I love old homes. I love the details and wondering what the owners were like 100 years ago. I like seeing the original water closet as it is reminiscent of our past and where we have come from. Salem has several designated historic districts, including one downtown. We have two residential historic districts Bush Park/Gaity Hill and Court-Chemeketa. Last year I helped a local buyer purchase an old home. Completely neglected, this home was the blight of the historic district. Inside the original wood floors, window panes, and trim screamed for someone to restore the home. The claw foot tub would eagerly await a new owner. Buying in a historic district comes with some rules. Currently Fairmount Hills has an application for the National historic Register. Even if the home is not on the ... 08/19/2008

A box...that is what comes to my mind when I look at the American Foursquare style home. It is also known as the Prairie Box.  This was a very popular style from 1895-1930.  It was very economical to build since the lines are so simple and clean. The American Foursquare will have some of the following features: Simple box like shape Two story home A four room floor plan Low sloped roofs, like a 3-12 slope, with deeper overhangs. A central dormer Brick, stone, concrete block, or wood exterior Front porch extending the entire length. Wide stairs   The interiors were limited to a few rooms in order to give people living in the city, a more functional living space. Since city lots were so small, (they thought they were small back then...), this style was created to give city dwellers some ... 02/25/2008

Many new construction homes here in Salem Oregon are referred to as Craftsman. Some have elements of the Arts and Crafts movement (AKA Craftsman), but most are not Craftsman homes.When talking about Crafstman homes, most people think of the Craftsman Bungalow, but a Craftsman doesn't have to be a bungalow and not all bungalows are craftsmans.The first bungalows were designed by William Gibbons Preston in 1879 on Cade Cod. Bungalows were built in the early 20th century, and have the following features:   •·         Low pitched roof •·         One and a half stories •·         Living room is in the center of the house. This is a hallmark feature. •·         Rooms that connect to each other without hallways •·         Built-ins (cabinets, hutches, window seats,etc). A bungalow is about the... 02/16/2008

You can't help but think of England and Robin Hood when you see a Tudor style home.  Bows and arrows, long rustling skirts, and lavish feasts invade my imagination when I see these homes. Based on Medieval architecture, Tudor homes have a distinct style.  The large exterior beams are false half-beams for decoration, but in medieval times, those beams actually supported the weight of the building. Our Tudor homes were built in the time period of 1890-1940, which makes them part of the Tudor Revival time period.  They have many or all of these features. Half-timbers.  In medieval times, these timbers were part of the support structure, now they are purely decorative in nature. Steep pitched roofs, usually an 8-12 slope. Tall and narrow windows.  Small window panes Large chimneys sometimes... 02/13/2008

I recently had a gentleman call me about two lots I have listed for sale for a client. There are some restrictions on the type of home that can be built.  As the man was talking about what he wanted to build, I stated "that sounds like a Cape Cod style home."  Unfortunately, he did not know what that was and so I started to try and describe the features to him. Cape Cod styles homes were built by English Colonists who arrived in America in the late 1600's.  They were modeled after homes in England, but had to be modified for the storms of New England.  What emerged is what we refer to as Cape Cod.    Cape Cod Homes have the following features: A steep pitch roof (8-12) that has side gables. When you look at this roof, you think "I need to hire someone to blow my leaves off. I'm NOT gett... 01/12/2008

This post is dedicated to Colonial style architecture here in Salem Oregon.  Technically the homes in Salem are Colonial Revival homes since they weren't built during the 17th-19th centuries.   I always have images of carriages dropping off couples for a state dinner when I think of Colonial architecture.   A brief history...  Colonial Homes draw their inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome.  These homes were popular during the reign of King George the I in the early 1700's.  The Colonial architecture was a symbol of a wealthier class, and was readily adopted in commercial and residential real estate.  The America's adopted the popular British colonial style, but those found here tend to be less ornate than those found in Britain.  Since America was so new, there was not significant w... 12/28/2007

I have many pet peeves, but one of them reared it's ugly head the other day. I was looking through some listings for a client that wants an older "character home."  I was reading some remarks by an agent who referred to the house as a craftsman.  It was a cabin style home, call it a cottage if you were feeling generous.  While I am not an expert in architecture, I do think an agent should know the basics of home architecture.  Feeling inspired, I headed out to take some pictures of our local Historic homes.  The rain stopped just long enough for me to get a couple of shots off.  The Dutch Colonial home is an American style that came from "Deutsch" settlers in Pennsylvania. Barn.  If you feel like you are looking at a barn, then you are most likely looking at a Dutch colonial.  The barn ... 12/24/2007