Cape Cod houses, named for the area in which they originate, are known for their simple and iconic style. The classic house is a one- and- a- half story structure with a steep pitched roof, enclosed porches, and symmetrical windows on either side of the front door.
These homes can be painted in a variety of colors including sunny yellows, cheerful blues, deep grays and off-whites, among others. Variations on these classic colors give homeowners the ability to add personality and express their individual style.
Pastel versions of each hue are often used to embrace the summer vibe of Cape Cod and give the home an inviting look. Accent colors, such as trim and shutters, brighten up the house, while neutral tones create a timeless, subtle feel.
What is Cape Cod color?
Cape Cod color is a type of muted, pastel painting style that originated in the New England area, particularly the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts. This style of painting focuses on creating simple, yet sophisticated, hues of gray, blue, pink, and green.
The colors often reflect the unique and delicate beauty of the New England coast; soft, pale, and often cloudy colors convey a calming, pastoral image. The application of this style is usually done with a rag-painting method, meaning the color is dabbed onto the walls using a thick, coarse rag.
This approach gives a mottled and textured finish that becomes the hallmark of a Cape Cod look and creates a subtle and inviting atmosphere. Cape Cod color is popular in both traditional and contemporary homes due to its timeless and classic appearance.
Why are houses on Cape Cod gray?
Houses on Cape Cod are often painted gray for a variety of reasons. One reason is that the traditional Cape Cod style of architecture is characterized by the use of clapboards, which are long, wooden boards that are painted with a few coats of durable and affordable paint.
Gray paint is the most suitable color choice for durability and affordability purposes, since it is a neutral color that fits in with the natural surroundings.
Furthermore, since much of the housing on Cape Cod is located near the sea, salt water corrosion can cause traditional paint colors to fade away over time. This is because salt water corrodes the typical yellow and orange pigments used in traditional paint colors, leaving light gray shades as the most durable option.
Finally, many people argue that a muted and neutral color palette like the one seen on most of the houses on Cape Cod ties in well with the natural environment of the area and complements the shades of blue in the sky and the water.
Should a Cape Cod house have shutters?
Cape Cod houses are distinctive in their architecture and immediately recognizable for their dormers, symmetrical designs, and shingle siding. Although traditional Cape Cod homes usually feature shutters, it is not a hard and fast rule and not required for a house to be considered a Cape Cod.
Typically, Cape Cod houses have symmetrical windows and shutters that flank them to balance the overall look of the house. Shutters also provide shade and privacy, and they offer more protection from inclement weather compared to window treatments like curtains.
Additionally, shutters can be used to create texture and color contrast in an otherwise monochromatic exterior. Ultimately, the choice to have shutters on a Cape Cod house should be made based on personal preference and whether you think shutters will improve the aesthetic of your home.
What are some characteristics x3 of a Cape Cod style house?
Cape Cod style houses are a classic residential architectural style that originated in New England during the early colonial period. These distinctively simple houses are characterized by their steeply pitched roof, gabled eaves, prominent central chimneys and dormer windows.
Here are three key characteristics of a Cape Cod style house:
1. Symmetrical Design: The exterior of a typical Cape Cod house features a symmetrical shape with a central entrance and an off-center roofline. The façade is usually sided with clapboard or shingles.
2. Small Size: Cape Cod houses typically feature a simple rectangular floor plan, with a combination of one-and-a-half to two-story heights. The pitched roof often extends across the entire structure and causes the walls to be much lower than the roof.
3. Neutral Colors: The classic look of a Cape Cod style house often includes traditional woods and neutral tones. The most popular colors are white, black and beige, though different color combinations are also common.
How would you describe Cape Cod?
Cape Cod is a popular vacation destination located on the eastern coast of Massachusetts. It is a peninsula bordered by Buzzards Bay to the west, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard Sounds to the south, and Massachusetts Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
It has a distinct charm, with many old-fashioned villages, winding roads, white sand beaches, and beautiful lighthouses. Cape Cod also has a vibrant arts and culture scene – from live theatre productions to outdoor concerts, there is plenty to do.
In addition, the area offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as swimming, kayaking, fishing, and biking, as well as history and nature tours throughout the region. With its historic villages, gorgeous beaches, and scenic nature preserves, Cape Cod is the perfect place to relax and experience the best of New England.
What year was the Cape Cod house style popular?
The Cape Cod house style was popularized in the 1700s, during the early stages of American colonization. It was developed by early New England colonists as an affordable, simple, basic home for their families.
It was styled after traditional English homes, and often features elements like a steep, sloping roof, large central chimney, basic symmetry along the front, and at least one facade with five evenly spaced windows.
The style continued to be popular into the 20th century, as it was seen as a timeless and efficient design that could easily be modified and updated. In the 1930s and 40s, a revival of the style took hold, as new homes were built or existing homes remodeled to evoke the classic look.
By the 1960s, the Cape Cod look no longer reflected the most desired style, but the traditional design remains a favorite in some areas of North America.
Where does the Cape Cod style come from?
The Cape Cod style of architecture originated on Cape Cod, a peninsula in the northern part of Massachusetts. It originated in the early 18th century as a consequence of land conditions and harsh New England winters.
Families living on the Cape needed their homes to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly and thus designed the first Cape Cod style houses. The style is known for its simplistic, symmetrical design, steep roof profile, central chimney, and small windows that opposed the larger, ornate structures being built in other parts of the country.
