Photo: Colonial Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry Colonial Kitchen A colonial style kitchen courtesy Colonial Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry, Inc.

Cabinets: Typically the cabinets feature raised panels intermixed with glass small-lite doors, either curved or flat top, in cherry, hickory, maple, oak, or painted wood. A more exotic domestic wood, such as birch or chestnut, is also a good choice. Imported woods are not. Beaded door styles also work well. Door styles and finishes can be mixed and matched for special effects. It is very common to see painted and stained cabinets in the same kitchen. Tall wall cabinets should go all the way to the ceiling in at least a few spots. Soffits, if any, should be shallow. Feet on cabinets rather than recessed toe kicks make the cabinets look less "built-in" and more like the furniture common in early colonial kitchens.

Countertops: The classic Colonial counter top is soapstone, but granite and laminate (especially laminate that looks like stone) also work well. Tile countertops are fairly unusual.

Flooring: For flooring, wide plank wood, or true linoleum are the first choices. Ceramic and store are also good. The look of wide plank wood using modern laminate flooring is also an option.

Moldings: A simple crown molding with a chair rail are the finishing touches. These usually are stained or painted to match the cabinets.

Most Requested Feature: The most requested feature in a Colonial Kitchen is a working fireplace. In early American homes, the fireplace was not only the main heat source in the house, but also the stove. The huge open wood burning hearths of yesteryear are out of place in modern homes, but nothing produces a feeling of coziness like a working fireplace. Today's natural gas or LP units are safe, efficient and can be remote controlled. Designed just to warm up the kitchen, these units are usually more compact than living room or great room fireplaces and may be vented through the wall rather than up through the roof using an expensive multi-story stove pipe.

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