French
Provincial
In the 1600s, French aristocrats built
sprawling COUNTRY ESTATES
outside Paris to escape city life. This
design surged in the United States in
the 1920s, after World War I soldiers
brought their affinity for it home
with them.
French provincial homes are
STRIKING, with at least two stories,
stone, brick, or stucco facades,
symmetrical layouts, sharp roofs, and
rectangular, small-paned windows.
Some homes have grand, rounded
towers that add a castle-like elegance.
Many POST-WAR SUBURBS and
NEWER HIGH-END COMMUNITIES
still embrace this look.
Contemporary
From the 1950s to the 1970s, people
wanted homes that reflected modernist
ideals: innovation, functionality, and
clean, EFFICIENT DESIGN. As a result,
the contemporary style took form,
emphasizing simplicity and sustainability.
"Contemporary" may sound vague,
but this style is characterized by clean
lines, MINIMALIST attributes, and
asymmetry. It often mixes exposed
industrial materials with neutral tones
for layered, textured spaces. This style is
typical in CALIFORNIA, HAWAII, and
many MIDWESTERN CITIES.
