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The impressive, sheltering roofs and decorative wood designs of this style harken to the French countryside. Discovering one of these homes is like stepping back in time to a gentle, romantic era filled with whimsical charm.

Half-timbered wood set inside stucco walls, wide, wooden beams and steeply-pitched roofs are the hallmarks of French Normandy style. The rules are not hard and fast, however. Windows can vary wildly in shape and size, chimneys can be short or tall, roofs can have irregular heights.

This style wasn’t created by a single architect; it flourished in France with regular people building homes themselves that suited their needs. Wealthy Americans traveling the French countryside in the late 1800s created demand for this style in the United States. Architects in the U.S. loved the style because it was flexible to individual lifestyles but oozing with charm.

If French Normandy is what stirs your spirit, you are a true individual. You walk to the beat of your own drummer, but make plenty of time for friends and family.
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