Popular House Styles
Popular house styles have not changed all that much in the last year or two. Yankee Barn Homes’ most often requested styles are the custom farmhouse, prefab mountain homes, post and beam barn homes, and custom-built contemporary homes. Note that within each style there is latitude for both what constitutes an architectural style as well as personal taste and preferences.
In this article the farmhouse, mountain home, barn house, and contemporary home styles are featured.
Farmhouse
Farmhouse style is extremely popular with the American home buyer, possibly because it conjures images of a less hectic lifestyle. The style offers endearing features of the past while allowing for the amenities of modern life. Defining characteristics of this exterior style include gables, large windows, simple rooflines and a large farmhouse porch complete with rocking chairs.
Mountain Home
Mountain homes employ natural elements and incorporate them into the design. Interior exposed timbers are common along with stone fireplaces. Window expanses are also popular to provide view access. This style is ideal for a post and beam home. The design tends to have a rustic appearance both inside and out. Since they are often built of wood, their rugged exteriors often compliment the wooded landscape. Outdoor living is highlighted with large patios or wrap-around decks.
Barn Style Home
Barn Homes often use a rectangle footprint. This footprint is both cost-effective and energy efficient. The barn shape is iconic and immediately recognizable. The style epitomizes a back-to-basics lifestyle.
Post and beam is visible throughout a barn home. Lofts and vaulted ceilings are key elements of design. Simplicity is the rule of thumb for a barn home. Bump outs and ells may be added but the basic rectangle footprint remains central to the structure. Features such as sliding barn doors and square barn windows are used on both the exterior and interior of the home. Cupolas sit on the roofline. Simplicity of design defines the barn style home.
Contemporary
The contemporary home feature straightforward lines. Unconventional angles are a signature of the contemporary style. Clean lines and sleek materials like glass, cement and steel, are signature elements both on the exterior and interior of the home. Custom–built contemporary houses from Yankee Barn Homes have an open design inside with less separation of rooms/spaces than traditional home styles. Large windows let the outdoors in and open floor plans allow spaces to flow one to the next.