Porches and Home Styles

The term "Victorian architecture" refers to a style that emerged in the period between 1830 and 1910, during the reign of Queen Victoria. Grand porches with ornamental wood lacework are common, and often include details like curved and turned balusters, towers and turrets. To learn more about Victorian architecture visit FrontDoor.com

Spanish settlers in North America combined their architectural traditions with other European and Native American influences to create a variety of styles, from mission to Spanish Colonial to Mediterranean. Arcaded porches and corridors with arches are features common for this style. These elements mimic cloisters, with stucco walls of broad, flat surfaces that emulate the quality of adobe construction. To learn more about Spanish architecture visit FrontDoor.com

The term "Arts and Crafts" refers to the early 19th-century British and American movement to revive handicrafts. The movement was the inspiration behind the Craftsman and bungalow styles. Most homes in the Craftsman style have porches with thick, prominent square or round columns and stone or brick piers. For more information on Arts and Crafts architecture visit FrontDoor.com

Low-slung ranch homes, modeled after the casual style of homes on true Western ranches, were first built in the 1930s. For a traditional ranch home that hugs the ground, plan a porch with a large overhang that emphasizes the horizontal lines of the house. To learn more about Ranch-style architecture visit FrontDoor.com