Simplicity reigns supreme in a lot of farmhouses. This newly constructed home looks as if it has housed generations behind its classic board-and-batten siding. Black window frames make a striking contrast against the white frame house, while barn door inspiration is used on the garage doors and porch railing. A metal roof over the 40-foot-long front porch not only adds visual country appeal but will ensure the always-desired melody that only rain on a tin roof can guarantee.

The classic Dutch Colonial farmhouse originates from Dutch settlers in the New England area, where they built homes similar to the ones they left behind in Europe. Dutch Colonial's major distinction to other Colonial styles is the gambrel roof, which gives the home a barn-like look. In addition, gambrel-roof homes weren't technically two-story homes (actually considered one-and-a-half stories), which meant they didn't cost as much to build and weren't taxed as a two-story home. Those savvy settlers saved big while also increasing their livable space.

Dutch Colonial style may have originated in the 1600s, but it continues to be a part of our American architecture. Fresh color schemes, like this apple green-and-marigold combination, bring the past to the present by giving the home a modern edge. Flared eaves over the porch and a decorative hood over the front entryway are other hallmarks of the style.

From the gambrel roof and dormer windows to the clapboard siding and round windows in the gable end, this New England home embraces all the favorite aspects of a Dutch Colonial Revival. Column-lined porches and expansive balconies make for comfortable outdoor living spaces that add to the relaxed, inviting atmosphere of the home.