They say that home is where the heart is, but in a world of wildly divergent landscapes and cultures, “home” looks different for everyone. Here are 13 interesting house styles from around the globe, reflecting the lives and histories of those who reside in them.
The dual-pitched, hipped roof is the hallmark of Second Empire residential architecture.
In desirable neighborhoods across the United States, the razing of a tear-down is a familiar sight. But this market-driven trend actually has a very long history. Consider this list of 15 eye-poppingly palatial homes, built with great care and at huge expense, that later fell victim to the wrecking ball.
Your mother was right when she told you that “you’re lucky to have a roof over your head”—and not just to keep the rain out! A lovely or striking roof design can be a home’s crowning glory, and with the wealth of rooflines to choose from, it can be tough to pick the right “crown.” American architecture abounds in both classic and contemporary roof styles, informed variously by Old World European elements, early Colonial structures, and modern trends. The roofline of your home can remain flush with the walls or extend from one to four feet out; it can be austere or ornate, embellished with ornamental moldings, turrets, dormers, or cornices. And these are just a few of the possibilities. We’re just getting started here… are you feeling a little roof envy?
Your visions of extra living space, another bathroom, or a second-floor addition can come to life with a home addition project supervised by a general contractor. The cost of a home addition ranges from $21,000 to $100,000, with a national average price of $48,860.
A home is a retreat—a place to escape the outside world, to be alone, to recharge, to relax with friends. For some, one apartment among many in a building wedged into a sea of other buildings provides all the sanctuary they need. But for others, true escape means getting as far away as possible from the rest of the world, to a beautiful and remote residence in a stunning location—with nobody around for miles. Such retreats try very hard not to be found, but we’ve hunted down a few of them for your voyeuristic pleasure, searching high, low, and far to find a collection of lovely, unusual, and isolated homes that truly stand alone. (Just don’t go knocking on their doors.)
Modern Cape- and Dutch Colonial-style homes offer timeless appeal, with much of their style and charm dating back to the building modes of early America.
These alternative homes provide innovative solutions for those would-be homeowners looking beyond the traditional house.
“Going viral” can mean fame—or infamy. Here are a dozen houses that secured their 15 minutes of fame in unusual ways.
The best way to understand the fabric of America is to experience it firsthand. If you haven’t been to these destinations and landmarks already then add them to your Great American Bucket List.