It also heavily utilizes wood, allowing the wood to weather naturally and blend in with the environment. The exterior is also typically made of clapboarding, which is a tight, overlapping pattern of pieces that allowed for a thinner exterior wall creating a draft-resistant house.
Combining the best of both efficiency and style, the Cape Cod style spread in popularity throughout the East Coast, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, and is now found in many parts of the country.
How do you modernize the exterior of a Cape Cod home?
Modernizing the exterior of a Cape Cod home can be a fun yet challenging project. Depending on the condition of the home, the chosen budget, and your goal, there are a variety of projects that can have a dramatic impact on the home’s overall look and feel.
First and foremost, examine the existing elements of a Cape Cod home, such as the roof, windows, and siding, to determine if any improvements need to be made. For example, a roof in disrepair should be fixed or replaced altogether, while choosing new materials for siding could bring an on-trend, updated design to the exterior.
In terms of aesthetics, the front door is a great place to start in bringing some new life to the exterior. Choose a design that accents the home’s traditional Cape Cod look, such as a cottage-style, paneled door with decorative hardware and a bold color.
Other high-impact design elements include shutters, outdoor lighting, a new garage door, and landscaping. Adding a deck or a porch to the exterior can also make a huge difference, creating a space to enjoy outdoor living.
Overall, modernizing the exterior of a Cape Cod home is a project that can transform and update the look, while still maintaining its unique identity. With potential improvements to the roof, siding, windows, door, and landscaping, it can become a chic, modern oasis that stands the test of time.
What is the siding called on Cape Cod houses?
The siding typically used on Cape Cod style homes is known as clapboard. Clapboard is a type of wooden siding that is often used on homes to provide a classic, timeless look. It’s a cladding that is made up of long, parallel boards that are installed horizontally on the side of the house.
It’s composed of wide boards on the bottom, which overlap with narrower boards as you move up the side of the house. Clapboard is usually cut from widths of 4 to 8 inches and usually come in lengths of 10–16 feet depending on the desired look of the home.
Clapboard siding is a great way to give your home the classic Cape Cod look.
What was a major drawback of the Cape Cod style home?
One major drawback of the Cape Cod style home is its lack of interior space. This style of home was limited in size due to the restrictions of the original modular designs introduced during the Colonial period.
Often, the first floor was limited to one large room, a kitchen, a dining room, and a single bedroom. On the second floor, the space was generally used for two small bedrooms. This lack of interior space often required creative solutions in design, and made it difficult to incorporate storage or practical uses into the home’s design.
Furthermore, the lack of interior space led to cramped living conditions, as it was designed to be a functional house for a family, but not one with extra amenities such as a larger kitchen or living space.
How do you style a Cape Cod house?
When styling a Cape Cod house, it is important to embrace the elements of the classic style that make it unique. Start by choosing a neutral or muted color palette for the walls, preferably a combination of light and dark shades of gray, beige, white, or blue.
An interesting way to introduce color is with a metal accent wall that can be painted in a traditional hue such as deep green, navy blue, or red. Also, opt for simple millwork and trim that have a traditional feel and avoid more ornate detailing.
When selecting furniture, look for pieces in classic shapes and colors that allow the house’s natural architecture to shine. Choose items in natural materials like wood, seagrass, and linen, and add a few cozy modern pieces for contrast.
Textiles are your friend! Think throws, blankets, pillows, and window treatments. Mix up the patterns and textures to create an inviting and interesting home.
Accessorize your home by leaning toward a coastal vibe. Change up the look by decorating with items such as driftwood, seashells, and a few vintage pieces. Natural light and airy décor will really help to keep the Cape Cod house feeling fresh.
Last, but not least, bring in some plants, succulents and indoor trees will do the trick. With these easy tips, your cape house will feel cozy, timeless and beautiful.
What exterior colors make a house look modern?
When selecting an exterior color for a house, one of the most important elements to consider is the overall look you want to achieve. Modern exterior colors tend to range from neutral and natural tones to bolder, brighter hues.
Neutral and natural tones often include shades of greys, taupes, beiges, whites, and muted blues. These shades tend to blend in well with the surrounding landscape while also creating a modern, sophisticated look.
Brighter colors, such as greens, yellows, oranges and reds, can also be used as accent colors, but should be kept more to a minimum to create a modern look. Darker tones, such as greys and blues, look great with accents of black or white trim and can provide more impact.
Choosing a monochromatic color scheme is also a popular modern look and can create a cohesive, classic look by unifying the exterior elements. Ultimately, the best exterior colors to use to make a house look modern is largely dependent on personal preference, but overall a range of neutral shades, along with brighter accent colors, can create a modern, timeless look.
How do I make the outside of my house prettier?
Making the outside of your house prettier can be a fun and rewarding project. Depending on your budget, there are several steps you can take to make the outside of your house look better.
First, you can start by doing some basic maintenance like painting or staining the exterior of your house. This can help to hide any cracks and give your home a fresh look. You may also want to consider updating or replacing the windows or siding, which can give your home an entirely new appearance.
You can also add some greenery to the outside of your house with landscaping and plants. Installing a new walkway and some flowerbeds can add a colorful touch. Adding outdoor lighting can also help to highlight any attractive features of your home.
Finally, adding decorations to your porch or in the yard can really liven up the outside of your house. Wind chimes, bird feeders and birdhouses, clocks, and other decorative items can brighten up your home’s exterior and make it look more welcoming.